Daytona 500 stopped by rain after 11 laps

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rain has stopped the Daytona 500 connected Sunday aft 11 laps, not agelong aft President Donald Trump in his heavy armored statesmanlike limousine known successful Washington arsenic “The Beast” led the drivers connected 2 laps astir the track.

The caution emblem came retired with defending Daytona 500 champion William Byron retired front.

Rain started falling successful turns 1 and two, the West broadside of the 2 1/2-mile Daytona International Speedway.

Trump spoke to the drivers arsenic helium led them done respective ceremonial laps.

“This is your favourite president. I’m a large fan. I americium a truly large instrumentality of you people," Trump said. "How you bash this I don’t know, but I conscionable privation you to beryllium safe. You’re talented radical and you’re large radical and large Americans. Have a bully day, person a batch of amusive and I’ll spot you later.”

NASCAR officials moved the commencement clip to 2 p.m. Eastern earlier this week — 70 minutes up of the planned greenish emblem — due to the fact that of imaginable rain. Inclement upwind is expected to beryllium successful the country betwixt 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with forecasts showing 99% accidental of rain. And since it takes astir 2 hours to adust the track, it could beryllium 7 p.m. earlier the contention resumes.

“Captain America” histrion Anthony Mackie landed astatine the “Great American Race” and gave the bid for drivers to commencement their engines.