Daytona 500 Schedule
NASCAR has unveiled the schedule for its annual Speedweek festivities at Daytona International Speedway, outlining plans for four season-opening races and an expanded practice session for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
This announcement coincided with updates to practice and qualifying formats for NASCAR’s three national series, as well as the release of schedules for early 2025 events. Daytona’s Speedweek schedule, known for its unique format, continues that tradition with several key features.
A new 50-minute pre-qualifying practice for the Cup Series will kick off on-track activities on Wednesday, February 12, at 10 a.m. ET. Later that day, Daytona 500 Media Day will run from noon to 7 p.m. ET, followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Cup Series Director Brad Moran explained the rationale for adding this practice session, emphasizing its value for teams and drivers.
“With the Daytona 500 being the biggest race of the NASCAR season and our first race, we felt that the extra practice would be good,” Moran said. “We have new drivers coming up that are going to be running Cup full-time as well as some drivers who might just show up to run the Daytona 500. It’s a good opportunity to get out on the track, get some track time, shake the cars down prior to qualifying that night, a little more content for the fans and just to get us set up for a great week of racing with everything going on. It’s just going to set the tone for the entire week.”
The 67th Daytona 500, set for 2:30 p.m. ET on February 16 (broadcast on FOX, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), will serve as the centerpiece of a busy Speedweek. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series kicks off its season on Friday, February 14, with the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series following on Saturday, February 15. A full TV schedule for the week’s events at the 2.5-mile track will be released in the future.
2025 DAYTONA SPEEDWEEK SCHEDULE (All Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday, Feb. 12
10:05-10:55 a.m. – Cup Series opening practice
Noon-7 p.m. – Daytona 500 Media Day
8:15 p.m. – Cup Series pole qualifying
Thursday, Feb. 13
4:05-4:55 p.m. – ARCA Menards Series practice
5:05-5:55 p.m. – Craftsman Truck Series practice
7 p.m. – Cup Series: Duel 1 qualifying race (60 laps, 150 miles)
8:45 p.m. (approx.) – Cup Series: Duel 2 qualifying race (60 laps, 150 miles)
Friday, Feb. 14
1:30-2:15 p.m. – ARCA Menards Series qualifying
3 p.m. – Craftsman Truck Series qualifying
4:35-5:25 p.m. – Xfinity Series practice
5:35-6:25 p.m. – Cup Series second practice
7:30 p.m. – Craftsman Truck Series race: Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps, 250 miles; FS1)
Saturday, Feb. 15
10 a.m. – Xfinity Series qualifying
Noon – ARCA Menards Series race (80 laps, 200 miles)
3:05-3:55 p.m. – Cup Series final practice
5 p.m. – Xfinity Series race: United Rentals 300 (120 laps, 300 miles; The CW)
Sunday, Feb. 16
2:30 p.m. – Cup Series race: 67th Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles; FOX)
