NASCAR officials released the weekend schedule for the annual Speedweek festivities at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, revealing details on four season-opening races and an expanded practice schedule for the Daytona 500 main event on Sunday February 16.
The schedule arrived at the same time as NASCAR officials announced adjustments to practice and qualifying procedures for its three national series, in addition to releasing race weekend schedules for the first part of the 2025 schedule. Daytona’s season-opening event schedule usually has its own characteristics, however, and this year’s version continues that tradition.
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NASCAR officials announced that a 50-minute pre-qualifying practice for the Cup Series has been added to the schedule for Wednesday, February 12 – officially opening on-track activity for the week at 10 a.m. ET. Daytona 500 Media Day will follow from noon to 7 p.m. ET, with Busch Light Pole qualifying for the “Great American Race” scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET that evening.
Cup Series director Brad Moran said Wednesday that competition officials chose to add the 50-minute session to allow teams to prepare more before qualifying and to provide rookies and new team combinations /pilot more time to orientate yourself on the track.
“With the Daytona 500 being the biggest race of the NASCAR season and our first race, we thought the extra practice would be a good thing,” Moran said. “We have some new drivers that are going to be racing the Cup full time as well as some drivers that might just show up to run the Daytona 500. It’s a good opportunity to get out on the track, get some track time, shaking. the cars before qualifying that night, a little more content for the fans and just to set us up for a great week of racing with everything going on. It’s just going to set the tone for the whole week.
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The 67th Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will culminate a packed week of season-opening events, with the veil lifted on the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck roster Series Friday. , on February 14, as well as the ARCA Menards and NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday, February 15. The full television broadcast schedule for the week’s track activity on the 2.5-mile fast track will be announced later.
DAYTONA SPEEDWEEK 2025 SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
Wednesday February 12
10:05-10:55 – Cup Series Opening Practice
Noon to 7 p.m. — Daytona 500 Media Day
8:15 p.m. — Cup Series pole qualifying
Thursday February 13
4:05-4:55 p.m. — ARCA Menards Series Practice
5:05-5:55 p.m. — Craftsman Truck Series Practice
7 p.m. — Cup Series: Duel 1 qualifying race (60 laps, 150 miles)
8:45 p.m. (approximately) — Cup Series: Duel 2 qualifying race (60 laps, 150 miles)
Friday February 14
1:30 p.m.-2:15 p.m. — ARCA Menards Series Qualifying
3:00 p.m. — Craftsman Truck Series qualifying
4:35-5:25 p.m. — Xfinity Series Practice
5:35 p.m.-6:25 p.m. — Second practice of the Cup Series
7:30 p.m. — Craftsman Truck Series race: Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps, 250 miles; FS1)
Saturday February 15
10:00 a.m. – Xfinity Series Qualifying
Noon – ARCA Menards Series race (80 laps, 200 miles)
3:05-3:55 p.m. — Cup Series Final Practice
5 p.m. — Xfinity Series race: United Rentals 300 (120 laps, 300 miles; The CW)
Sunday February 16
2:30 p.m. — Cup Series race: 67th Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles; FOX)