Daytona 500 and the Impact of NFL Scheduling

For decades, President’s Day weekend has been synonymous with the roar of engines at Daytona International Speedway, where the iconic Daytona 500 has kicked off the NASCAR Cup Series season as “The Great American Race.” But in a seismic shift announced just yesterday, NASCAR is ceding that prized slot to the NFL’s juggernaut Super Bowl—potentially for good.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The 69th running of the Daytona 500 will now take place on Sunday, February 21, 2027, a full week after the traditional date, bowing to the gridiron gods and underscoring the NFL’s unyielding grip on the American sports calendar. The long weekend always gave race fans the chance to drive back home on Monday in time for work Tuesday morning.

The move, revealed by Daytona International Speedway on October 22, 2025, comes as Super Bowl LXI looms on February 14, 2027—smack in the middle of President’s Day weekend. This isn’t mere coincidence; it’s a calculated retreat by NASCAR, which has long eyed the NFL’s expansionist tendencies with wariness.

Back in 2012, the sanctioning body preemptively bumped the 2012 Daytona 500 off the weekend amid rumors of an NFL 18-game season that could encroach further. They reversed course in 2018 when those plans fizzled, reclaiming the slot—until now. With the Super Bowl locked in and the NFL’s influence showing no signs of waning, industry insiders see this as NASCAR waving the white flag for the long haul.

Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway, framed the announcement with a fan-first spin, emphasizing the need for early notice to the event’s global faithful. “We have fans from all 50 states and dozens of countries who look forward to kicking off the NASCAR season with us at ‘The World Center of Racing,’ and we know many of them make their travel and lodging plans well in advance for the trip,” Kelleher said. “As the 2027 date shifts to Feb. 21, we wanted to give our amazing and loyal fans plenty of opportunity to prepare to be in Daytona Beach for the excitement ‘The Great American Race’ provides each year.”

It’s a diplomatic nod to logistics, but beneath the surface lies a stark reality: NASCAR can’t afford to go toe-to-toe with the Super Bowl’s 100-million-plus viewership and cultural stranglehold.

The Daytona 500, a sellout staple for the past decade, has thrived on President’s Day weekend since 1971 (with a brief hiatus), drawing celebrities, fireworks, and a pre-Labor Day vibe that feels quintessentially American. William Byron’s back-to-back triumphs in 2024 and 2025—making him the youngest multi-time winner and handing Hendrick Motorsports a record 10th victory—only amplified its prestige. Yet, as the NFL bulks up its schedule and primes the pump for international expansion, motorsports finds itself in the slow lane. “NASCAR believes it cannot compete directly” with the league’s dominance, as one analysis put it, opting instead for a clean break to preserve attendance and buzz at “The World Center of Racing.”

Even voices within the broadcast booth have grappled with the dilemma. Mike Joy, the legendary Fox Sports announcer and voice of the Daytona 500, once floated the idea of NASCAR leaning into the conflict—running the race as a pregame lead-in to siphon eyeballs during Super Bowl buildup hours. “I wouldn’t mind NASCAR running the event as a lead-in to the Super Bowl to leverage viewers at home,” Joy told Awful Announcing in a prior interview. But he tempered enthusiasm with caveats: Weather delays could spill the race into kickoff, cratering ratings. NASCAR, ever pragmatic, chose distance over daring.

This isn’t just a 2027 footnote; it’s a harbinger. The NFL’s calendar creep—fueled by lucrative TV deals and streaming wars—has already reshaped weekends across sports. NASCAR’s deference signals a broader capitulation: President’s Day now belongs to pigskin, lock, stock, and barrel. For the 2026 edition, still set for January 15 to dodge any overlap, loyalists get first dibs on 2027 tickets via pre-sale. But as Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth rolls into February with its Duels, Truck Series openers, and ARCA action, the echo of V8 thunder on that hallowed Sunday will feel a touch quieter—and a lot more permanent.

Fans can snag 2026 passes now at www.DAYTONA.com or www.DAYTONA500.com, but the real race is on: Can NASCAR reclaim its weekend thunder, or is the NFL’s end zone the new finish line?