Days Until Daytona 500
Live countdown to the 2026 Great American Race
Days Until DAYTONA 500 2026
Race Details
Summary
There are 7 days, 18 hours, and 47 minutes left until the Daytona 500 2026.
Upcoming Races (Projected)
| Year | Date | Day | Days Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 15 | Sunday | 7 days |
| 2027 | February 14 | Sunday | 371 days |
| 2028 | February 20 | Sunday | 742 days |
| 2029 | February 18 | Sunday | 1106 days |
| 2030 | February 17 | Sunday | 1470 days |
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The Great American Race:
Your Ultimate Guide to the Daytona 500
The roar of 40 engines. The smell of burning rubber and high-octane fuel. The steep 31-degree banking. There is nothing in motorsports quite like the Daytona 500.
If you are searching "How many days until the Daytona 500?", you are counting down to the Super Bowl of stock car racing. Unlike other sports where the biggest game is at the end of the season, NASCAR kicks off its year with its most prestigious, highest-paying, and most dangerous race.
Our Live Daytona 500 Countdown Tool above tracks the seconds until the green flag drops at Daytona International Speedway. But beyond the timer, this guide is your crew chief. We will dive into the schedule, the qualifying format, the history, and what it takes to survive 500 miles at 200 mph.
When is the Daytona 500 2026? (Feb 15th)
The Daytona 500 is traditionally held on a Sunday in mid-February, often coinciding with Presidents' Day weekend in the United States.
🏎️ Start Time & Schedule
The race typically begins around 2:30 PM ET (Eastern Time). However, festivities start weeks earlier with "Speedweeks," featuring practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and the Duel races that set the starting lineup.
- Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida.
- Distance: 500 Miles (200 Laps around the 2.5-mile tri-oval).
- TV Broadcast: Usually FOX or NBC (in the US).
Why is it "The Great American Race"?
The inaugural Daytona 500 was run in 1959. It was the vision of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., who built the massive 2.5-mile track to host faster, more exciting racing than the small dirt tracks of the time.
The Photo Finish: The very first race in 1959 ended in a three-way photo finish so close it took three days to determine the winner (Lee Petty). That drama set the tone for the next six decades.
The King: Richard Petty holds the record with seven Daytona 500 victories. Winning this race immortalizes a driver. It is the one trophy every racer wants on their mantle, often valued higher than the season championship itself.
The Science of Speed: By the Numbers
Daytona is a "superspeedway," meaning cars run wide open, throttle down, for hours. The physics involved are mind-bending.
200 MPH
Average speeds reached in the draft (pack racing).
31°
The banking in the turns. It is so steep you cannot walk up it without sliding.
101,500
Seating capacity of the "World Center of Racing" stadium.
$28 Million
Estimated total purse (prize money) distributed among teams.
Your Countdown Strategy: Watching the Race
Whether you are at the track or on your couch, preparation is key. Use our days until Daytona 500 timer to get ready.
Understanding "The Draft" and "The Big One"
Daytona is unique because of Restrictor Plate (now Tapered Spacer) racing.
The Draft: Because the cars are aerodynamically limited to keep speeds safe, a single car cannot drive away from the pack. They must drive bumper-to-bumper in massive packs to cut through the air. This is called drafting.
The Big One: Because cars are inches apart at 200 mph, one small mistake takes out half the field. This massive, multi-car crash is known as "The Big One." It usually happens in the final laps as drivers get aggressive, turning the leaderboard upside down instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
The waiting is the hardest part. Use our Daytona 500 Countdown Timer to track every second until the pace car pulls off and the roar begins.
Bookmark this page! Our timer automatically updates to next year's race as soon as the checkered flag waves.