2017 Daytona 500: Start time, lineup, TV/radio schedule, live streaming
It’s finally race day at Daytona International Speedway, and we’ve got all the information you need to get ready for the 59th running of the “Great American Race” and the start of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
START TIME: The broadcast begins at 2 p.m. ET Sunday. Actor Owen Wilson, the voice of Lightning McQueen in the upcoming animated movie Cars 3, will instruct drivers to start their engines at 2:18 p.m.. Former NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson, recently selected for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will wave the green flag at 2:30 p.m.
RACE DISTANCE: The Daytona 500 is 200 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of — you guessed it — 500 miles.
SEGMENTS: Beginning this season, NASCAR is dividing every race into segments and awarding one bonus point to the winner of each stage. Segment lengths will be different for every race. Also, the top 10 finishers of segments 1 and 2 will be awarded regular-season points in descending order from 10 to 1. Here are the segments for the Daytona 500: Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 60 laps; Stage 3: 80 laps.
REPAIRS: NASCAR also mandated changes to pit stop procedures. Crews are allowed to work on damaged cars for five minutes, with the clock starting when the car hits pit road. Cars who cannot maintain minimum track speed will be eliminated. Cars that go behind the wall to repair damage are out of the race, but cars that have mechanical issues not caused by damage can go to the garage for repairs and return to the track.
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