SVG SITS OUT FINAL PRACTICE AS DAYTONA 500 START MOVED UP DUE TO WEATHER THREAT

Shane van Gisbergen and the No. 97 team Trackhouse Racing opted to sit out the final practice session for the 68th running of the Daytona 500, a strategic move mirrored by half the field in the final “Happy Hour” session before the Great American Race.

With preservation of equipment being paramount for the 500-mile marathon, only 18 cars took to the track for the final Superspeedway practice of 2026. While SVG remained in the garage, he successfully completed his final inspection checks, ensuring the No. 97 Chevrolet is cleared and ready for the grid. The speed of the Trackhouse Racing stable remained evident, however, with Van Gisbergen’s teammate clocking the 6th fastest time of the session.

Start Time Moved Forward

NASCAR officials have announced a schedule change for Sunday’s main event. In an effort to beat incoming inclement weather, the start of the Daytona 500 has been moved up by one hour.

The race is expected to begin under clear skies and warm conditions, but forecasts show a significant rain band moving into the area from the late afternoon. By advancing the green flag, officials hope to reach the official halfway distance—or ideally the full 200 laps—before the weather arrives.

Weather & Track Updates

Forecast Radar for Sunday: A heavy band of rain (shown in red/yellow) is tracking towards the Florida coast. While the green flag is expected to drop in clear weather, this system is threatening to impact the latter stages of the race, prompting NASCAR to move the start time forward to ensure a full 500 miles can be run.

Track Prep: Jet dryers work to clear the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. With the schedule moved up, track crews are working efficiently to ensure the surface is race-ready for the earlier 1:30 PM ET start time.

Updated Race Times: Australia

Due to the schedule change, Australian fans will need to wake up earlier than planned on Monday morning.

Race Start (Green Flag approx):

| Time Zone | Location | Time & Date |
| AEST | Brisbane  | 4:30 AM – Monday, Feb 16 |
| AEDT | Sydney/Melbourne | 5:30 AM – Monday, Feb 16 |
| ACDT | Adelaide | 5:00 AM – Monday, Feb 16 |
| AWST | Perth | 2:30 AM – Monday, Feb 16 |

Broadcast coverage typically begins 1 hour prior to the green flag.

By Matthew Paul – Velocity Magazine NASCAR reporter

Main Photo: File Photo

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