The first Daytona 500 was on Febuary 22, 1959. And NASCAR has been established before the start of the Daytona 500, so the answer your question...no.
No, it was not. For example, for most of the time that NASCAR raced there, the now gone, Riverside International Raceway (CA), a road course was the first race of the season.
There was no "Daytona 500" until the speedway was built in 1959. Even before that, the races on the beach at Daytona were not the first race of the season.
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Yes. The Daytona 500, which takes place in February, is the first points race on Nascar's schedule. The first non-points race is the Budweiser Shootout, which is held eight days earlier.
Not until 2012. There have been four Daytona 500's that have been rain-shortened. But on February 26, 2012, it was the first time in 54 years that Nascar had to reschedule the race.