What time does the Daytona 500 start today? TV channel, green flag time for 2021 NASCAR opener

14 Feb 2021

Sporting News

What time does the Daytona 500 start today TV channel green flag time for 2021 NASCAR opener

Here is everything you need to know to watch the 2021 Daytona 500, including the green flag time, the TV channel and live stream info.

Sunday's Daytona 500 will mark the start of another NASCAR Cup Series season, but it won't look quite the same as races of years past.

Attendance will be limited to 30,000 socially distanced fans, down from the 100,000 spectators that typically flock to Daytona International Speedway. In terms of the action on the track, the Daytona 500 field will be missing Jimmie Johnson, who retired from full-time driving last year to close out an incredible career that included seven Cup Series titles.

Still, the excitement should be palpable as NASCAR's top drivers look to capture the first checkered flag of the season.

Here is everything you need to know to watch the 2021 Daytona 500, including the green flag time, the TV channel and live stream info.

MORE: Watch the Daytona 500 live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

What time does the Daytona 500 start today?

Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET

The Daytona 500 broadcast will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 14, but the race itself may not start until closer to 3 p.m. ET. It will be held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

How long is the Daytona 500?

The Daytona 500 is, of course, a 500-mile race, and it is scheduled for 200 laps.

Stage 1 will end on Lap 65, Stage 2 will end on Lap 130 and the Final Stage will end on Lap 200.

What channel is the Daytona 500 on today?

FOX's broadcast will go back to a three-man booth after previously only featuring play-by-play announcer Mike Joy and analyst Jeff Gordon. Former Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer will join the team to fill the void left behind by Darrell Waltrip, who retired following the 2019 season.

NASCAR schedule 2021

(All times Eastern)

Date Race Track Start time TV channel Radio Feb. 9 The Clash Daytona Road Course 7 p.m. FS1 MRN Feb. 11 Duel No. 1/Duel No. 2 Daytona International Speedway 7 p.m. ET FS1 MRN Feb. 14 Daytona 500 Daytona International Speedway 2:30 p.m. FOX MRN Feb. 21 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Daytona RC Daytona Road Course 3 p.m. FOX MRN Feb. 28 Dixie Vodka 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway 3:30 p.m. FOX MRN March 7 Pennzoil 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 3:30 p.m. FOX PRN March 14 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Phoenix Phoenix Raceway 3:30 p.m. FOX MRN March 21 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Atlanta Motor Speedway 3 p.m. FOX PRN March 28 Food City Dirt Race Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt 3:30 p.m. FOX PRN April 10 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 Martinsville Speedway 7:30 p.m. FS1 MRN April 18 Toyota Owners 400 Richmond Raceway 3 p.m. FOX MRN April 25 Geico 500 Talladega Superspeedway 2 p.m. FOX MRN May 2 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Kansas Kansas Speedway 3 p.m. FS1 MRN May 9 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Darlington Darlington Raceway 3:30 p.m. FS1 MRN May 16 Drydene 400 Dover International Speedway 2 p.m. FS1 MRN May 23 NASCAR Cup Series Race at COTA Circuit of the Americas 2:30 p.m. FS1 PRN May 30 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Motor Speedway 6 p.m. FOX PRN June 6 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sonoma Raceway 4 p.m. FS1 PRN June 13 NASCAR All-Star Open Texas Motor Speedway 6 p.m. FS1 MRN June 13 NASCAR All-Star Race Texas Motor Speedway 8 p.m. FS1 MRN June 20 Ally 400 Nashville Superspeedway 3:30 p.m. NBCSN MRN June 26 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono Pocono Raceway 3 p.m. NBCSN MRN June 27 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono Pocono Raceway 3:30 p.m. NBCSN MRN July 4 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Road America Road America 2:30 p.m. NBC MRN July 11 Quaker State 400 Atlanta Motor Speedway 3:30 p.m. NBCSN PRN July 18 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 New Hampshire Motor Speedway 3 p.m. NBCSN PRN Aug. 8 Go Bowling at The Glen Watkins Glen International 3 p.m. NBCSN MRN Aug. 15 Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course 1 p.m. NBC IMS Radio Aug. 22 FireKeepers Casino 400 Michigan International Speedway 3 p.m. NBCSN MRN Aug. 28 Coke Zero Sugar 400 Daytona International Speedway 7 p.m. NBC MRN

NASCAR schedule 2021: Playoff races

(All times Eastern)

Date Race Track Start time TV channel Radio Sept. 5 Cook Out Southern 500 Darlington Raceway 6 p.m. NBCSN MRN Sept. 11 Federated Auto Parts 400 Richmond Raceway 7:30 p.m. NBCSN MRN Sept. 18 Bass Pro Shops Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway 7:30 p.m. NBCSN PRN Sept. 26 South Point 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 7 p.m. NBCSN PRN Oct. 3 YellaWood 500 Talladega Superspeedway 2 p.m. NBC MRN Oct. 10 Bank of America ROVAL 400 Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course 2 p.m. NBC PRN Oct. 17 Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 Texas Motor Speedway 2 p.m. NBC PRN Oct. 24 Hollywood Casino 400 Kansas Speedway 3 p.m. NBCSN MRN Oct. 31 Xfinity 500 Martinsville Speedway 2 p.m. NBC MRN Nov. 7 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Phoenix Raceway 3 p.m. NBC MRN

In Canada, fans can watch all NASCAR races on TSN.