After rain postponed the Daytona 500 for the first time in its 54-year history, NASCAR will try again Monday afternoon at 12:01 p.m. EST

But NASCAR will not be able to escape the rain with the noon start time. Numerous showers and even a few thunderstorms are expected through the morning and into the afternoon.

The chance of NASCAR starting on time Monday is less than 10 percent based on the forecast. By the late afternoon and early evening, it appears drier air will work into the region, breaking up the rain and causing it to diminish as it pushes off to the east and out over the Atlantic.

Rain could begin to end between 4-6 p.m. EST. Allowing for two hours of drying, we could start the race between 6-8 p.m. EST. Maybe FOX can hire Hank Williams Jr. to open up Monday Night NASCAR.

On the remote chance that the race is postponed another day, Tuesday at noon would be the next logical choice. There is still a lot of uncertainty on what would happen if Mother Nature forced NASCAR's hand for another day. Next weekend the Sprint Cup Series is in Phoenix and it has been said that it take around two days for the NASCAR haulers to get from Charlotte to Phoenix.

Conditions in Daytona Beach, FL: Click here for Current Weather Conditions – Look at Doppler Radar | Mobile Friendly Site | Mobile Radar

MONDAY:
12 p.m. ET
Daytona 500 – Cloudy, showers, chance of t'storm – temp: 73
2 p.m. ET
Daytona 500 – Cloudy, showers, chance of t'storm – temp: 73
4 p.m. ET
Daytona 500 – Cloudy, chance of scattered shower – temp: 74
6 p.m. ET
Daytona 500 – Mostly cloudy, chance of isolated shower – temp: 69
8 p.m. ET
Daytona 500 – Mostly cloudy, chance of isolated shower – temp: 67

Please follow me on Twitter @NASCAR_WXMAN and like me on Facebook for the latest Weather updates through the week.