or redistributed. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images). Phoenix Raceway, where attendance was limited to 20% capacity for the championship race in November, announced that the track will again host limited fans. The race to open the 2021 NASCAR season is scheduled for Feb. 14. The speedway holds101,500 spectators, but officials announced in December there would be limited fans. Last year, he finished fifth. The 2022 Daytona 500 kicks off the new NASCAR Cup season, but how many fans are at the superspeedway? Their low-register rumble is still audible miles from Daytona International Speedway. To be precise, all spectators have to wear a mask if indoors. The Daytona 500 attendance in 2021 will be limited to just 21 percent of maximum capacity. He finished second in the Daytona 500 in 2017 and 2020 and won the 400-miler in August 2021. "It's going to be the largest sporting event that happens in the United States since COVID hit,"DaytonaInternational Speedway President Chip Wile said, per Zach Dean of the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Look for Elliott to emerge as the organization's best chance on Sunday. It means the Floridian oval is at capacity - which is about 123,500 seats in the grandstand on. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is steadily approaching. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. The Emmy winner will climb atop the flag stand and wave the green flag over the start of the race. Elsewhere, the 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve will start his first Daytona 500. Of course, there is risk. The Daytona 500 attendance in 2021 will be limited to just 21 percent of maximum capacity. Problem was that when the Chevys tried to team up in the aerodynamic draft, their cool-looking pointy noses acted like a cow catcher on a train and punted cars out of the way instead of pushing them. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to empty stadiums and arenas throughout the sports world, while the 2020 NASCAR season featured many races without fans. Fans will be screened before entering the venue and required to wear face coverings and observe at least 6 feet of social distancing. or redistributed. The move is thought to allow a greater number of fans to attend the event under Florida's less restrictive policies compared with Southern California, as well as minimize travel between states. Chases health is our primary concern, said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports in a statement from the team. Villeneuve, also the 1995 Indy 500 winner is the first F1 driver to tackle NASCARs premier race since Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Speed in 2013. Sorry, NASCAR fans, if you don't have a ticket for this year's Daytona 500, you weren't quick enough. Dude is fast, he is smart and if he can avoid the Big One (he's crashed out at Daytona five times) then he is almost guaranteed to be in the battle for the win when the white flag is shown. The track also announced that tickets remained on sale for other events during Speedweeks. A simple math equation would suggest the race should take 2.5 hours of straight driving, but with pitstops, cautions and possible weather . The Daytona International Speedway has started hiring 2,500 people to work the marquee Daytona 500 and additional events planned for throughout the year. You're in @TravisPastrana! Keep an eye on Daly's pit stall to catch a glimpse of Floyd Mayweather, who co-owns Daly's car, which is No. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Almost all of NASCAR's earliest races in 2021 will run with limited fans. Berry, who drives for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, will be making his third career Cup start. The track's safety protocols are consistent with those of Daytona. Ben Rhodes placed third and was followed by Corey Heim and Ty Majeski. It's easily the most curious inclusion. Safety policies include wearing masks in the facility except when seated, agreeing to undergo a health screening and temperature check and maintaining six feet of social distancing between parties. Market data provided by Factset. Daytona International Speedway, home to the Daytona. "The Daytona 500 is one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports, and fans from all over the world converge in Daytona Beach to be a part of motorsport's biggest day," Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile saidin a statement. This year's Daytona 500 attendance will be similar to other Speedweek events, and a myriad of safety precautions will be in place to ensure fans' safety. Your login session has expired. Josh Berry (182.168) qualified fifth. Grandstand. It means the Floridian oval is at capacity which is about 123,500 seats in the grandstand on the front-stretch. We hope they enjoy the race on TV. "It's going to be the largest sporting event that happens in the United States since COVID hit . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Las Vegas Xfinity starting lineup: Chandler Smith wins pole, announced that the 2021 Daytona 500 will be run with a limited crowd, 1:35 2:20 p.m. Cup practice (FS2, switches to FS1 at 2 p.m.), 4:30 p.m. Xfinity race (200 laps, 300 miles; FS1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). You might also like: Daytona weather could be deciding factor in Daytona 500, Be the first one to comment on this story. The Daytona 500 is many things. NASCAR Cup Series race number 1 of 37 Sunday, February 19, 2023 at Daytona . From the pageantry of our pre-race festivities to the rumble of 40 engines roaring around the high banks, its the biggest stage in motorsports.. More:Here's the Rolex 24 At Daytona 2021 starting grid: 49 cars are full of racing's stars The Speedway announced in December that the number of fans allowed to attend the Daytona 500 would be . Christian Eckes finished third, giving him finishes of sixth or better in the first two races of the season. Attendance: n/a Lead changes: 52 Green flag passes: 11,538 (66.3 per green flag lap) (Source: NASCAR loop data) From the pageantry of our pre-race festivities to the rumble of 40 engines roaring around the high banks, it's the biggest stage in motorsports.". More:How to watch the 2021 Daytona 500 on TV, live stream. NASCAR has also already reconfigured its schedule once. Or perhaps you are currently reading this while dressed in your Chase Elliott pajamas and tucked into your Jimmie Johnson bed sheets. Daytona International Speedway announced that the 2021 Daytona 500 will be run with a limited crowd because of the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. And the festival atmosphere that usually permeates race events will be muted. The track seats 55,000 people total in the grandstand. Date, start time, TV schedule for race & qualifying. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). "While we won't be able to have a capacity crowd here in February, we are excited that we can host the Daytona 500 with those in attendance, as well as for the millions who will tune in live on Fox. 2023 www.news-journalonline.com. Also, Frankie Muniz is at the World Center of Racing. The 2023 Daytona 530 was a NASCAR Cup Series race and the 65th running of the event.It was held on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Daytona International Speedway announced in December that attendance would be limited for NASCAR's main event on Feb. 14 and all Speedweeks races that precede the 500, including the Clash,. Elsewhere, the 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve will start his first Daytona 500. Daytona International Speedway president Chip Wile over the weekend . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Ron DeSantis, if you plan to attend, this applies to you. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It is time for the 65th running of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's biggest event on its biggest stage, kicking off what many believe could be one of the sport's biggest seasons. Brett Moffitt (182.211) qualified fourth. Michael McDowell enters the race as defending winner after the fiery last lap crash in 2021. While some NASCAR events have struggled in recent years to attract fans, the Daytona 500 is not among them. But attendance will be less than a third of normal which could make it the smallest official crowd in the races history. John Hunter Nemechek won last weekend at Auto Club Speedway. The 2021 Daytona 500 will have fans in attendance; how many remains to be determined. Kyle Larson: 19 career wins, 0-for-9 in Daytona 500. More:DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS: NASCAR motors on with one eye on road, another on the radar. It's his only career victory, and he backed that up with a seventh-place finish one year ago. The Kaulig Racing driver earned the pole with a lap of 183.119 mph. Blaney and his Ford should have won this race a year ago and in 2018, when he led 118 laps. The Daytona 500 attendance ranged from 100,000 to 150,000 fans in the recent years before COVID-19. Even Hamlins own teammates will try and get in on the action, and the likes of Team Penske and Stewart-Haas wont be far behind. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images). All rights reserved. The Daytona 500 is one of the most historic races in NASCAR history. This year's event, like most sporting events, will see a limited attendance due to the. Fans who purchased tickets are also able to defer orders to the 2022 Spring event (date TBA). That includes a fifth-place run in the 2019 Daytona 500, followed up by a win two years later. He will be joined on the front row by Justin Allgaier (182.778 mph). Its all in the name of social distancing, something Speedway officials say they intend to enforce. Deegan could not continue and finished 32nd. Will Denny Hamlin become the first driver to win three 500s in a row? And finally: Will it rain? Brad Keselowski: 35 career wins, 0-for-13 in Daytona 500. No decisions have been made about limiting attendance to next month's Rolex 24 At Daytona, scheduled for Jan. 30-31. As part of NASCAR's schedule realignment, the race at Homestead was pushed back one week to Feb. 28, and the track announced that it would host a limited number of fans. All rights reserved. The 2021 edition of "The Great American Race," which could. But in 2021, one of the season's biggest events will have the crowd those drivers so desperately craved -- to a certain degree, at least. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. -- Mike Clay, Michael McDowell to finish top five (+400): If you are a casual NASCAR fan, someone who only watches the Daytona 500, then you've probably never heard of the guy they call McDriver. 2021 Daytona 500 to have limited fans in attendance NASCAR will begin its 2021 season the way it ended 2020 - with limited fans in attendance. ET Saturday at the track. GREEN FLAG IN THE #NextEra250 but immediately were under caution @NASCAR_Trucks | #SpeedweeksbyAdventHealth pic.twitter.com/tjFytThWKH. In its statement, the track did not specify how many fans will be allowed to attend the race, which is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14. Brad Keselowski is behind the wheel of a Ford, a widely accepted advantage, and finished fourth in his Duel 150. Busch is competing in all three national series races this weekend at Las Vegas. The 2022 Daytona 500 is of particular significance as it will mark the official debut of the all-new seventh generation NASCAR Cup Series car, which was tested at the track this week. The 2021 Daytona 500 had just 30,000 in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time. It took seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, Sr. 20 years to win, and is also where he tragically lost his life only three years later. What Nascar track holds the most fans? Tickets are on sale for the Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where seating was last estimated at fewer than 80,000 seats. By: . The Daytona 500 will run with limited fan in attendance, Daytona International Speedway announced Wednesday. Two years ago, Almirola had a car strong enough to win one of the 150-mile duels, but his 500 ended in heartbreak when he was taken out in a crash on Lap 15. Attendance at the 2021 Daytona 500 won by Michael McDowell was limited to 30%. Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass reported that this year's precautions will include masks required for indoor spaces. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was fastest in practice on Thursday. Best finish: 2nd, 2021, If it makes them feel any better, no one on this list is even close to the likes of Terry Labonte, who was 0-for-32, Ricky Rudd (0-for-29), Mark Martin (0-for-29) -- Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Tony Stewart are a combined 0-for-64. That amounts to just over 21,000 people at a facility that can seat over 101,500. The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is steadily approaching. NASCAR Cup Breaking news 2021 Daytona 500 to have limited fans in attendance NASCAR will begin its 2021 season the way it ended 2020 - with limited fans in attendance. But in 2021, one of the season's biggest events will have the crowd those drivers so desperately craved -- to a certain degree, at least. In its statement, the track did not specify how many fans will be allowed to attend the race, which is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 14. The 2020 Daytona 500 was the last held without capacity restrictions. NASCAR today is announcing that Daytona Int'l Speedway is completely sold out for this weekend's Daytona 500, which could see as many as 150,000 people on site. Hendrick Motorsports has had lots of speed in the Daytona 500, but hasn't had a winner since 2014. The 2020 Daytona 500 was the last held without capacity restrictions. In the last five years, Denny Hamlin has won three times, including two in a row. The Daytona 500 consists of 200 laps on a 2.5-mile track. All rights reserved. Chase Elliott will not compete this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway due to a leg injury, Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday night. More:Daytona 500 to be held with 'limited' fans in 2021 because of COVID-19 pandemic. Chase Elliott: 18 career wins, 0-for-7 in Daytona 500. #DAYTONA500 | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/c0yrKB7ptt, Daytona International Speedway (@DISupdates) December 2, 2020.