With just an hour to go before ARCA Menards Series practice at 3:05 PM ET, teams and drivers at Daytona International Speedway are closely monitoring the radar as a rain cell approaches from the west. While the skies remain dry for now, the looming threat of rain could disrupt the session, potentially cutting into valuable track time ahead of the season-opening Daytona ARCA 200.
The Importance of Practice
For many teams, this session is crucial, as it serves as their first real opportunity to dial in their cars in race-like conditions. Daytona’s superspeedway draft is unique, requiring precise setup adjustments to maximize speed and stability in the pack. A shortened or canceled practice could leave drivers and crews with unanswered questions heading into qualifying and the race.
With several rookies and first-time ARCA competitors in the field, every lap matters. Superspeedway racing is as much about experience as it is about raw speed, and limited practice time could put newcomers at a disadvantage.
The Daytona Weather Factor
Weather delays are nothing new at Daytona, where Florida’s rapidly changing conditions often play a role in scheduling. If the rain does arrive, ARCA officials will need to determine whether the track can be dried in time to get cars on the oval before sunset. The track’s jet dryers and Air Titans are on standby in case precipitation forces a delay.
For now, teams continue their preparations, hoping the rain holds off long enough to get a full session in. As the clock ticks toward practice time, all eyes remain on the sky and the radar.
