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DAYTONA BEACH — World-class automotive machinery from all corners of the globe.
World-class automobile racers from all corners of the globe. All here for a Saturday-to-Sunday, twice-around-the-clock grind known as the Rolex 24.
Could anyone have ever envisioned what’s become of Daytona’s annual sports-car extravaganza?
Well, yeah, as a matter of fact. It was rather obvious, assuming you paid any attention when it debuted in 1962 under the proud stewardship of Big Bill France, who opened Daytona International Speedway three years earlier with this very thing in mind.
Forget a Who’s Who list or mere Hall of Fame roster, the list of international superstars competing in Daytona’s inaugural effort — it began as the three-hour Daytona Continental — reads like something better suited for a museum.
Among them: Stirling Moss, Rodger Ward, Jim Clark, Roger Penske, Pedro Rodriguez, A.J. Foyt, Fireball Roberts, Jim Hall and the eventual winner, California hot-rodding god Dan Gurney.
Today, as in this weekend, the driver roster remains impressive as it borrows from other forms of racing — most notably the upper-rungs of IndyCar, but also NASCAR, European sports-cars and Aussie Supercars, with a dash of former Formula One drivers suited up.
The Rolex 24 has become a career destination for many racers, who make it an annual affair, but in some cases their participation is only possible due to the race’s parking spot on the calendar — at the very beginning, comfortably before other global forms of racing fire the engines.
Among the status symbols for today’s racer isn’t just a Rolex watch, but a Rolex Daytona, earned through a trip to Victory Lane here in January.
“I love this race. This is such a cool way to start the year,” says Corvette co-driver Scott McLaughlin, IndyCar winner, former Aussie Supercars champ and native of New Zealand.
“It gets the competitive juices flowing. You know you’re competing for a very expensive watch at the end of it. It’s a blast.”
NASCAR veteran AJ Almendinger competed in 15 Rolex 24s, starting in 2006, but is back this year after a five-year absence. And he’s quite happy about it.
“I missed this race,” he says. “I watched it every year. To see the car count, and now just how competitive every car is … it just seems like there’s bad-ass guys from top to bottom in every lineup. That makes it fun. You have to go out there and learn quick and compete against the best, which is what you want.
“To me it’s one of the coolest races we have on this planet. “
Also, this week, the only race on this planet.
Friday: 1:45-5:45 p.m.: BMW M Endurance Challenge, (TV: Peacock).
Saturday: 1:40 p.m.: Start of 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona (TV: NBC, Peacock).
Sunday: 1:40 p.m.: Conclusion of Rolex 24 at Daytona
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rolex 24 draws the racing world to Daytona; 'I love this race'
Continue reading...
World-class automobile racers from all corners of the globe. All here for a Saturday-to-Sunday, twice-around-the-clock grind known as the Rolex 24.
Could anyone have ever envisioned what’s become of Daytona’s annual sports-car extravaganza?
Well, yeah, as a matter of fact. It was rather obvious, assuming you paid any attention when it debuted in 1962 under the proud stewardship of Big Bill France, who opened Daytona International Speedway three years earlier with this very thing in mind.
You must be registered for see images attach
Forget a Who’s Who list or mere Hall of Fame roster, the list of international superstars competing in Daytona’s inaugural effort — it began as the three-hour Daytona Continental — reads like something better suited for a museum.
Among them: Stirling Moss, Rodger Ward, Jim Clark, Roger Penske, Pedro Rodriguez, A.J. Foyt, Fireball Roberts, Jim Hall and the eventual winner, California hot-rodding god Dan Gurney.
Rolex 24 at Daytona still packs impressive driver roster
Today, as in this weekend, the driver roster remains impressive as it borrows from other forms of racing — most notably the upper-rungs of IndyCar, but also NASCAR, European sports-cars and Aussie Supercars, with a dash of former Formula One drivers suited up.
You must be registered for see images attach
The Rolex 24 has become a career destination for many racers, who make it an annual affair, but in some cases their participation is only possible due to the race’s parking spot on the calendar — at the very beginning, comfortably before other global forms of racing fire the engines.
Among the status symbols for today’s racer isn’t just a Rolex watch, but a Rolex Daytona, earned through a trip to Victory Lane here in January.
“I love this race. This is such a cool way to start the year,” says Corvette co-driver Scott McLaughlin, IndyCar winner, former Aussie Supercars champ and native of New Zealand.
“It gets the competitive juices flowing. You know you’re competing for a very expensive watch at the end of it. It’s a blast.”
NASCAR veteran AJ Almendinger competed in 15 Rolex 24s, starting in 2006, but is back this year after a five-year absence. And he’s quite happy about it.
“I missed this race,” he says. “I watched it every year. To see the car count, and now just how competitive every car is … it just seems like there’s bad-ass guys from top to bottom in every lineup. That makes it fun. You have to go out there and learn quick and compete against the best, which is what you want.
“To me it’s one of the coolest races we have on this planet. “
Also, this week, the only race on this planet.
Sports-car racing at Daytona
Friday: 1:45-5:45 p.m.: BMW M Endurance Challenge, (TV: Peacock).
Saturday: 1:40 p.m.: Start of 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona (TV: NBC, Peacock).
Sunday: 1:40 p.m.: Conclusion of Rolex 24 at Daytona
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Rolex 24 draws the racing world to Daytona; 'I love this race'
Continue reading...
