Daytona International Stadium -
NASCAR RaceWeather Forecast
NASCAR Forecast Discussion
The overall pattern remains warmer than normal across the Southeast, but the atmosphere will become increasingly active. A stalled cold front will persist across Florida into early Saturday. Coupled with land/sea breeze, afternoon showers are possible.
A storm system is forecast to develop over the Southwest over the next few days, moving across the Gulf Coast this weekend. For Daytona Beach, the primary concern now centers on rain timing Sunday. Recent guidance has pushed the heavy rain’s arrival after 7 PM. Isolated showers may develop ahead of the frontal boundary.
Rain Chances
Thu – Isolated PM showers, due to stalled frontal boundary & afternoon sea breeze
Fri - Isolated PM showers, due to stalled frontal boundary & afternoon sea breeze
Sat - Isolated midday showers, due to afternoon sea breeze & increasing instability
Sun - PM rain and isolated t-storms, due to cold front
Detailed Overview
Thu Feb 12: Front Slips South, Moisture Gradually Builds
A stalled frontal boundary across the Florida peninsula will be the focal point of today’s forecast. For Daytona, this means increasing clouds and a slight chance of passing showers this afternoon. Temperatures remain above normal with modest onshore flow slowly increasing low-level humidity. With the later start of the Duals, things should be dry for both races, though a later start is possible.
Fri Feb 13 – Southern Jet Stream Energy Organizes West of Florida
By Friday, the pattern begins evolving. A strong upper-level disturbance emerging from the Southwest will drive widespread rain across the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.
While the core of this system remains west of Florida Friday, the downstream response is important. Southerly winds strengthen across the eastern Gulf, increasing moisture levels into the Florida Peninsula. Expect increasing cloud cover, rising humidity, and a growing chance of scattered showers by Friday afternoon and into the early evening.
Rain at this stage appears intermittent rather than continuous, and instability remains limited.
Saturday–Sunday: Highest Rain Potential, Timing Still Uncertain
Guidance shows increasing confidence in moderate to heavy rainfall spreading across the Southeast by Sunday, with a broad marginal flood risk outlined across parts of the region.
For Florida, this translates to a risk of isolated showers during the afternoon and the frontal boundary likely moving through after the conclusion of the Daytona 5oo. This is NOT a definitive nor final outlook - precise timing remains uncertain.
Updated Thu Feb 12, 12:15 PM ET
2026 Daytona Speedweeks: On-Track Event Schedule
Thu Feb 12
4:00 PM – 4:55 PM ARCA Menards Series Practice
5:00 PM – 5:50 PM NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice
7:00 PM NASCAR Cup Series Duel Race 1 (60 Laps)
8:45 PM (Approx) NASCAR Cup Series Duel Race 2 (60 Laps)
Fri Feb 13
1:30 PM ARCA Menards Series Qualifying
3:00 PM NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying
4:30 PM NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice
5:35 PM NASCAR Cup Series Practice 2
7:30 PM NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race (100 Laps)
Sat Feb 14 (Valentine’s Day)
10:00 AM NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying
12 Noon ARCA Menards Series Race (80 Laps)
3:00 PM NASCAR Cup Series Practice 3
5:00 PM NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Race (120 Laps)
Sun Feb 15
2:30 PM Daytona 500
More about Daytona International Speedway
The history of Daytona International Speedway began in 1953 when Bill France Sr. realized the days of racing on the beach were numbered due to spreading land usage of a rapidly growing population and huge race crowds. France put his plans for the future of racing in Daytona Beach, Florida in motion on April 4, 1953 with a proposal to construct a permanent speedway facility. On August 16, 1954, France signed a contract with City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County officials to build what would become Daytona International Speedway, the “World Center of Racing.” In 1957, land clearing began for the Speedway. The famous 31-degree high banks were included in the design of the track so higher speeds could be achieved and to make it easier for fans to see the cars race around the 2.5-mile tri-oval. The dirt for the banking was taken from the infield and resulted in a 29-acre space that is known as Lake Lloyd.
Racing moved from the beach-road course to Daytona International Speedway in 1959 and the first DAYTONA 500 took place on February 22 in front of a crowd of over 41,000. Car entries included both hard tops and convertibles (it was the only DAYTONA 500 that included convertibles). The finish of the inaugural DAYTONA 500 was too close to call. Johnny Beauchamp went to Victory Lane, but 61 hours later Lee Petty was declared the official winner after a clip of newsreel footage showed that Petty nipped Beauchamp at the line by approximately two feet.
In 1961, the DAYTONA 200 motorcycle race was moved from the beach to the Speedway. The following year, DIS hosted the inaugural running of what is now known as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, North America’s most prestigious sports car race. The race was initially a three-hour race and became the 24-hour race we know it as today in 1966.
On July 5, 2013, ground broke on the $400 million DAYTONA Rising frontstretch renovation project that would transform the historic speedway into a state-of-the-art motorsports facility. The Speedway now has approximately 101,500 permanent, wider and more comfortable seats, 40 escalators, 17 elevators, twice as many restrooms, three times as many concession stands and three concourse levels that span the nearly mile-long frontstretch. In addition, the Speedway features over 60 luxury suites with trackside views and a completely revamped hospitality experience for corporate guests. The projected was completed in January 2016 and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year.
The approximately 500-acre motorsports complex boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. In addition, Daytona International Speedway showcases daily track tours and is home to the champion DAYTONA 500 car and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities in NASCAR with Our Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway, visit EC Sports Management. Click here to contact their sales team.