Rain delays the start of the Daytona 500

Credit: Rosalie Thompson/Skirts and Scuffs

DAYTONA BEACH, 3:15 p.m.— NASCAR has delayed the start of the Daytona 500 because of rain but hopes to get the race started today if weather allows.  A steady drizzle is still falling and many fans, who saw the pre-race introductions under a break in the clouds, have retreated to parking lot tents and local bars.

"It's one of those days here in Daytona where it pops up and falls off and pops up and falls off," NASCAR President Mike Helton told the USA Today. "But as the day progresses, we think the chances of the pop-ups diminish quite a bit. Hopefully this will be the last big cell we see and things will start falling apart and we can get the track dry and go on and get finish and run the Daytona 500 today."

Before the steady rain started, fans were treated to an exciting performance by Lenny Kravitz, driver introductions and a flyover by the Thunderbirds.

NASCAR will next update the progress of the track dry efforts at 4pm ET as rain continues to fall in Daytona.