Schedule of events this weekend at Daytona

For NASCAR fans, it's been a long offseason - well it sure feels like it has, anyway! The word "Daytona" is music to our ears: it marks the beginning of a new season in the sport we love.

Today features the return of Sprint Cup Series practice as drivers prepare for Saturday's Budweiser Shootout.The roar of engines will be surely a welcome sound.

Whether you'll be at the track or watching from home, here's a schedule of events this weekend at Daytona International Speedway (all in Eastern Standard Time; televised events in bold):

Thursday, Feb. 4:
7:00 AM ARCA garage and registration opens
9:30 AM NSCS haulers enter
10:30 AM Track services meeting
10:30 AM ARCA rookie meeting
10:30 AM NSCS registration opens
11:00 AM NSCS garage opens
INSPECTION BEGINS FOR BUDWEISER SHOOTOUT CARS ONLY
11:00 AM ARCA drivers meeting and drawing for qualifying order
12:00 N 4:50 PM ARCA practice
3:30 PM NSCS Budweiser Shootout spotters meeting (meeting room)
4:30 PM NSCS “Hot Pass” in effect
5:00 PM 5:45 PM NSCS Budweiser Shootout practice (televised live on SPEED)
5:00 PM ARCA registration closes
6:00 PM NSCS registration closes
6:00 PM ARCA garage closes
6:00 PM NSCS “Hot Pass” in effect
6:30 PM 7:30 PM NSCS Final Budweiser Shootout practice (televised live on SPEED)
8:00 PM NSCS drawing for Budweiser Shootout - located outside Turn 4 on the “Speed” stage (NOTE: televised on SPEED starting at 9:00 PM)

Friday, Feb. 5:
6:00 AM ARCA and NSCS garage and registration opens
INSPECTION BEGINS FOR DAYTONA 500 CARS
9:30 AM Track services meeting
11:00 AM ARCA qualifying - two laps, all positions
12:30 PM NSCS Daytona 500 mandatory spotter (media center)
1:00 PM NSCS rookie meetings and and drawing for qualifying order
1:30 PM NSCS “Hot Pass” in effect
2:10 PM 3:30 PM NSCS practice (televised live on SPEED starting at 2:00 PM)
4:00 PM 5:30 PM NSCS practice (televised live on SPEED) - RAINED OUT
5:40 PM 6:30 PM ARCA final practice - RAINED OUT

Saturday, Feb. 6:
7:00 AM NSCS garage and registration opens
9:00 AM ARCA registration opens
9:30 AM 10:00 AM NSCS practice for cars that had not been on the track 27, 36, 49, 55, 57, 75, 92, 97
10:00 AM ARCA garage opens
11:00 AM 12:00 PM NASCAR pace car rides
11:30 AM Track services meeting
12:35 PM NSCS “Hot Pass” in effect
1:05 PM NSCS Qualifying - two laps, two positions (televised live on FOX starting at 1:00 PM)
2:30 PM ARCA drivers meeting
2:30 PM TRACK services meeting (pit road)
4:00 PM ARCA driver introductions
4:30 PM ARCA Race 200 - 80 laps, 200 miles (televised live on SPEED)
6:30 PM NSCS Budweiser Shootout driver/crew chief meeting (media center)
7:10 PM NSCS “Hot Pass” in effect until one hour after race
8:00 PM NSCS Budweiser Shootout (televised live on FOX)
10:00 PM Victory Lane televised on SPEED
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Photo: The 2008 Daytona 500 from the U.S. Army on Wikimedia