The forecast is uncertain, and everyone (including the recent former president of the United States) remembers the deluge that shut down last years race. The race to open the 2021 NASCAR season is scheduled for Feb. 14. The Kaulig Racing driver earned the pole with a lap of 183.119 mph. This year's Daytona 500 attendance will be similar to other Speedweek events, and a myriad of safety precautions will be in place to ensure fans' safety. That's because while NASCAR is back, so is COVID-19. "While we won't be able to have a capacity crowd here in February, we are excited that we can host the Daytona 500 with those in attendance, as well as for the millions who will tune in live on Fox. Yes, a pair of Hendrick Motorsports Chevys are on the front row, but in the garage, the buzz is about the Fords on race day. The cars of Custer, Berry, Sheldon Creed, Busch, Brandon Jones and Gray Gaulding will go to the rear for using backup cars. The process is expected to be completed by early January. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. NASCAR Cup Breaking news 2021 Daytona 500 to have limited fans in attendance NASCAR will begin its 2021 season the way it ended 2020 - with limited fans in attendance. Now, Hamlin will be aiming to win his fourth Daytona 500 but will face plenty of competition from several of his rivals. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Deegan could not continue and finished 32nd. ET and can also be watched on the Fox Sports app. Market data provided by Factset. There will reportedly be 22,000 fans at the Super Bowl on Feb. 7, but the Daytona 500 one week later could have even more watching in person. Where are F1 2023 absentees Vettel, Ricciardo and Schumacher? Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's automotive editor. 50 to honor his 50-0 record in the ring. Are there any limits on the number of fans allowed to attend? (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Dhruv George is a senior Motorsports author for EssentiallySports, having In 2022 however, there are no limits on the number of fans that are attending the Daytona 500. The move is thought to allow a greater number of fans to attend the event under Florida's less restrictive policies compared with Southern California, as well as minimize travel between states. Fans who have already bought tickets to the event will still be able to go, but there's a chance that their seating will be rearranged in order to comply with social distancing guidelines. ET Saturday. The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports, and fans from all over the world converge in Daytona Beach to be a part of motorsports biggest day, track president Chip Wile said in the statement. That amounts to just over 21,000 people at a. . The Daytona 500 will run with limited fan in attendance, Daytona International Speedway announced Wednesday. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Speedway, NASCAR find ways to boost Daytona economy during COVID pandemic, Fact check: Image does not show Tampa mayor violating Super Bowl mask mandate, How to watch the 2021 Daytona 500 on TV, live stream, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The exhibition race features around 20 of the top drivers. ET Saturday at the track. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. The Daytona 500 attendance in 2021 will be limited to just 21 percent of maximum capacity. It is one of two Cup Series races held yearly at Daytona, with the second - a 400-mile event - as the regular-season finale in 2021. Throughout 15 years in the Cup Series, McDowell has earned only seven top-five finishes and all but one of those have come at Daytona and Talladega. Entry times for #NextEra250 race day Know what to bring with you for #SpeedweeksbyAdventHealth https://t.co/Xr2Z9LoFV3 pic.twitter.com/H5SGC3s7Ws. Kyle Busch: 60 career wins, 0-for-17 in Daytona 500. In the 2021 Daytona 500, he ran inside the top 15 for 99.5% of the laps run and nearly snuck by Michael McDowell for the win when chaos erupted on the last lap. Obviously, the track authorities will try everything in their power to ensure a safe environment for all. Reigning series champion Zane Smith, who won the season opener at Daytona, finished second. Elliott finished second last weekend at Auto Club Speedway. More:Daytona 500 to be held with 'limited' fans in 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic The last two NASCAR Cup races at Daytona the road course race in August and the regular-season finale a few . Who had a good race: Reigning series champion Zane Smith, who is the points leader this season, has opened the season with a win and a runner-up finish. Phoenix Raceway, where attendance was limited to 20% capacity for the championship race in November, announced that the track will again host limited fans. Coliseum in 2022. 2023 Daytona 500 loop data Previous race results Next race results Previous at this track. Attendance at the 2021 Daytona 500 won by Michael McDowell was limited to 30%. More:Daytona 500 to be held with 'limited' fans in 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic. daytona beach, fla. The Daytona International Speedway announced on Wednesday that the 2021 Daytona 500 will be held with a limited number of fans in attendance. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400 was held. "Hey! To be precise, all spectators have to wear a mask if indoors. The Daytona stands hold 101,500 spectators, per the Speedway website, but a specific capacity cap was not provided. All rights reserved. Legal Statement. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Best finish: 7th, 2016 and 2019 Last year, he finished fifth. Kyle Busch (180.156) qualified 11th. section: | slug: 2021-daytona-500-limited-fan-attendance-will-be-allowed-for-the-63rd-running-of-the-great-american-race | sport: nascar | route: article_single.us | or redistributed. The NASCAR season-opening Clash race will be held on a temporary track built in the L.A. The Emmy winner will climb atop the flag stand and wave the green flag over the start of the race. Sports, the event is the third most-attended sporting event in the country, trailing just the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400. But how many fans are in attendance at the superspeedway in 2022 for the Daytona 500? Among them will be defending champion Kyle Larson leading the Hendrick Motorsports charge. Cup Series drivers will practice and qualify Saturday before the Xfinity Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Are there any restrictions on the crowd numbers? Fans are able to place ticket deposits online, but an announcement should be forthcoming from the speedway regarding seating. That amounts to just over 21,000 people at a facility that can seat over 101,500. Joining them will be Conor Daly, whom you know from IndyCar and also his fourth-place finish in the 30th season of The Amazing Race. The track hosted roughly 22,000 fans for last year's All-Star Race and attendance appeared closer to its sold-out allotted 20% capacity (30,000 spectators) for the Cup race there in September. This was the longest Daytona 500 in history going 530 miles. More:Speedway, NASCAR find ways to boost Daytona economy during COVID pandemic. ET Sunday, Feb. 14,. This year's edition of the Daytona 500 is of particular interest to NASCAR fans as it marks the official competitive debut of the all-new Next Gen Cup Series car, which was first used in the exhibition Clash at the Coliseum in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6 that was won by Joey Logano. we are excited that we can host the Daytona 500 with those in attendance, as well as for the millions who will tune in live on FOX." . Tyler Reddick (179.683) qualified 15th. Others have found success, but only a dozen have won it twice, and these drivers who have surpassed that record are the masters of the Great American Race. Johnson is back after retiring from full-time NASCAR racing in 2020, having spent the past two seasons in the IndyCar paddock. Mac spends countless hours in the Ford simulator and watching film paired with onboard data, for no reason other than to win one race, the Daytona 500. Your login session has expired. Here's what it . Market data provided by Factset. Christian Eckes finished third, giving him finishes of sixth or better in the first two races of the season. A lot of us here are hoping that maybe we'll get another surprising visit before the weekend is up -- Frankie's TV dad, Bryan Cranston. Market data provided by Factset. Admittedly, we are going into this race blind. Busch looked great in his Thursday night Duel 150 before he was wrecked out by contact with Daniel Suarez. The new design includes composite bodywork that better resembles the production models the cars represent, plus larger wheels and tires, a fully independent suspension system and five-speed sequential transmission. Grandstand tickets for the Daytona 500 run from around $100 to $400, but a variety of multi-day and experience packages are also offered. 2021 Daytona 500 to have limited fans in attendance NASCAR will begin its 2021 season the way it ended 2020 - with limited fans in attendance. Michael McDowell enters the race as defending winner after the fiery last lap crash in 2021. Chase Elliott (leg) to miss Las Vegas Cup Series race, Top NASCAR experts reveal 2023 Pennzoil 400 picks, 2023 Pennzoil 400 predictions, odds, sims, picks, Legendary NASCAR expert reveals Pennzoil 400 picks, NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas: How to watch, picks, NASCAR changes package for short tracks, road courses. But in 2021, one of the season's biggest events will have the crowd those drivers so desperately craved -- to a certain degree, at least. The Daytona 500 will be broadcast on FOX Sunday, Feb. 20 starting at 2:30 p.m. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images), "Our sport is as captivating as ever and we are riding some great momentum from the 2021 season, and the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. At Inter-Miami CF Stadium an hour north of the track, allotted attendance has hovered between 14% and 20% of the stadium's 18,000-seat capacity for soccer events in recent months. Saturday: Partly cloudy with a high of 65. While he was still spinning, Rowdy radioed to his new RCR team, "That was a Daytona 500-winning car.". Daytona International Speedway, home to the Daytona. The all-new seventh generation NASCAR Cup Series car was tested at Daytona International Speedway this week. Gov. Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass reported that this year's precautions will include masks required for indoor spaces. Going for the win at Daytona nearly ended the careers of Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch and countless others as well. The 2020 Daytona 500 was the last held without capacity restrictions. https://t.co/1q6T8SL1Zv, Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 13, 2022. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The 2021 Daytona 500 had just 30,000 in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time. The Daytona 500 will be the first official race to feature the Next Gen Cup Series cars that debuted at the exhibition Clash at the Coliseum. Tickets for the race are still available starting at $65. Sorry, NASCAR fans, if you don't have a ticket for this year's Daytona 500, you weren't quick enough. The 2023 Daytona 530 was a NASCAR Cup Series race and the 65th running of the event.It was held on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Great American Race will once again have the aura and atmosphere that fans have come to know and love. The last two NASCAR Cup races at Daytona the road course race in August and the regular-season finale a few weeks later hosted an estimated 10,000 and 25,000 fans, respectively. Two years ago, Almirola had a car strong enough to win one of the 150-mile duels, but his 500 ended in heartbreak when he was taken out in a crash on Lap 15. Daytona International Speedway announced that the 2021 Daytona 500 will be run with a limited crowd because of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Almost all of NASCAR's earliest races in 2021 will run with limited fans. The track also announced that tickets remained on sale for other events during Speedweeks. Legal Statement. (The 1960 race, the second 500, had an official attendance of 38,775.). Race Timings for NASCAR Cup, Truck, Xfinity and ARCA Series, Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. Fans will be screened before entering the venue and required to wear face coverings and observe at least 6 feet of social distancing. Josh Berry will drive the No. The paper also reported that the regular season finale race hosted an estimated audience of around 25,000. Their low-register rumble is still audible miles from Daytona International Speedway. What Nascar track holds the most fans? Feb 14, 2021; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Denny Hamlin (11), Kyle Busch (18), Martin Truex Jr. (19) and Bubba Wallace (23) during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. It would behoove us all to believe he can totally do it again. Following the resumption of the 2020 season, Daytona played host to both the Go Bowling 235 (road course) and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 (oval) Cup Series races with limited attendance in August. "The Great American Race will once again have the aura and atmosphere that fans have come to know and love. The 2021 Daytona 500 was run under health and safety rules that limited attendance to 30,000. That includes a fifth-place run in the 2019 Daytona 500, followed up by a win two years later. Daytona already revealed last month that the 101,000-seat grandstand was sold out, in what many in the industry said . "Hey, I think this track surface has really developed a lot of character!" Here's what we know about which tracks are hosting fans: Daytona International Speedway announced in December that attendance would be limited for NASCAR's main event Feb. 14 and all Speedweeks races that precede the 500, including the Clash, Duels and the Trucks and Xfinity races. Chase Elliott will not compete this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to a leg injury, Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday night. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Kyle Larson: 19 career wins, 0-for-9 in Daytona 500. Attendance at the 2021 Daytona 500 won by Michael McDowell was limited to 30%. Almirola has two Cup wins on superspeedways and 13 combined top-10s at Daytona and Talladega, so he does have a track record of success. Earlier this week, Daytona International Speedway announced the 2022 Daytona 500 was a sell-out. Jimmie Johnson returned to the Cup Series for Legacy Motor Club in this race. You're in @TravisPastrana! Daytona International Speedway, home to the Daytona 500, announced Wednesday that the "biggest event in all of motorsports" will play host to a limited number of fans when it rolls around in February. The 1979 Daytona 500 saw Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison fight tooth-and-nail on the final lap, only to lose it to Petty after the two took each other out. According to the wise guys in the desert, the consensus top picks are three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin (+1100 via Caesars), followed by a five-pack of drivers at +1200, including Ryan Blaney, who should have won this race a year ago, Joey Logano, who won the first of Thursday night's Duel 150s, Kyle Busch and Elliott. The NASCAR Cup Series will open its 73rd season on Valentine's Day 2021 with the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 . Blaney and his Ford should have won this race a year ago and in 2018, when he led 118 laps. It's Tiffany Haddish!" The 2021 event was held with capacity restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic and only had about 30,000 fans in attendance, while this year's number will be well over 100,000. Also, Frankie Muniz is at the World Center of Racing. Policies can be found in the track's "Notice of Risk and Policies" document. Hes spoken with several members of our team and is understandably disappointed to miss time in the car. The Daytona International Speedway has announced that all grandstand seats and RV parking spots have been sold out ahead of the Feb. 20 race. Although the Speedway doesn't release official attendance figures, the event was on track to outpace the 2021 edition that unfolded with restrictions tied to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as pre . Chandler Smith scored his first career Xfinity pole, posting the fastest lap in Friday nights Xfinity Series qualifying session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS: NASCAR motors on with one eye on road, another on the radar. Like everything else, Daytona Speedweeks and the Great American Race are different this year. That amounts to just over 21,000 people at a facility that can seat over 101,500. Information on ticketing and health and safety protocols can be found on the speedway website. However, Michael McDowell denied him a hat-trick in 2021. It took seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, Sr. 20 years to win, and is also where he tragically lost his life only three years later. Market data provided by Factset. 4:09 pm ET. Have something to tell us about this article? He finished second in the Daytona 500 in 2017 and 2020 and won the 400-miler in August 2021. NASCAR has yet to publicly announce the expected Daytona 500 attendance for Sunday's race but the 2019 event held at the track's road course on Aug. 16 saw an estimated 10,000 people attend, as per the Daytona Beach Journal. Elliotts streak of consecutive Cup starts ends at 254 races. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to empty stadiums and arenas throughout the sports world, while the 2020 NASCAR season featured many races without fans. Villeneuve, also the 1995 Indy 500 winner is the first F1 driver to tackle NASCAR's premier race since Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Speed in 2013. 9 car this weekend. The 2020 Daytona 500 was the last held without capacity restrictions. While we unfortunately won't be able to have everyone here with us in 2021, your support and passion will still be felt in February. However, they will observe the same protocols that they did in August 2021. -- McGee, Aric Almirola to win (+3500): Almirola probably feels overdue. More:DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS: NASCAR motors on with one eye on road, another on the radar. #BuschLightPole | #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/3hcaul572y. Austin Cindric, who shocked Wallace and the rest of the world by winning last year's Daytona 500 as a rookie, nearly won his Duel 150 on Thursday night and will start his 500 title defense from the third row. In the last five years, Denny Hamlin has won three times, including two in a row. Sanitizer and handwashing stations will be everywhere, along with yellow-shirted workers ready to wipe down high-touch surfaces. More:Dale Earnhardt, 20 years later: Share your memories, photos, videos of 'The Intimidator'. The all-new seventh generation NASCAR Cup Series car was tested at Daytona International Speedway this week. Now its up tothe fans: They must follow the rules and do what they can to keep everyone safe. Attendance: n/a Lead changes: 52 Green flag passes: 11,538 (66.3 per green flag lap) (Source: NASCAR loop data) The 2020 Daytona 500 was the last held without capacity restrictions. The Daytona 500 consists of 200 laps on a 2.5-mile track. That includes the Busch Clash on Feb. 9, Daytona 500 qualifying on Feb. 10, qualifying races on Feb. 11, truck race on Feb. 12 and the Xfinty and ARCA races on Feb. 13. Chase Elliott will open up his NASCAR Cup Series championship title defense and Denny Hamlin will try to go back to back at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 14. I agree to receive the "CBS Sports HQ Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. More:Here's the Rolex 24 At Daytona 2021 starting grid: 49 cars are full of racing's stars The Speedway announced in December that the number of fans allowed to attend the Daytona 500 would be . That's because while NASCAR is back, so is COVID-19. More:Fact check: Image does not show Tampa mayor violating Super Bowl mask mandate. Hendrick Motorsports has had lots of speed in the Daytona 500, but hasn't had a winner since 2014. The Daytona International Speedway has started hiring 2,500 people to work the marquee Daytona 500 and additional events planned for throughout the year. When the Next Gen car was rolled out one year ago, the real character in each different make -- Chevy, Toyota and Ford -- was found in their nose piece designs. It will also be interesting to see who will draw first blood in the 2022 season and challenge for the title. The 63rd running of the Daytona 500 is scheduled for Feb. 14. What time is the 2021 DAYTONA 500? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Safety policies include wearing masks in the facility except when seated, agreeing to undergo a health screening and temperature check and maintaining six feet of social distancing between parties. Its all in the name of social distancing, something Speedway officials say they intend to enforce. You might also like: Daytona weather could be deciding factor in Daytona 500, Be the first one to comment on this story. Floyd Mayweather Jr also has a team in the race The Money Team Racing with driver Kaz Grala qualifying the #50 machine. Daytona track president said yesterday no capacity limits the protocols will be same as they were in August must wear a mask if indoors. Of course, there is risk. NASCAR's Damaged Vehicle Policy had previously stated that cars being worked on by teams on pit road had six minutes to get back on the racetrack or be eliminated. Winds 20-30 mph. "It's going to be the largest sporting event that happens in the United States since COVID hit . All Rights Reserved. Austin Hill won at Daytona. The Daytona 500 is one of the most historic races in NASCAR history. Legal Statement. But this year will once again prove what fans already know: It is never boring. The Daytona 500 attendance ranged from 100,000 to 150,000 fans in the recent years before COVID-19. And finally: Will it rain? From 1995-2020, U.S. television ratings for the Daytona 500 have been the highest for any auto race of the year, surpassing the traditional leader, the Indianapolis 500 which in turn greatly surpasses the Daytona 500 in in-track attendance and international viewing; however, in 2021 the Indianapolis 500 surpassed the Daytona 500 in TV ratings . John Hunter Nemechek won last weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Xavier Institute of Communications. All rights reserved. The Daytona 500 is many things. But in 2021, one of the season's biggest events will have the crowd those drivers so desperately craved -- to a certain degree, at least. Bristol Motor Speedway announced that the track had reached its socially-distanced grandstand capacity for its dirt race on March 28. Some reconfiguring of NASCAR's original schedule last month moved the Daytona Road Course race to second in the order and bumped Auto Club Speedway from the lineup completely. Even with low attendance, this will be the largest American sporting event since the coronavirus seized control of our lives, with people in attendance from across the country. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The Daytona 500 attendance in 2021 will be limited to just 21 percent of maximum capacity. Tickets are still available for events taking place earlier in the week, which include qualifying, practice and Xfinity Series, Truck Series and ARCA series races. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ET on FS1). Those with a participating TV provider can also watch online and on smart devices using the FOX Sports app. Daytona 500 fully sold out; race attendance could reach 150,000. It means the Floridian oval is at capacity - which is about 123,500 seats in the grandstand on. More:Daytona 500 attendance is limited. Earlier this week, Daytona International Speedway announced the 2022 Daytona 500 was a sell-out. During the playoffs last year that was expanded to ten minutes, which was too long. As the pandemic rages on, individual tracks have reduced seating capacity, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500. Bubba Wallace has made five Daytona 500 starts and finished second twice, and the first of his two career Cup Series wins came at Talladega, Daytona's sister superspeedway, in 2021. Speaking of the future NASCAR Hall of Famer Martin Truex Jr.: 31 career wins, 0-for-18 in Daytona 500. He isn't racing in the 500 but in Saturday's ARCA (think Class AA baseball) event. Daytona weather could be deciding factor in Daytona 500. The track did not host fans for its last Cup race in September and no update has been provided on whether entry will be limited for the race on March 7. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, The 2021 Daytona 500 had just 30,000 in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time. 6-keys: media/spln/nascar/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the.