Daytona Beach, FL – Rain has disrupted the first on-track action of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, forcing the cancellation of practice sessions for both the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
With wet weather rolling through the area, officials made the call to cancel the scheduled practice sessions, limiting teams’ track time ahead of their respective season openers.
Impact on ARCA Menards Series
For ARCA teams preparing for the Brandt 200 at Daytona, the lost practice time is a major setback, particularly for drivers making their first superspeedway start. Daytona’s 2.5-mile high banks present a unique challenge, and practice is crucial for drivers to get comfortable with the draft and fine-tune their cars.
While teams were hoping for at least some laps on the track, they will now have to rely on Saturday’s qualifying session (weather permitting) to shake down their machines before the green flag drops later in the afternoon.
Truck Series Teams Lose Key Prep Time
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series teams also took a hit with the rainout, as they were slated for their first practice ahead of the Fresh From Florida 250 on Friday night. With the session washed out, teams will have even less time to dial in their setups before the season opener.
Fortunately, Truck Series teams still have a scheduled final practice session on Friday morning, giving them at least some track time before Friday afternoon’s qualifying session. However, if rain continues, teams may be forced to go straight into qualifying without any prior laps on the track.
The weather forecast remains a concern heading into the weekend, with teams and officials keeping a close eye on conditions. Fans and teams alike will be hoping for a break in the rain to ensure qualifying and racing proceed as planned.
For now, drivers and crews will have to wait for their first laps of the 2025 season at Daytona.
