Heather Tucker

USA TODAY Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s season is on hold.

A warm Florida rain washed across Daytona International Speedway Saturday evening moments after drivers took the stage amid fireworks and fanfare before the Advance Auto Parts Clash.

Seventeen drivers are slated to run in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series opener — an exhibition that doesn’t offer any points but usually serves up plenty of crazy moments in a no-holds-barred sprint to the finish. But instead of racing under the lights, drivers will hit the 2.5-mile superspeedway under what they hope are sunny skies.

NASCAR officials announced at 9:30 p.m. ET that The Clash had been rescheduled for Sunday at 11:35 a.m. ET (Fox Sports 1). The green flag originally was slated for 8:24 p.m. Saturday.

The field includes seven-time and defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2016 Daytona 500 winner and reigning Clash victor Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Danica Patrick.

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Alex Bowman is also in the field, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. It’s a seat he’s familiar with, having filled in — along with Jeff Gordon — for Dale Earnhardt Jr. last season when Earnhardt was sidelined by a concussion.

Bowman secured his spot by winning the pole at Phoenix International Raceway last fall. Earnhardt was in the TV booth for Fox, reunited with Gordon.

NASCAR has 20 Air Titans, 10 jet dryers, two sweepers and a vacuum truck to help dry the 2.5-mile surface. Drying time here usually takes about two hours. But a series of showers proved too much.

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