The 2027 Daytona 500 is the 69th running of the Great American Race and the NASCAR Cup Series season opener. Sunday Feb 14, 2027 (Valentine's Day). 200 laps. 500 miles. 31° banking. It airs on FOX broadcast — free with any antenna in every US market.
★ Quick answer
The 2027 Daytona 500 airs on FOX broadcast — free over the air. Pre-race coverage starts at 12 PM ET (Daytona 500 Today). Driver intros + National Anthem at 1:30 PM ET. Green flag at approximately 2:30 PM ET. Race ends around 5:30 PM ET.
If you don't have an antenna: FOX One ($19.99/mo) streams the entire broadcast. Live-TV bundles (YouTube TV, Hulu+Live, Fubo, Sling Blue, DirecTV Stream) all carry FOX.
1Race-day timeline (Sunday Feb 14, 2027)
🏁 Sunday Feb 14 — Race Day
8:00 AM ETFOX Sports pre-race programming begins
12:00 PM ETDaytona 500 Today on FOX broadcast — official 4-hour pre-race show
1:30 PM ETDriver introductions, on-track ceremonies, Grand Marshal command
2:00 PM ETInvocation, National Anthem, US Air Force flyover
2:30 PM ET"Drivers, start your engines!" · pace laps · green flag
~5:30 PM ETExpected race conclusion · Victory Lane ceremony · Harley J. Earl Trophy presentation
2Speedweeks — the 10 days leading to the 500
Daytona 500 is the climax of a 10-day event called Speedweeks. Multiple qualifying races, the Xfinity + Truck Series races, and ARCA all happen the week before. Here's the full slate:
Friday Feb 5Truck practice + qualifying
Craftsman Truck Series practice and qualifying for the Fresh from Florida 250
FS1
Saturday Feb 6Truck race 250 miles
Fresh from Florida 250 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener
FOX ✓ FREE
Sunday Feb 7Daytona 500 qualifying day
Daytona 500 single-car qualifying — sets the front row (pole position + outside pole). Remaining starting order decided in Thursday's Duels.
FS1
Thursday Feb 11Bluegreen Vacations Duels
Two 60-lap (150-mile) qualifying races that set the bulk of the Daytona 500 starting grid. The highest-finishing non-charter drivers also lock into the 500.
FS1
Friday Feb 12ARCA + Xfinity practice
ARCA Menards Series practice + Xfinity Series practice + qualifying
FS1
Saturday Feb 13Xfinity Series + ARCA races
Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300 (Xfinity Series season opener, 120 laps) + the ARCA Menards Series race
FOX ✓ FREE
Sunday Feb 14★ DAYTONA 500
The 69th Great American Race · 200 laps · 500 miles · green flag 2:30 PM ET
FOX ✓ FREE OTA
3The track — Daytona International Speedway
🏁 Daytona International Speedway · Daytona Beach, FL
Opened: 1959 (the first Daytona 500 was held on Feb 22, 1959 — won by Lee Petty)
Layout: 2.5-mile tri-oval superspeedway · 31° banking in turns 1 and 4 · 18° banking in the tri-oval frontstretch · 9° banking in the backstretch · 27° in turns 2 and 3
Capacity: Approximately 101,500 seats (after the "Daytona Rising" renovation completed 2016) — the largest single-day sporting venue in the world
Race format: 200 laps × 2.5 miles = 500 miles. Split into 3 stages: Stage 1 (60 laps), Stage 2 (60 laps), Stage 3 (80 laps). Stage breaks allow strategic pit stops + give stage winners playoff points.
What makes it special: At 31° banking with restrictor plates limiting horsepower, drivers race in giant 30+ car packs at 190+ MPH with mere inches between cars. A single mistake triggers "The Big One" — a multi-car wreck that can take out a third of the field. Strategy + drafting + luck matter as much as raw speed.
4How to watch — ranked cheapest
Rick's pick
📡 Antenna (FREE) $0/mo + ~$30 antenna
FOX broadcast carries the entire race + 4-hour pre-race + post-race in HD. Free in every US market. One-time hardware purchase. Pairs with FOX coverage of NFL playoffs + World Series + every other FOX sport.
Affiliate link · Mohu Leaf 50 ($45) · Antop AT-400BV ($90) for outdoor/attic
🌐 FOX One $19.99/mo
Streams the full FOX broadcast live + FS1 (Speedweeks qualifying + Duels). Cancel after the race. Effective cost: ~$20 for the entire Speedweeks + Daytona 500 stretch.
First Daytona 500: Feb 22, 1959 · Lee Petty won by 2 feet over Johnny Beauchamp in a finish so close it took 3 days of photo review to confirm
Most Daytona 500 wins: Richard Petty (7) — including 4 of the first 14 races · Cale Yarborough (4) · Bobby Allison (3) · Jeff Gordon (3) · Dale Jarrett (3) · Denny Hamlin (3)
"Drivers, start your engines!" command: Spoken by a different celebrity Grand Marshal every year. Past Grand Marshals: Mike Tyson, Vince McMahon, Donald Trump (2024), former presidents, country music stars, NFL legends.
Famous moments: 1979 — first nationally televised flag-to-flag NASCAR race · Cale Yarborough crashed Bobby Allison on the last lap, leading to a fistfight in the infield · Richard Petty won. 2001 — Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s death on the final lap of the Daytona 500 reshaped NASCAR safety forever.
6Common questions
When is the 2027 Daytona 500?
Sunday February 14, 2027 (Valentine's Day). Green flag ~2:30 PM ET. FOX pre-race coverage starts at 12 PM ET.
What channel is the Daytona 500 on?
FOX broadcast — every year since 2001, locked through 2031. Free with any antenna. Also streams on FOX One ($19.99/mo).
Can I watch the Daytona 500 for free?
Yes. FOX broadcast in every US market. $30 antenna catches the entire race in HD.
Where is the Daytona 500 held?
Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. 2.5-mile tri-oval superspeedway with 31° banking. Capacity ~101,500.
What time does the Daytona 500 start?
Green flag ~2:30 PM ET. Pre-race coverage 12 PM ET. National Anthem ~2:15 PM ET.
What is Speedweeks?
The 10-day event leading up to the Daytona 500 — Truck race, Xfinity race, ARCA race, and the Bluegreen Vacations Duels (Thursday qualifying races).
How is the Daytona 500 field decided?
40 drivers. 36 spots to charter teams. 4 spots decided by the Bluegreen Vacations Duels on Thursday Feb 11.
What is the Harley J. Earl Trophy?
The Daytona 500 championship trophy, named for the legendary GM designer who served as Grand Marshal of the first Daytona 500 in 1959. Features a chrome 1956 Firebird II concept car.
Highlights from recent editions on the official broadcast partners' YouTube channels. Click any thumbnail to play right here on the page.
📺
RECAP
Last year — 2026 Daytona 500
Watch 2026 Daytona 500 highlights
Search YouTube for the latest official upload
📺
CLASSIC
2024 — Logano dramatic win
Watch 2024 Daytona 500 highlights
Search YouTube for the latest official upload
Last verified June 9, 2026 against NASCAR.com + FOX Sports broadcast schedule. 2027 Daytona 500 date + venue confirmed by NASCAR. FOX Cup Series media rights run through 2031. Tee — er, green flag time confirmed race-week.
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