Daytona 500 live updates, results, highlights from NASCAR’s 2023 season-opening race

It doesn’t get much bigger than the Daytona 500.

The iconic race is one of the jewels of the NASCAR calendar, an outpouring of action that regularly draws crowds of more than 200,000 fans. Austin Cindric made his mark on the big stage last year, capturing his first-ever checkered flag was a Cup Series driver.

He’ll hope to retain his title in 2023. Cindric will face stiff competition, though — Hendrick Motorsports talents Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson impressed in qualifying, placing first and second in the starting lineup ahead of Sunday’s race.

Aric Almirola, who planned on retiring after last season, has yet to nab a win on his hometown track. He’ll be locked in on the second row, giving himself about as good a shot as any to improve on his career-best fourth place showing from 2017. And you can never sleep on Denny Hamlin, who has captured the Daytona 500 title three times in his career.

All of this is to say, it’s a race already brimming with fireworks. With a backdrop of raucous fans, it should make for another memorable battle.

Daytona is the place where so many legacies have been made. Racers will hope to add their name to that rich tapestry come Sunday afternoon.

MORE: Watch the 2023 Daytona 500 live on fuboTV (free trial)

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Sunday’s race at Daytona International Speedway. Follow below for highlights and live results from The Great American Race.

Daytona 500 live updates, highlights from 2023 race

All times Eastern

4:15 p.m.: Stage point break down, provided by The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck.

Brad Keselowski wins Stage 1 at the #Daytona500. One playoff point for him and 10 stage points.

Others getting stage points:

2. Preece
3. Buescher
4. Harvick
5. McDowell
6. Gibbs
7. Johnson
8. Almirola
9. Truex
10. Gilliland

First caution of the day.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 19, 2023

4:11 p.m.: Caution flag waved at the end of the stage, giving Wallace the opportunity to make some adjustments at pit road.

Bubba Wallace says his steering well is a little bit off following the contact with the wall. Team is planning to make further repairs to the 23 car during this caution.

— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) February 19, 2023

4:07 p.m.: It’s Keselowski, Preece and Buescher competing for the stage victory. Keselowski takes the stage! Slick play by the Cup Series veteran, who gets a car-length in front of Preece to nab 10 stage points.

STAGE ONE DUB Y’ALL 👏🏼@keselowski | #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/CtWewHO6Cj

— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 19, 2023

4:06 p.m.: Three laps left and we are single file. It’s Truex-Hamlin-Gibbs-Almirola-Keselowski.

4:01 p.m.: It was contact from Toyota teammate Martin Truex Jr. that forced Wallace into the wall. He finds himself a lap down. Truex got bumped by 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, which pushed him into Wallace. Unfortunate for the driver who finished second in last year’s iteration of the race.

Bubba Wallace gets a bump from Martin Truex Jr. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/FPpuqlhmYL

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2023

3:58 p.m.: Wallace clips the wall while in the lead, sending him down the field quickly. Looks like he might need to go to pit road and get some replacement tires.

3:52 p.m.: Leading the charge with 20 laps to go in Stage 1 is none other than Denny Hamlin, who is seeking his fourth Daytona 500 title. Bell sitting in second, followed by Chase Briscoe, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace.

3:49 p.m.: The No. 15 car of Riley Herbst just avoids drawing a caution flag after spinning into the pits. He’ll be docked a pass-through penalty for a commitment line violation.

Riley Herbst spins coming onto pit road. Got into the back of Kyle Busch as well. Both cars seem ok. @AlwaysRaceDay pic.twitter.com/bXR7GADuWq

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) February 19, 2023

3:47 p.m.: Pit stops starting up with the Ford cars. Gragson, who’s driving a Chevrolet, had some difficulties pulling in. Had a lot of speed heading in.

3:38 p.m.: Ty Dillon looks to be in a bit of trouble. His No. 77 car is spewing out plumes of smoke through its pipes. Might be an engine issue.

3:35 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson making really decent ground through the opening 25 laps. He’s already up 11 spots from where he was once at. The NASCAR Hall of Famer might be on pace for a solid showing if these early laps are any indication.

3:29 p.m.: Christopher Bell wrestles the lead away from Bowman as we approach Lap 20.

3:24 p.m.: Bowman standing firm at the top of the field through nine laps. Larson trailing ever so slightly.

3:18 p.m.: Two-by-two in each row through the first four laps. Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson battling for first place, although things remain quite tight early.

3:16 p.m.: The green flag is waved and we are underway at Daytona!

Pre-race updates

3:00 p.m.: We’re about 15 minutes away from the waving of the green flag. The forecast looks quite promising:

There are clouds but the radar looks good … pic.twitter.com/sqD4JleprX

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 19, 2023

2:40 p.m.: Noah Gragson sporting a Big Hat ahead of Sunday’s race. Sporting heritage on display.

2:25 p.m.: Driver introductions underway, led by none other than comedian Gabriel Iglesias. So worldly.

Drivers introductions underway at the #Daytona500. pic.twitter.com/d1Z4v9pilN

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 19, 2023

2:00 p.m.: Whole lot of racing luminaries on site at the World Center of Racing:

Seeing the #Daytona500 grand marshals all sitting together is pretty cool. Front row of the drivers meeting is: Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano. All both Cup champs and 500 champs.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 19, 2023

1:37 p.m.: Dierks Bentley rocking out at the pre-race concert. My brother (a country music fan) will be delighted.

1:35 p.m.: Pitbull is here. Yes, that Pitbull. Go figure.

1:25 p.m.: Pre-race tour for Haddish and…Pete Davidson. TMZ is salivating.

NASCAR’s Ben Kennedy giving a garage tour to Pete Davidson and Tiffany Haddish at the #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/GA3bxd9Csp

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 19, 2023

1:05 p.m.: Tiffany Haddish is on location. She’ll be waving the green flag to start Sunday’s race. Looks like she’s got the form down pat, too.

😂 Talking with @TiffanyHaddish is always an adventure and we LOVE it 😂 #DAYTONA500 | #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/RX1V8iQYMi

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2023

12:50 p.m.: Racers take us through their favorite moments in Daytona 500 history. Lots of good ones to choose from. What’s your favorite?

As #NASCAR celebrates 75 years, we asked drivers to name their favorite moment in the sport’s history. @DAYTONA is special. pic.twitter.com/qYpFqUMe4k

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2023

12:30 p.m.: Kyle Busch is the only driver headed to the back of the field after wrecking on Thursday. 

Ware car is through tech. So only car going to the rear that I am aware of is Busch for a backup car. https://t.co/3v0GC49JGL

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 19, 2023

11:11 a.m.: Hamlin, looking for his fourth win at Daytona, is tied with Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney for the top odds to win the Daytona 500.

Three DAYTONA 500s going for a historic fourth. @dennyhamlin | @JoeGibbsRacing pic.twitter.com/NlDmkOI1rx

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 19, 2023

8:59 a.m.: Today starts the official start of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series! And that starts, of course, with pre-race inspection:

First up: #DAYTONA500 pre-race inspection.#HotPass | @bobpockrass pic.twitter.com/Fdv8Y0C6Kh

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 19, 2023

8:36 a.m.: Dierks Bentley, who will perform the pre-race concert at Daytona, is in the house (metaphorically).

It’s #DAYTONA500 day! Let’s rock!@DierksBentley | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ygqkpqGhGe

— NASCAR Nation (@NASCARNation) February 19, 2023

Daytona 500 2023 starting lineup

Daytona 500 start time

• Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET

The Daytona 500 has a 2:30 p.m. ET listed start time. However, given the number of festivities expected to take place on Sunday, green flag is slated to be waved at 3:14 p.m. ET.

What channel is the Daytona 500 on?

• TV channel: Fox
• Live stream: FoxSports.com, fuboTV

Fox will handle broadcasting duties for the 2023 Daytona 500, per usual. The booth will be filled with racing luminaries, both in the form of longtime duo Mike Joy (lap-by-lap) and Clint Bowyer (analyst), as well as guest commentators Larry McReynolds and Tony Stewart.

The race will also be live-streamed on FoxSports.com, as well as fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

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