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NASCAR Announcer Caught Napping During Daytona 500 Delay

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 16, 2025 6:28 PM ET

Rain delays have gridlocked Sunday's Daytona 500.

In an attempt to combat the weather forecast, NASCAR moved the race's start time up to 1:30 p.m. ET. That plan didn't work for long. Eleven laps into The Great American Race, NASCAR paused the Daytona 500 due to inclement weather. Defending champion William Byron led the field over Austin Cindric and Ty Dillon before the race halted in Florida.

Following a long layover, everyone had time to kill at Daytona International Speedway. That includes the FOX broadcasting team.

More than an hour into the delay, 2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick posted a photo of his colleague getting some rest. Clint Bowyer was lying down on the floor next to the production team's electrical equipment.

"Mid race prep!" Harvick wrote of Bowyer's nap.

.@ClintBowyer mid race prep! pic.twitter.com/cUeVXqRE5J
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February 16, 2025

Bowyer had another chance to briefly close his eyes.

Following a lengthy delay, NASCAR issued a yellow flag around 5:30 p.m. ET. However, the weather prompted another red flag on the 20th lap. Chase Briscoe took the lead before the latest stop.

Fortunately, this delay didn't last nearly as long. NASCAR told drivers to stay close to their cars to prepare for an imminent return.

Brian Neudorff, an unofficial meteorologist, wrote that the Daytona 500 should be "good to go the rest of the night" after the rain front posses.

Bowyer apparently woke up, and he warned fans to get ready for the Daytona 500 to resume.

"Think we're finally good. Get ya butts back in front of the TV tuned into @NASCARONFOX," Bowyer wrote on social media. "The guys are going to be eager to get after it for the ending of this stage end. Lezzzz GO!!!!!"

Drivers are re-firing their engines, and no more rain delays are expected. Fans can watch the rest of the Daytona 500 on FOX.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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