NASCAR moves up the Daytona 500 start time by an hour as bad weather looms

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR is moving the start time of Sunday's Daytona 500 up one hour because of the threat of inclement weather.

The green flag is now scheduled for 2:13 p.m. Eastern at Daytona International Speedway.

William Byron will try to become the first driver in history to win the Daytona 500 in three consecutive years when the 68th running of “The Great American Race” opens the NASCAR season.

Byron won last year’s event in overtime after race leader Denny Hamlin got spun on the final lap, igniting a multicar crash. Byron ended up passing eight cars on the last lap to return to victory lane.

Kyle Busch earned his first Daytona 500 pole, landing the No. 1 starting position during qualifying Wednesday. It came as he gets ready to start his 21st Daytona 500 and tries to end the longest current skid in the garage.

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Cars move on the track during the first of two NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks and reliever Paul Sewald have agreed to terms on a $1.5 million, one-year deal, the team announced Saturday, bringing the right-hander back to the franchise he helped reach the World Series in 2023.

The 35-year-old played for the Guardians and Tigers last season, finishing with a 4.58 ERA over 22 appearances.

Sewald came to the Diamondbacks from the Seattle Mariners in a trade deadline deal in 2023 and helped the D-backs make a surprise run to the Fall Classic before losing to the Texas Rangers in five games.

He was terrific in the postseason through the first three rounds, with six saves over eight scoreless innings, but struggled in the World Series, giving up six runs over two innings.

To make room for Sewald on the roster, the D-backs moved right-hander Justin Martinez (elbow surgery) to the 60-day injured list.

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FILE - Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Paul Sewald throws during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, March 27, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)