NASCAR has announced a change of date for the season-opening Daytona 500, bowing to another sport's schedule.
The iconic race will be shifted from Presidents Day weekend in 2027 back to February 21, with the Super Bowl set to be held on the same day on the other side of the country in LA.
The NFL's season finale drew a mammoth 127.7 million TV viewers in the US alone this year, with the Daytona 500 pulling in 6.76 million – a good number, but one almost certain to be slashed if forced to compete with the Super Bowl.
The move is a predictable side-effect of the NFL's shift to a 17-game schedule in 2021, which has shuffle a number of their key dates back to accommodate the extra week of games.
Early Daytona decision 'for the fans'
Frank Kelleher, president of Daytona International Speedway, admitted: “It’s a very crowded sports landscape in February of ’27, including the Super Bowl scheduled for Feb. 14. The decision was made to move the Daytona 500, to allow for it to stand on its own.
“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.”
It's unclear whether the move off Presidents Day weekend will be permanent, but any decision on that will likely follow the NFL's decisions on their own schedule.
