Start of Coke Zero 400 pushed back because of inclement weather
Light rain began falling about 6 p.m. local time, at times developing into heavier showers and forcing fans to take occasional cover, while drivers waited to participate in the traditional pre-race ceremonies and 20 NASCAR Air Titans and nine jet dryers ready to dry the 2.5-mile track.
Two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the pole position alongside second-year Cup driver Austin Dillon. The 43-car grid was set according to Friday's first practice sessions speeds — per the NASCAR rule book — after bad weather Saturday evening forced the cancellation of Sprint Cup Series qualifying.
Drivers seemed to take the situation in stride. Afternoon showers are commonplace in Florida during the summer. Last year's race was delayed a day and called 48 laps short of completion because of poor weather; however, it marked only the second time in this race's history the event was rain-shortened.
Competitors this weekend were more concerned with race strategy than radar watching.
"There's something about this place — every time you come here, the facility — you just get taken in by it," Michael Waltrip Racing driver Clint Bowyer said, addressing media Sunday afternoon.
"Watching the XFINITY race last night, learned a lot of things just watching those guys and kind of what you think is going to play out with our program when you get the Cup boys out there on the race track. Learned a little bit of what not to do. That's the thing about this weekend and coming to these restrictor plate tracks, you're constantly learning and you're being a student of what you see and you don't really have a lot of practice time anymore, at least you shouldn't.
"It's the same plan everybody else has, which is to roll their happy butt into Victory Lane with a big smile on their face."