Kyle Busch is leading the Daytona 500, which has transformed into night race following a six-hour rain delay.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- After six hours, a deluge of rain and weather that at times resembled something out of "The Wizard of Oz," the 2014 Daytona 500 has resumed.
Sitting in the lead is Kyle Busch, followed by Kasey Kahne and Busch's teammate, Denny Hamlin. Busch and Hamlin drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, which was considered the pre-race favorite to win the Great American Race. Hamlin won the Sprint Unlimited last week and his Budweiser Duel qualifying race Thursday. Busch won the Truck Series race Friday night.
As a result of the lengthy delay, the biggest challenge facing teams are the changed conditions from the daytime -- featuring a slick track -- to the cool evening temperatures, which should afford drivers plenty of grip. One advantage teams have is that both the Sprint Unlimited and the Duel were run at night, which should provide a template of what to expect for the remaining 160 laps.
More rain is forecasted, but if the race gets to halfway, Lap 100, the Daytona 500 would be considered official and a winner could be declared.