Daytona 500 finally begins a day late after nonstop rains delayed NASCAR spectacle
The Daytona 500 finally started Monday, a day later than scheduled because of two-days of rain at Daytona International Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Daytona 500 finally started Monday, a day later than scheduled because of two-days of rain at Daytona International Speedway.
The day was supposed to open with the rescheduled second-tier Xfinity Series race and then lead into “The Great American Race.” But when it was still raining Monday morning, NASCAR reordered the events and made the Xfinity race the closer.
Joey Logano started from the pole in a Ford for Team Penske — a first for Roger Penske's storied team — in an all-Ford front row. But right before the race began, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin became the betting favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
There was no pre-race concert Monday as scheduled performer Pitbull said he'd return next year to make good on his appearance. He said a scheduling conflict prevented him from staying in Daytona on Monday, but, grand marshal Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson did stay the extra day and was the most popular attraction in pre-race activities.
