Lingering Rain Pushes Daytona Xfinity Race Back Further

The NASCAR Xfinity Series opener at Daytona Int'l Speedway has been delayed again. (Matthew Thacker/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Mother Nature wreaked havoc on the Daytona Speedweeks presented by AdventHealth schedule one more time Monday morning.

Announced at 9:15 a.m. ET, less than two hours prior to the initially postponed start time, the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ season-opening United Rentals 300 at Daytona Int’l Speedway has been postponed again.

Due to lingering morning showers in the Daytona Beach area which hampered track-drying efforts, the Xfinity Series’ first race of the year will roll off one hour after the conclusion of the 66th Daytona 500, with a projected start time of 9 p.m. ET.

Broadcast networks for the Xfinity Series kickoff remain unchanged, airing on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

When the race finally goes green – roughly 52 hours after the original start time on Saturday – Richard Childress Racing rookie Jesse Love will start from the pole after securing the top starting spot during an abbreviated qualifying session Saturday afternoon, just before the initial storm system moved in.

Love’s teammate Austin Hill joins him on the front row, followed by A.J. Allmendinger, Parker Kligerman, and three-time Supercars champion and New Zealand rookie Shane van Gisbergen.

Defending Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer, driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, starts 17th.

Of note, despite the extended delay, Love is not the driver to hold a pole position the longest prior to the start of an Xfinity Series race.

That honor belongs to 2017 NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who earned the pole for the 1993 Slick 50 300 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway and held it for 239 days before the race was actually contested, due to blizzard conditions that postponed the race from March 19 to Nov. 13 that year.

Monday’s Daytona 500 start time remains unchanged, beginning at 4 p.m. ET on FOX, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

Fans who have Saturday grandstand tickets and admission to the Hard Rock Bet Fanzone will be able to attend both the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

Those seeking to buy or sell reserved Daytona 500 seats can do so on SeatGeek, the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR. Tickets are available for Monday’s event.