NASCAR makes major change to 2027 Daytona 500 date amid conflict with Super Bowl

Traditionally, the Daytona 500 has mostly been held on Presidents’ Day weekend. But come 2027, that will change.

Daytona International Speedway announced Wednesday that the 2027 Daytona 500 will move to Feb. 21, 2027, one week later than its usual date. NASCAR confirmed with Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports that Daytona will still be the first points race of the 2027 season.

Catch the tradition. 02.21.27.#DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/9nUlY2CYQT

— Daytona International Speedway (@DAYTONA) October 22, 2025

The reason for the change is simple: NASCAR wants to avoid going head-to-head with the NFL‘s biggest day. Super Bowl LXI is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. With the Daytona 500 being the premier event in NASCAR, they would obviously prefer to have a Sunday to themselves.

“It’s a very crowded sports landscape in February of ’27, including the Super Bowl scheduled for Feb. 14,” said Frank Kelleher, president of Daytona International Speedway, via Ken Willis of the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “The decision was made to move the Daytona 500, to allow for it to stand on its own.”

Daytona 500 has a new weekend in 2027

Kelleher said it was important to announce the new date well in advance: “Our fans are the most loyal, and we know many of them make their travel plans over a year in advance for the Great American Race.

“So, we want that news out there right now, so when people are preparing, finalizing their trip for this upcoming year, when they’re here talking about renewing or extending their VRBO or Airbnb, or checking out a new hotel chain, they’ll know the dates they are looking at for the following year.”

The 2026 500 will open the new Cup Series season Sunday, Feb. 15. William Byron will look to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win three consecutive 500s.