As ‘Speedweeks,’ NASCAR’s official name for the sport’s most famous weekend, roars to life on Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway, it marks the first competitive step toward the 68th running of the Daytona 500.
NASCAR’s biggest race week begins with pole qualifying, where 45 drivers will go head-to-head for track position, security in the field, and the most prestigious starting spots in the Great American Race.
What Is the Daytona 500 Qualifying Schedule for Today
Today, February 11, is the first day of NASCAR’s Speedweeks, which begins early in the day with on-track action.
A televised practice session at 10 a.m. ET opens the schedule. Followed by additional media events, team introductions, and ceremonial activities that will lead into the prime-time qualifying showdown, officially launching American Motorsport’s most anticipated week of the season.
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Qualifying for this year’s Daytona 500 is set for Wednesday, February 11, at 8:15 p.m. ET, airing nationally on FS1, with live streaming available through Fubo. Radio coverage will be provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90), giving fans multiple ways to follow the live action.
- Date: Wednesday, February 11
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Venue: Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida)
Where to Watch?
- TV Channel: FS1
- Live Streaming: Fubo (free trial available)
- Radio Coverage: MRN | SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)
Under the unique Daytona qualifying format, every driver will make a single timed lap around the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
The 10 fastest cars advance to a second round of time trials, where the two quickest drivers at the end of the night will officially secure the front-row starting positions for Sunday’s main event. Those two drivers will line up first and second when the green flag waves for the Great American Race.
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Beyond deciding Sunday’s pole positions, Wednesday night’s qualifying does much more.
The remaining laps of Wednesday’s qualifying session will set the starting grids for Thursday’s Daytona Duels, two 60-lap qualifying races that finalize the rest of the Daytona 500 starting lineup. While 36 charter entries already have guaranteed spots in Sunday’s main event, four remaining positions will be filled by the highest-finishing drivers among eight unchartered teams.
The Daytona 500 remains the most prestigious event on NASCAR’s calendar, and the qualifying night is the first true test of speed, precision, and preparation for teams chasing a place in history.
From open team battling it out for the limited spots, to front-row battles and race survival, tonight’s session sets the competitive tone for the rest of the Speedweeks schedule.
