2025 Daytona Speedweeks Kicks Off with Major Races This Weekend

CONCORD, N.C. – The 2025 NASCAR racing season is officially underway this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, with multiple events scheduled as part of Daytona Speedweeks. The festivities commence with the United Rentals 300, taking place on Saturday, February 15, at 5 p.m. ET.

This year’s Xfinity Series race will be broadcast nationally on The CW, with streaming options available on select platforms. Coverage for the highly anticipated Daytona 500 starts at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, on Fox, with the green flag expected to drop at 2 p.m. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick will handle commentary from the broadcast booth.

Several top-tier drivers are entering the race this year. Justin Allgaier, the defending champion of the Daytona 500 Xfinity race, aims to secure a victory as he defends his series championship. Notable competitors this season include Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, and newcomers such as Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch.

“It’s an exciting time for us, and I feel ready to defend my title,” said Allgaier during a recent interview. The stakes are high this weekend as drivers look to secure early season momentum by claiming wins at one of NASCAR’s most prestigious tracks.

This year, the traditional schedule has shifted slightly due to NASCAR’s new media rights agreements. Early events include pole qualifying on Wednesday, February 12, followed by practice sessions and preliminary races on Thursday and Friday. The Craftsman Truck Series race kicks off the racing weekend before the Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards races take the spotlight.

The pole qualifying will set the lineup for Sunday’s main event, with ten drivers competing for the coveted front row positions. Races known as the Duels will also determine grid placements for the Daytona 500, ensuring that competitors are evenly matched for the main race.

The Daytona 500, regarded as the most prestigious event in NASCAR, marks the culmination of Speedweeks and is a highlight for fans and competitors alike. This year, the racing community reverberates with anticipation as teams finalize their strategies and drivers gear up to make their mark on the historic oval.

“It’s the Super Bowl of racing,” said Hill, reminiscing about the intensity surrounding the race. “Everybody knows they have to bring their A-game.” Fans can tune in for live coverage of the events or utilize various streaming services to catch the action from home.

In addition to the headline race, this year’s Speedweeks includes a packed schedule featuring practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and support races, concluding with the legendary 67th running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday.