NASCAR Daytona Shootout: Sprint Unlimited start time, info

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It's NASCAR race night at Daytona International Speedway, and we've got some essential information you need to get ready for tonight's season-opening Sprint Unlimited.

START TIME: Larry King of CNN fame will instruct drivers to start their engines at 8:23 p.m. ET tonight, followed by the green flag at 8:35 p.m. So if you want to skip the pre-race show and just tune in for the race, turn on your TV at 8:35 p.m.

RACE DISTANCE: The Sprint Unlimited (formerly the Budweiser Shootout) is 75 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway for a total of 187.5 miles. However, we don't know the format for the race yet. Fans are currently voting to decide how the segments for the race will shake out.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Shawn King, wife of Larry King, will sing the national anthem. She is also the co-grand marshal with her husband.

TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: FOX Sports 1 — not FOX — will broadcast tonight's race and has a pre-race show beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will call the race on the radio.

WEATHER: The National Weather Service is calling for mostly clear skies with temperatures falling from the low 50s into the 40s during the race.

LAST TIME: Kevin Harvick opened Speedweeks 2013 with a victory in the Unlimited by holding off Greg Biffle, blocking his last-lap charge.

STARTING LINEUP: No one knows yet. Fans have the option to choose the starting lineup based on most career poles, 2013 point standings or speeds from the final Unlimited practice.

Follow Jeff Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck