Daytona 500 live updates, results, highlights from NASCAR’s 2021 season-opening race

Will Mother Nature let NASCAR Cup Series drivers kick off a new season? Yes, but grudgingly.

Inclement weather loomed over the 2021 Daytona 500 on Sunday, and then rain over Daytona Beach, Fla., caused almost six hours of delays. NASCAR fans are keeping their fingers crossed that the race can be completed Sunday night.

Sporting News is tracking live updates and lap-by-lap highlights from the Daytona 500. Follow below for complete results from NASCAR’s 2021 season-opening race.

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

Daytona 500 live updates, highlights from 2021 race

(All times Eastern)

10:55 p.m. — Kyle Larson is the leader after all the pit stops. Fewer than 20 laps to go in Stage 2.

10:45 p.m. — Green-flag pit stops are near in the second half of Stage 2. (Oh, by the way, the race is now official after moving past Lap 100.)

10:30 p.m. — The worst of the rain appears to be behind us, but there are some concerns about fog.

10:10 p.m. — Denny Hamlin takes Stage 1 of the Daytona 500. The rest of the top 10:

9:55 p.m. — OK, switching out yellow for green. Can we please be careful, guys?

9:45 p.m. — And the yellow flag is back on Lap 38. Quin Houff is out of the race.

9:35 p.m. — Green flag is waving. We are a full go on Lap 30.

9:20 p.m. — Well, this seems problematic. Still under a yellow flag at the moment.

9:05 p.m. — A quick recap of where we stand as the restart approaches:

8:20 p.m. — Hey, a restart time! This might actually happen.

7:55 p.m. — Trending in the right direction…

6:50 p.m. — The Air Titans are back on the track, but NASCAR has not offered any additional details on a possible restart time.

6:20 p.m. — Good news: There could be a window to dry the track in between waves of rain. Bad news: That second wave could be ugly.

5:15 p.m. — OK, this rain really needs to chill out for a minute.

4:55 p.m. — Chase Briscoe just hitting the Panda Express drive-thru during the delay. A real power move.

4:10 p.m. — So, uh, this isn’t ideal.

3:55 p.m. — After just 15 laps, the Air Titans are out with the Daytona 500 under a red flag. Kevin Harvick is the current leader.

3:40 p.m. — Here’s a full list of the drivers involved in the crash on Lap 14, per the FOX broadcast: Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Tyler Reddick, Aric Almirola, Ryan Blaney, Chris Buescher, Martin Truex Jr., Christopher Bell, Matt DiBenedetto, William Byron, David Ragan, Anthony Alfredo, Erik Jones, Alex Bowman, Jamie McMurray and Daniel Suarez. 

3:35 p.m. — And now a red flag because of a lighting strike. What a wild start.

3:25 p.m. — Whoa. We’ve got huge crash involving at least a dozen cars.

3:10 p.m. — The caution flag goes up after Derrike Cope hits the wall on Lap 3. He’s done for the day.

3 p.m. — A new season. Daytona 500. Pitbull. Here we go.

2:40 p.m. — Let’s hope those rain clouds float right on by the track.

What time does the Daytona 500 start?

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.

MORE: Remembering Dale Earnhardt’s deadly crash at Daytona 20 years later

Daytona 500 starting lineup 2021

Wednesday’s pole qualifying set the front row for the Daytona 500 with Alex Bowman earning the nod and William Byron recording the second-fastest lap. The results of Thursday’s Duels races won by Aric Almirola and Austin Dillon set the remainder of the field.