Drivers will have to wait an extra a day to race for the Daytona 500 trophy (Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Incessant rain on Sunday meant the Daytona 500 has rescheduled for Monday the first time in its 54-year history. Carl Edwards will start from pole alongside Roush-Fenway team-mate Greg Biffle, with defending Cup champion Tony Stewart and 2003 champion Matt Kenseth on the second row by virtue of their Gatorade Duel wins.
The race is now scheduled for Noon local time (5pm UK) tomorrow (Monday).
The move to postpone, necessitated by safety, was understandably an unpopular one amongst fans, many of whom will be unable to attend the race at its rescheduled date due to work commitments. Drivers took to Twitter in droves to apologise to those who had waited for no avail for signs of improvement in the weather.
Aric Almirola: “Sorry to all you fans. We all wanted to race today very bad. Now I have to watch the walls of the bus creep in on me until noon tomorrow.”
Regan Smith: “Sorry everybody, we tried. Believe me when I say this the worst part for us as a sport is that some of you won’t be able to watch now.”
Elliott Sadler: “Noon tomorrow guys. Sorry race fans – hopefully most of you can play sick and come back.”
Brad Keselowski: “Just woke up from a nap. No 500. That stinks…”
Fox pundit Darrell Waltrip was among a minority who considered the announcement in a positive light.
“Keeping in the theme of last year for 1st timers, someone will win the Daytona 500 on Monday for the 1st time, a historical day for sure!”
