Daytona 500: Donald Trump arrives for NASCAR race in Air Force One
For the second time as president, Donald Trump is in attendance at the Daytona 500 NASCAR race Sunday.
NASCAR‘s most famous race, the Daytona 500, takes center stage on Sunday as Cup Series drivers hit the gas at Daytona International Speedway for the 67th annual race.
The iconic race has been won by some of the biggest names in motorsports history, and another driver will look to add his name to the pantheon and lift the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane.
Denny Hamlin, who won the “Great American Race” in 2016 and back-to-back in 2019-20, will look to cement his place in NASCAR history on Sunday. Another victory would make the Joe Gibbs Racing driver just the third to win the Daytona 500 at least four times – joining Richard Petty (seven) and Cale Yarborough (four).
But Hamlin will face challenges throughout the 41-driver field – which includes seven other former winners – as racers attempt to master the fast speeds and tight packs on the 2.5-mile superspeedway and make the winning move at just the right moment.
USA TODAY will provide all the latest updates, highlights and results of Sunday’s race. Follow along for all the action:
Christopher Bell, leading the outside lane, got into the wall with four laps remaining in the 2025 Daytona 500, causing a crash that sent Ryan Preece flipping onto the track.
Cole Custer got into the back of Bell, which sent Bell’s No. 20 Toyota careening into the outside wall before it slingshotted back onto the track and into Ryan Preece’s No. 60 Ford, which went airborne. Both Bell and Preece were able to climb safely from their cars. Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace also suffered damage in the crash.
The 67th annual Daytona 500 now heads to overtime.
Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., battling for position near the front of the field, caused a multi-car crash on Lap 186 of the 2025 Daytona 500 that also took out some of the strongest contenders for the win, including Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott.
Logano and Blaney, both Team Penske drivers, had won the first two stages of Sunday’s race, while Elliott had been driving near the front for good chunks of the race. Kyle Busch who was among the leaders in Stage 3, was also collected in the crash, along with Brad Keselowski and Noah Gragson.
Following a caution on Lap 162 for debris in Turn 1, all drivers came down pit road for what should be their final pit stop for fuel – barring overtime – of the 2025 Daytona 500. Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 champion, emerged with the lead with Bubba Wallace on the front rowad for the restart.
Bubba Wallace in a Toyota, Ryan Blaney in a Ford and Kyle Busch in a Chevrolet are pacing the three lanes with 55 laps remaining in the 2025 Daytona 500. All drivers will have to make at least one more pit stop for fuel.
Ryan Blaney took the second segment of the 2025 Daytona 500, taking the checkered flag over Team Penske teammate Austin Cindric following a strong push from Chase Elliott. Cindric had led much of Stage 2 with Blaney pushing him, but Blaney made the move in the final Turn to get alongside his teammate and pass him at the start/finish line.
Elliott finished third in Stage 2, followed by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman and Front row Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland. Chris Buescher, Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch rounded out the Top 10.
Following the stage, Blaney led the field down pit road for fuel and tires. The final segment is 70 laps.
Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske drivers have moved to the front of the field with Penske’s Austin Cindric the best of the bunch with 10 laps remaining in Stage 2. Ryan Baney is running right behind his Penske teammate, while Hendrick drivers Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman also running near the front of the pack.
Fords showing great speed through the middle of Stage 2 with Noah Gragson, Austin Cindric and Ryan Preece pacing the three lanes for long stretches. The race has reached the halfway point with 100 of 200 laps complete.
The yellow flag waved on Lap 83 for debris in Turn 1 of Daytona International Speedway. Most drivers came down pit road to refuel with 40 laps remaining in Stage 2.
Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher lead the field to green on Lap 77 with Austin Cindric, Ryan Preece and Daniel Suarez in the Top 5.
Seconds after drivers took the green flag to begin Stage 2, a big multi-car crash broke out in the back of the field as the outside lane stacked up behind Joey Logano, who could not get going on the front row.
The crash caught pole winner Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Jon Hunter Nemechek Kyle Busch, Riley Herbst, Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Helio Castroneves and others, with some suffering major damage.
Team Penske teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney on the front row, followed by Daniel Suarez and Alex Bowman.
Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano took the opening stage of Sunday’s Daytona 500, which ended under caution following a mutli-car collision. Logano led 38 laps in the 65-lap stage, which saw a number of early laps also run under caution due to rain.
Brad Keselowksi finished second, Ryan Blaney third, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fourth and Christopher Bell fifth.
Zane Smith, in the No. 38 Ford, and Josh Berry, in the No. 21 Ford, suffered major damage in the crash at the end of the stage.
The second stage will also be a 65-lap segment, while the final stage will run 70 laps to reach a total of 200 laps.
Denny Hamlin got hit from behind on Lap 63 as the inside lane checked up, setting off a collision that collected Zane Smith, Josh Berry and Austin Cindric. Hamlin was forced down to the apron while Smith made contact with Cindric and Berry.
Drivers have finally retaken the green flag at Daytona International Speedway after two weather delays as temperatures have dropped more than 20 degrees from the initial start.
Reigning series champion Joey Logano and last year’s Daytona 500 winner William Byron are on the front row as the race restarts on Lap 24.
Before the green flag could drop to resume the 2025 Daytona, NASCAR dispayed the red flag again on Lap 21. NASCAR officials had brought the cars back to the track to run nearly 10 cautions laps with hopes of restarting the race before light rain returned to Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR officials expect this cell to pass through quickly and go green soon.
After a long rain delay, drivers have returned to the track at Daytona International Speedway as NASCAR flipped from a red flag to a yellow caution flag before the race restarts. Most drivers elected to come down pit road to refuel before the race goes back green.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers are due to report back to their cars at 5:25 p.m. ET for the resumption of the Daytona 500 as rain has begun clearing out of Daytona International Speedway.
Back in the day, NASCAR used jet dryers to clear its tracks from rain. They were pulled by trucks, they were a bit clunky, and they were loud. But in 2013, NASCAR introduced the Air Titans, air-compression systems that are embedded in pickup trucks that get the job done in half the time. The Air Titans blow water off the track at Daytona International Speedway, and a vacuum/sweeper truck follows behind to suck up what’s left.
How long it takes to dry a track depends on a number of factors, from the makeup of the track to the climate conditions: humidity, cloud cover, wind, etc. The Air Titans can dry the 2.5-mile track at Daytona International Speedway in 90-150 minutes, but in decent conditions it could be done in about an hour. — Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY Network
The 2025 Daytona 500 remains under a red flag for rain as the current cell moves through. There is potentially another rain cell behind this one, but there could be a significant break between the two. Here is the latest radar as of 3:30 p.m. ET
NASCAR brought all the cars down pit road and displayed the red flag on Lap 11 of the 2025 Daytona 500 as the rain picked up at Daytona International Speedway. Drivers exited their vehicles as crews covered the cars.
Light rain has arrived at the track, bringing out the yellow flag just nine laps into the race. Rain has hit parts of Central and North Florida but had mostly remained to the North and West of Daytona International Speedway. Defending race winner William Byron was the leading the field when the caution flag came out.
The green flag has dropped for the 67th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Pole winner Chase Briscoe, in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Austin Cindric, in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, lead the field.
Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, took laps with his motorcade around the 2.5-mile oval at Daytona International Speedway ahead of the 2025 Daytona 500.
TRUMP AT DAYTONA: President visits Daytona 500 again
A number of drivers are moving to the rear of the field after switching to backup cars, changing engines or failing technical inspection. In backup cars: Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Justin Haley, Riley Herbst, Alex Bowman, Ty Gibbs, Shane Van Gisbergen and Daniel Suarez. Helio Castroneves’ team changed engines and Ricky Stenhouse Jr’s car failed inspection.
Just a week after attending the Super Bowl, President Donald Trump made an appearance at another great American sporting event, the 2025 Daytona 500.
The 47th president arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida a little after 1 p.m. ET and at Daytona International Speedway shortly after as some drivers and team owners awaited Trump’s arrival. The President took a lap around the 2.5-mile track and received loud cheers when he was shown as the national anthem neared its conclusion.
When is the 2025 Daytona 500?
The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The time was moved up one hour from the original 2:30 p.m. start due to weather concerns.
What TV channel is the 2025 Daytona 500 on?
The 2025 Daytona 500 will be televised nationally on Fox.
Will there be a live stream of the 2025 Daytona 500?
The 2025 Daytona 500 can be streamed on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app. For those looking to cut the cord, the race can also be streamed on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.
Watch the 2025 Daytona 500 on Fubo
Don’t be surprised if rain delays or temporarily halts any portion of the race, with a 60% chance of precipitation in the afternoon hours, according to National Weather Service. The forecast is for mostly cloudy skies early before transitioning to cloudy and windy, with gusts as high as 35 mph. The temperature is expected to be around 80 degrees for the start of the race.
The race is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of 500 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) – Stage 1: 65 laps; Stage 2: 65 laps; Stage 3: 70 laps.
Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski are currently the favorites to win the Daytona 500, according to BetMGM. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering betting promos in 2024.
Odds as of afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 16.
- Ryan Blaney: +1200
- Joey Logano: +1200
- Denny Hamlin: +1200
- Kyle Busch: +1200
- Brad Keselowski: +1500
- Kyle Larson: +1600
- Chase Elliott: +1600
- William Byron: +2000
- Bubba Wallace +2000
- Christopher Bell +2000
- Chris Buescher: +2000
- Austin Cindric: +2000
- Chase Briscoe +2500
- Tyler Reddick +3000
- Alex Bowman +3000
- Ross Chastain +3000
- Todd Gilliland +3000
- Justin Allgaier +3000
Chase Briscoe, who posted the fastest time in Wednesday’s pole qualifying, will start on the pole for the 67th annual Daytona 500 in his first race with Joe Gibbs Racing. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric will start second after qualifying second. Bubba Wallace, of 23XI Racing, and Erik Jones, of Legacy Motor Club, will start on Row No. 2 after their finishes in Thursday’s Daytona Duel races.
What is the lineup for the 2025 Daytona 500?
(Starting position in parentheses)
- (19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
- (2) Austin Cindric, Ford
- (23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
- (43) Erik Jones, Toyota
- (24) William Byron, Chevrolet
- (17) Chris Buescher, Ford
- (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
- (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
- (1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
- (22) Joey Logano, Ford
- (45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
- (01) Corey LaJoie, Ford
- (16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
- (34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
- (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
- (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
- (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
- (42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
- (40) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet
- (20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
- (8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
- (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
- (54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
- (35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
- (71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
- (88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
- (60) Ryan Preece, Ford
- (51) Cody Ware, Ford
- (21) Josh Berry, Ford
- (41) Cole Custer, Ford
- (47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
- (4) Noah Gragson, Ford
- (77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
- (6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
- (7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
- (99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
- (38) Zane Smith, Ford
- (48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
- (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
- (84) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota
- (91) Helio Castroneves, Chevrolet
USA TODAY: Look for Logano to come out on top
Ellen J. Horrow writes: “It’s hard to bet against Joey Logano, who comes into Daytona with a ton of momentum. The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, who captured his third career title in November in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway, brings both experience and speed to Sunday’s race. The Team Penske driver, who finished fourth in Wednesday’s pole qualifying and fifth in Daytona Duel No. 2 Thursday night, is one of the best superspeedway racers and knows how to maneuver in the pack racing at Daytona International Speedway. While it’s been 10 years since he captured his lone Daytona 500 victory, Logano finished second in 2023 and fourth in both 2018 and 2019.”
Daytona Beach News-Journal: History favors Hamlin, Blaney
Ken Willis writes: “Denny Hamlin: For now, you simply play the odds. Of the 40 or 41 drivers who suit up Sunday, Denny is the only three-time winner.”
Chris Vinel writes: “Ryan Blaney: He simply feels like a guy who’s going to win one of these – maybe sooner rather than later. He’s twice finished as the Daytona 500 runner-up (2017, 2020) and five times cracked the top 10.”
The Athletic: Bell, Blaney could take checkered flag
Jeff Gluck writes: “Christopher Bell…crashed in four of his first six Daytona races. Since then, he has gone third-16th-third-third. He told us this week it’s simply his luck that has turned around at this place rather than doing something much different than before. … With a record 11 Toyotas in the race, there should be a better chance for one of them to break through this year, even if a bunch get swept up in a wreck. And I’ll take Bell to do it.”
Jordan Bianchi writes: “Ryan Blaney is one of the best on superspeedways, and while he’s come close to winning the Daytona 500 on multiple occasions, he hasn’t yet. This changes on Sunday.”
William Byron won the 66th annual Daytona 500 to kick off the 2024 season. The 26-year-old edged Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman at the checkered flag. Byron’s win gave team owner Rick Hendrick a record-tying nine Daytona 500 victories, becoming the sixth different driver in the team’s history to win the iconic race.
*-active driver
- Richard Petty … 7
- Cale Yarborough … 4
- Bobby Allison … 3
- Jeff Gordon … 3
- *-Denny Hamlin … 3
- Dale Jarrett … 3
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