DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Daytona 500 was postponed by rain for the first time since 2012, dampening NASCAR's Cup Series season opener that started with a ballyhooed visit from President Donald Trump.
The race was postponed after two lengthy delays totaling more than three hours Sunday. The race will now begin at 4 p.m. Monday and be broadcast live on Fox.
It's the second time in 62 years "The Great American Race" will finish on a Monday.
The first delay of the day came moments after the presidential motorcade completed a ceremonial parade lap around the 2.5-mile track. Trump's armored limousine nicknamed "The Beast" exited Daytona International Speedway, and the sky opened for a brief shower that forced drivers back to pit road.
The start already had been pushed back 13 minutes to accommodate Trump's trip. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., enjoying only the third pole position of his Cup Series career, eventually led the field to the green flag and was out front for the first 20 laps before heavier rain soaked a racing surface that takes hours to dry.
NASCAR called drivers back to their cars around 6:40 p.m., hoping to get more laps in before showers hit again. Some drivers showed, but the heaviest rain of the day forced a postponement.
AP photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack / The view from the press box shows a downpour Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Rain postponed the Daytona 500 to Monday.It no doubt choked some of the excitement out of an event that had been a raucous celebration for hours, some of it prompted by Trump's dramatic entrance. Thousands cheered as Air Force One performed a flyover and landed at Daytona International Airport a few hundred yards behind the track. Trump's motorcade arrived a few minutes later, eliciting another loud ovation. Both entrances were broadcast on giant video boards around the superspeedway.
At least a dozen drivers were escorted from the pre-race meeting to a private introduction with Trump.
"I got to meet the president! How cool is that?" Stewart-Haas Racing driver Aric Almirola said.
Trump served as the grand marshal for the Daytona 500 and gave the command for drivers to start their engines. With first lady Melania Trump by his side, the president addressed the crowd and called the opener "a legendary display of roaring engines, soaring spirits and the American skill, speed and power that we've been hearing about for so many years."
"For 500 heart-pounding miles, these fierce competitors will chase the checkered flag, fight for the Harley J. Earl trophy and make their play for pure American glory," Trump said. "That's what it is: pure, American glory."
AP photo by Saul Loeb / President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump ride in the presidential limousine as they take a pace lap Sunday at the Daytona 500. The NASCAR Cup Series opener at Daytona International Speedway eventually was postponed to Monday because of heavy rain.
Trump and his wife then got in the limousine and turned a lap. They avoided the high-banked turns at Daytona and stayed on the apron through the corners.
The president's visit was widely welcomed by NASCAR fans. Trump 2020 flags flooded the infield, and some fans wore them as capes in the garage area.
His presence also created huge lines at entrances, with many fans complaining while waiting hours to get through security. The popular fan zone - where fans can chug beers, listen to live music and purchase race merchandise - had three-hour waits.
"We would like a refund," said Kay Maiden, attending her first Daytona 500. "My feet are sore. I've been standing in that line for three hours. I paid $100 to stand in line for three hours, and that's not a good thing. We got water, but there's no place to go to the bathroom. It's definitely very unorganized."
There were enthusiastic "Woo-hoos!" and "We made it!" yells once fans packed their bags and made it through security lines.
"This is really ridiculous," Carl Jacobi said. "All the people pay for this thing and it's holding them up. We paid extra to get in here, and we're not getting to enjoy it."
AP photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack / Brad Keselowski stands under an umbrella on pit road at Daytona International Speedway after rain led to a red flag during the Daytona 500 on Sunday in Daytona Beach, Fla. The NASCAR Cup Series opener wound up being pushed back a day.Track officials did hand out free bottled waters to waiting fans.
"The safety and security of our guests is our top priority at Daytona International Speedway," the track said in a released statement. "We are aware of the challenges for guests entering the facility today. We appreciate their patience and look forward to a great Daytona 500."
Former NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France, who was replaced after his August 2018 arrest on DUI charges, was on Air Force One with the president and first lady. They traveled from West Palm Beach.
Among those who met them at the airport: current NASCAR chairman Jim France and fellow top executives Lesa France Kennedy and Ben Kennedy.