Daytona 500 Start Time Moved Up an Hour

NASCAR has announced that the start time for the Daytona 500 has moved up an hour to a 1:30 p.m. ET – a precautionary change in case of poor weather.

Gates and hospitality will now open at 9 a.m. ET, and the infield Fanzone will open at 8:30 a.m. ET. Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. ET.

Due to an expected visit from the President of the United States, there will be increased security measures, Daytona International Speedway encourages all attendees to arrive early for the event. The speedway also asks people to be aware that traffic may be “unpredictable,” and to allow extra time for “potential delays” noting that entry gate lines will be longer be because of the extra screening processes.