DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The time has come for Cup Series drivers to compete in the biggest race in stock car racing. They will face off in the Daytona 500 to kick off the regular season.
Known as the Great American Race, the Daytona 500 is truly a special event for winners and attendees alike. The grandstands sell out regularly, and some of the biggest celebrities show up to take in the show. The drivers who win the race become forever immortalized in the record books.
Sunday afternoon's race provides the opportunity for yet another driver to join this exclusive list of competitors.
Daytona 500 Cup Series race information
Weather: The WeatherUnderground forecast calls for cloudy skies with rain showers in the afternoon. A high of 80 degrees and a 39% chance of rain as the green flag waves.
Green flag time: Actor Anthony Mackie will give the command to fire engines at 1:45 p.m. ET. The green flag will wave at 2 p.m. ET.
Starting lineup: Chase Briscoe won the pole while Austin Cindric qualified second. Full starting lineup here.
Pre-race: The garage opens at 6 a.m. ET. Driver introductions will take place at 12:50 p.m. ET. Pre-race coverage begins with "NASCAR RaceDay" on Fox at 11:30 a.m. ET. Race coverage continues on Fox and Fox Deportes at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Stages: The race will consist of three stages. The first stage ends at Lap 65. The second stage ends at Lap 130. The scheduled end of the race is Lap 200.
Past winners: Multiple Cup Series drivers have celebrated Daytona 500 wins. Many others have celebrated wins in the Daytona summer race.
William Byron has won both races. His first career Cup Series win was the 2020 regular-season finale. He then won last season's crown jewel race. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the 2023 Daytona 500 and the 2017 summer race. Austin Dillon won the 2022 summer race and the 2018 Daytona 500.
Jimmie Johnson has won the Great American Race twice (2013, 2006). He also won the summer race in 2013 to secure the season sweep.
The other Daytona 500 winners are Austin Cindric (2022), Michael McDowell (2021), Denny Hamlin (2020, 2019, 2016), and Joey Logano (2015).
The drivers with summer Daytona wins but no Daytona 500 wins include Kyle Busch (2008), Erik Jones (2018), Justin Haley (2019), Brad Keselowski (2016), Ryan Blaney (2021), and Chris Buescher (2023).