Daytona 500 live updates, results, highlights from NASCAR’s 2025 season-opening race

The 2025 NASCAR offseason has featured lawsuits, driver swaps, and plenty of wistfulness. On Sunday, it will come to a merciful close. In its stead? One of American racing’s most prestigious events.

The 2025 Daytona 500 figures to be a compelling — and chaotic — joust between the Cup Series’ finest thoroughbreds. The race has provided more spills than usual in the Next Gen era — just last year, 22 chariots turned into scrap metal after a late-race collision.

It’s hard to imagine things getting all that much cleaner in 2025, either. The Great American Race once represented a culmination of sorts for NASCAR’s greatest drivers. It took Dale Earnhardt Sr. 20 years to capture one of the Cup Series’ crown jewels, after all.

Now, the joust is as unpredictable as ever — in recent seasons, Austin Dillon, Michael McDowell, Austin Cindric, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. have hoisted the famous hardware.

Perhaps that’s a good thing. Parity tends to sell in sports, especially when it’s coated in burning rubber and twisted metal.

Regardless, the jockeys who descend upon the sun-scorched thoroughfares of Daytona on Sunday afternoon must be wary of one thing: The Big One. Recent history suggests the wicked sorceress could resurface before the white flag billows.

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from the 2025 Daytona 500. Follow below for highlights, analysis and more as 40 of NASCAR’s most talented drivers attempt to capture glory at Daytona International Speedway. 

STREAM: Watch NASCAR’s Daytona 500 race live with Fubo (free trial)

Daytona 500 live updates, results, highlights from 2025 race

(All times Eastern)

12:35 p.m.: Daytona is as unpredictable a track as it comes. No better statistic captures the disarray that unfolds on the surface than this one: only two Speedweeks races have ended under the green since 2022.

Since 2022, only TWO races of Speedweeks (Cup-Xfinity-Trucks only) have ended under green: the 2022 Daytona 500 and the 2024 Xfinity race.

Eight of the races ended under caution, while the 2023 Truck race was shortened by rain.

The last triple green-flag finish was 2019. pic.twitter.com/vL4JPMPc3w

— Stephen Stumpf (@stephen_stumpf) February 16, 2025

12:25 p.m.: Ten drivers are headed to the rear for factors ranging from using backup cars (Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Justin Haley, Riley Herbst, Alex Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Daniel Suarez), engine issues (Helio Castroneves), and tech foibles (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.).

12:10 p.m.: Weather is looking like a potential impediment for today’s race. At present, it looks like rain is staying north of the track. Things could change swiftly, however.

Weather staying north … less than two hours before green flag 2p ET. pic.twitter.com/8wS2rmHQo6

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 16, 2025

10:33 a.m. — There’s a potential for yet another rain delay for Sunday’s race, just as we had last year. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to move in right around race time: 

Good morning! We are expecting showers and storms this afternoon! With the earlier start to the Daytona 500 we could get in the start of the race BEFORE the storms arrive. But rain could cause a delay later in the race as this line moves over DAB around 3pm.#wesh #weather pic.twitter.com/iZitxvG1Et

— Cam Tran WESH (@CamTranTV) February 16, 2025

The rain is expected to clear out in the afternoon though.  

Daytona 500. Timing is tricky. Looks like strong frontal line approaches just after green flag. High winds. Lightning likely. Fast moving. Should be able to finish under the lights under the stars. https://t.co/W7KmGIeLi8 pic.twitter.com/50ldJwPID7

— Mike’s Weather Page (@tropicalupdate) February 16, 2025

10:30 a.m. — Good morning race fans! Can’t wait to get this one started. 

Good morning. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/ghDTRkhsht

— Daytona International Speedway (@DAYTONA) February 16, 2025

Daytona 500 start time 

• Start time: 1:30 p.m. ET

The Daytona 500 has a 1:30 p.m. ET listed start time after NASCAR moved to race up due to fears of inclement weather in Daytona. However, given the number of festivities expected to take place on Sunday, the green flag is slated to be waved at 2 p.m. ET.

MORE DAYTONA 500 NEWS:

What channel is the Daytona 500 on?

• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: FoxSports.com, Fubo

Fox will handle broadcasting duties for the 2025 Daytona 500, per usual. The booth will be filled with racing luminaries, both in the form of longtime duo Mike Joy (lap-by-lap), Clint Bowyer (analyst), and Kevin Harvick (analyst), as well as guest commentator Larry McReynolds.

The race will also be live-streamed on FoxSports.com, as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Daytona 500 starting lineup

NASCAR schedule 2025

(All times Eastern)