DAYTONA BEACH — Persistent rain showers over the weekend have forced NASCAR to postpone the iconic Daytona 500 race to Monday.
Held for the first time in 1959, the race that kicks off the yearly Cup series was delayed for the third time in its history after two days of intense rain at Daytona International Speedway.
🗣️ @frank_kelleher giving you race fans all of the information you need for tomorrow's doubleheader. #UnitedRentals300 | #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/HVkDc2dR6u
— Daytona International Speedway (@DAYTONA) February 18, 2024
It led to the first doubleheader in NASCAR’s history ever as the previously postponed Xfinity Series race served as the opener on Monday morning before the delayed Daytona 500 took the track in the afternoon.
Despite the trouble, celebrities were at the Speedway to meet with the media.
“When you are just a sports fan, something like this really becomes an honor and a privilege,” said Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, this year’s Daytona 500 Grand Marshal. “I’m a lucky guy to be in this position in my career to have been asked to be the Grand Marshal… Honey don’t do that.”
Rapper Pitbull also attended the press conference.
He was initially scheduled to perform a pre-race concert on Sunday. The rescheduling conflicted for him to stay in Daytona another day, but he promised to return in 2025. Daytona International Speedway President, Frank Kelleher, presented him with a custom-made Daytona 500 jacket.
Pitbull is also the co-owner of the Trackhouse Racing Team. Despite his team being seen as the underdogs in the Cup Series, he likes to go against the odds.
“We love when people tell us no, won’t, don’t… impossible … I’m possible,” Pitbull said during the press conference.
The Daytona 500 ran smoothly on Monday after the rain passed.
The number 24 Chevrolet Hendricks Motorsports car driven by William Byron took first place just before the fifth caution flag was flown.
Byron was in disbelief that he had won the Great American Race.
“No one told me… I was like, did we win it or not?” he said.
Alex Bowman finished second place followed by Christopher Bell in third. Racers Corey Lajoie and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five.
Credits
Anchors: Jimmy Rosilio, Abby Papasodero
Producer: McKenzie Muskett
Reporters: Dawson Cordova
Social Media: Joao Victor Ouriques De Souza Pina
Technical Director: Aviva Kram
Teleprompter: Justin Michael
Video Editor: Aviva Kram
Cameras: Josh Skinner
Web Editor: Joao Victor Ouriques De Souza Pina
Graduate Assistant: McKenzie Muskett
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stephanie Anderson