The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off with its most prestigious race—the Daytona 500—on Sunday, February 16, at Daytona International Speedway. Covering 500 miles across 200 laps on Daytona’s iconic 2.5-mile asphalt oval, the event promises high-speed action and intense competition. The race, broadcast live on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET, boasts a massive $30,331,250 purse and will feature three stages, with stage breaks at laps 65 and 130 before the final lap at 200.
Daytona is known for its unpredictability, with many winners starting from 10th or worse in recent years. Hendrick Motorsports, a dominant force with 16 poles, didn’t secure the pole last year but still claimed victory with William Byron. Joey Logano ended Hendrick’s 11-year Chevrolet pole streak in 2024, securing Team Penske’s first Daytona 500 pole. However, pole position hasn’t guaranteed success—only one pole sitter in the last 23 races finished in the top five.
This year’s Daytona 500 storylines include veterans Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch seeking their first wins after 20+ starts, while past winner Denny Hamlin enters with a new crew chief and three previous victories. Chevrolet aims to break its streak of not leading the most laps since 2015, with the last two races claimed by Chevrolet drivers. Historically, new winners often shine at Daytona, with eight first-time winners over the past decade, including Michael McDowell in 2021 and Austin Cindric in 2022.
Fans can catch all the Daytona action throughout the week, culminating in Sunday’s showdown. With fierce competition, legendary teams, and unpredictable outcomes, the 2025 Daytona 500 is set to deliver another chapter of NASCAR history.
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