It’s officially Daytona 500 week! The Great American Race is back and, hopefully, in all its glory as we look forward to the official start of NASCAR season.
We’re bracing for some news on that front, but the Daytona 500 has yet to be pushed due to weather conditions.
Ahead of the 67th edition of The Great American Race, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. landed in Daytona Beach and took an aura check prior to the pole qualifying session.
Where Dale Earnhardt Jr. Stands in Daytona 500 Week
“Landed in Daytona. Something feels different this time,” Earnhardt wrote on X, sending a clear message to his rivals ahead of JR Motorsports’ first official Cup Series race.
Landed in Daytona. Something feels different this time. 😤
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 12, 2025
Of course, Earnhardt won’t be racing at the Daytona 500, but that doesn’t mean we won’t see him at The Great American Race.
In January, JR Motorsports announced that he was launching an inaugural entry for JRM in the 2025 Daytona 500. The team will field a No. 40 Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet, with defending Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier set to take his place behind the wheel.
Allgaier is the all-time NXS series leader in top-10 finishes and is also JRM’s all-time leader in wins, which could potentially be an omen as we enter race week.
Hopes are high for JRM entering opening week. Given this is the organization’s first race in the Cup Series, Allgaier is expected to put on a show in the No. 40 car this week. The hope is that his speed should be enough to get within touching distance of the top 10 spots in the 40-driver field.
Even if hopes are high across the board, there has been some concern regarding the weather forecast for race day. With fans set to turn their attention to the Southeast for what will be the biggest race event of the year, Fox Weather projects a 54% chance of rain hitting Daytona Beach on race day.
Given the fact that there is a possibility that the race will be pushed to the following day, we will keep a close eye on the proceedings. As things stand, The Great American Race has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 16. The race will be broadcast on Fox, but fans can also catch radio coverage on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
