Daytona 500 weather: No red or yellow flags from Mother Nature

It’s finally here, the 2017 NASCAR season with the biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500. With a new name, Monster Energy Cup Series, and a new racing format, stage racing, there is certain to be a lot of interest and excitement for the 59th running of the Great American Race.

With so much attention to the changes in 2017 the last thing NASCAR wants to deal with on the first and biggest race of the season is Mother Nature. It’s nice that I can deliver such good new to NASCAR, teams and fans and say no rain is expected Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures will be cooler than they were on Friday and Saturday as highs will be hard pressed to reach the 70s during the afternoon. While air temperature will be closer to what drivers had during the Can-Am Duels, track temperature will rise thanks to plenty of sunshine.

Breezy conditions are expected during the afternoon with winds between 10 and possibly 20 mph out of the northeast. Nothing too significant but could cause some handling issues in the large packs.

Please follow me on Twitter @NASCAR_WXMAN and like me on Facebook for the latest weather updates during the whole 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series as well as the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series.

All times ET

Noon — Daytona 500 pre-race
Forecast: Sunny skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 66

1 p.m. — Daytona 500 pre-race
Forecast: Sunny skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 66

2 p.m. — Daytona 500
Forecast: Sunny skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 66

3 p.m. — Daytona 500
Forecast: Sunny skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 68

4 p.m. — Daytona 500
Forecast: Sunny skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 68

5 p.m. — Daytona 500
Forecast: Sunny skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 66

6 p.m. — Daytona 500
Forecast: Clear skies, cool
Winds: NNE 10-20 mph
Temperature: 66