TIME SCHEDULE

Check out the provisional schedule and plan your trip to the 2027 Daytona 500.

Schedule for Daytona 500 Weekend

Wednesday, February 17
NASCAR Cup Series Practice, 10:00 ET
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying, 8:15 ET

Thursday, February 18
ARCA Menards Series Practice, 4:00 ET
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice, 5:00 ET
NASCAR Cup Series Duel 1 at Daytona (60 laps), 7:00 ET
NASCAR Cup Series Duel 2 at Daytona (60 laps), 8:45 ET

Friday, February 19
ARCA Menards Series Qualifying (Group), 1:30 ET
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying, 3:00 ET
NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice, 4:30 ET
NASCAR Cup Series Practice, 5:35 ET
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps), 7:30 ET

Saturday, February 20
NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying, 10:00 ET
ARCA Menards Series Daytona ARCA 200 (80 laps), 12:00 ET
NASCAR Cup Series Practice, 3:00 ET
NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals 300 (120 laps), 5:00 ET

Sunday, February 21
NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 (200 laps), 2:30 ET

General about the Daytona 500 schedule

The 2026 Daytona 500 week is packed with exciting racing activities leading up to the main event on Sunday, February 15. Here’s a general schedule focused on the key racing sessions:

Wednesday
The action begins with the Daytona 500 Qualifying. This session sets the front row for the Daytona 500, with the two fastest drivers securing the coveted spots at the front of the starting grid for Sunday’s race. After qualifying, there will be practice sessions for the NASCAR Cup Series to fine-tune their cars for the upcoming races.

Thursday
On Thursday, the focus shifts to the Daytona Duels. These are the two qualifying races for the Daytona 500, scheduled to take place in the evening. Duel 1 will start at 7:00 PM ET, followed by Duel 2 at approximately 9:00 PM ET. These 60-lap races determine positions 3-32 on the starting grid for the Daytona 500, offering a preview of the close racing and strategy that will play out on Sunday.

Friday
NASCAR Truck Series drivers take to the track for the NextEra Energy 250 at 7:30 PM ET. While this race is not directly related to the Daytona 500, it’s an exciting event to watch and kicks off the weekend’s action. There will also be additional practice sessions for both the Cup Series and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series throughout the day.

Saturday
Saturday features more racing action with the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and the ARCA Menards Series. These races, while not part of the Cup Series, provide additional excitement and showcase future stars and up-and-coming talent.

Sunday
The highlight of the week, the Daytona 500, takes place at 2:30 PM ET. The NASCAR Cup Series race is the season opener and the most prestigious event of the year, spanning 200 laps (500 miles) of high-speed action. The race will feature pre-race ceremonies, including driver introductions, a flyover, and the national anthem. After 500 miles of intense competition, the winner will celebrate in Victory Lane, marking the official start of the NASCAR season.