Daytona 500 Start Time: When, Where to Watch 'The Great American Race'

The Daytona 500, NASCAR's most famous race, will begin at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday on Fox.

The Great American Race is billed as NASCAR's biggest, richest, and most prestigious motorsports event. It features 43 of the sport's top drivers competing in the race that begins the Sprint Cup series. Live coverage begins on Fox at noon.

As of Sunday morning there was a 70 percent chance of rain at Daytona, which could threaten the race's completion. Fox Sports reported that it had drizzled earlier during the day, but the heavier showers weren't expected until later in the afternoon. A heavy rainstorm could force a long delay or the race to be pushed back to Monday.

Carl Edwards will begin the day in the pole position, but it is Danica Patrick who has generated all of the pre-race headlines. Patrick crashed in a mid-week Gatorade Duel qualifying race that led her critics to question whether she'll ever seriously compete in the Sprint Cup. She crashed again during a Nationwide race on Saturday and will start in the 29th position on Sunday.

Other notables and their starting positions:

Greg Biffle, second

Tony Stewart, third

Matt Kenseth, fourth

Dale Earnhardt Jr., fifth

Jimmie Johnson, eighth

Kyle Busch, 14th

Jeff Gordon, 16th

The Daytona 500, which began in 1959, was won in 2011 by relatively unknown Trevor Bayne. The legendary Richard Petty is still the king of Daytona with a record seven victories.