Daytona 500: Racing resumes after 6-hour 'red flag' rain delay
DAYTONA, Fla. - Racing got back underway in the 2021 Daytona 500 just after 9 p.m. after a 6-hour "red flag" rain delay.
As of 8 p.m., FOX Sports reports there is a possible window to get the race in. The latest is NASCAR expects to begin racing again around 9 p.m. and said they have been making progress on drying the track. Typically, officials will try to get the race started before 10 p.m. on a rain delay.
"The Great American Race" is currently under a "red flag" as a lightning strike was detected in the area followed by heavy rain. The red flag was called around 3:40 p.m. ET after only 15 laps. Jet dryers were seen out around the track around 3:50 p.m. ET, but just 10 minutes later heavy rains started to pour down on the Florida track.
A crowded field of 40 began the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 just after 3 p.m. ET.
The big one hit only 14 laps into the Daytona 500, triggered when Aric Almirola turned into pole-winner Alex Bowman and started a 16-car pileup.
Just minutes later, the race was stopped by lightning and fans who had been socially distanced in the grandstands instead had to seek shelter in the crowded concourse.
Christopher Bell pushed Almirola and forced the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to bobble as he tried to correct the car.
Among the cars that sent cars spinning and flying through the mud and getting torn up include Martin Truex Jr., Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch.
Hendrick Motorsports had put Bowman and Byron on the front row.
Derrike Cope was knocked out after only three laps, an ignominious end for the 62-year-old driver who won the 1990 Daytona 500.
Under a red flag, teams cannot fix touch their vehicles to fix them.
The FOX 5 Storm Team had been tracking some showers and thunderstorms just north of the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. throughout the day. Some of those have prompted warnings for severe thunderstorms and even a possible tornado about 65 miles north of the track.
Saturday, officials were forced to cancel the final two practices before NASCAR's Daytona 500 in a season already altered because of the pandemic.
FOX 5 Atlanta will update this article with the latest information about the race.
The series premiere of "Cherries Wild" has been postponed until next weekend.
When the race is restarted, viewers can tune in on FOX to catch the 200-lap race. Those with a participating TV provider can also watch the race online and on smart devices using the FOX Sports app.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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