The Rolex 24 At Daytona (also frequently referred to as the 24 Hours of Daytona) is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is held on a 3.56-mile combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR-based tri-oval and an infield road course. Since its inception, it has been held the last weekend of January or first weekend of February, part of Speedweeks, and it is the first major automobile race of the year in the United States.
The race has had several names over the years. Since 1991, the Rolex Watch Co. is the title sponsor of the race under a naming rights arrangement, replacing Sunbank (now SunTrust) which in turn replaced Pepsi in 1984. Winning drivers of all classes receive a steel Rolex Cosmograph watch, with the race logo and year of race engraved at the back of the watch and is probably the most prestigious way to acquire one whilst skipping the infamous waiting list. The watch is considered as one of the most sought after non-vintage models should one appear up for sale.
In 2006, the race moved one week earlier into January to prevent a clash with the Super Bowl, which had in turn moved one week later into February a few years earlier. In effect, these two major events switched dates.
Star drivers appearances[]
As the Rolex 24 has a winter date during off-season for other racing series, many top class drivers are able and willing to take part in the Rolex if sponsorship commitments allow this. The track's marketing machine has aggressively sold the roll call of champions, with track officials focusing on the presence of professional-level racing champions and superstars in the race.
Recently retired NASCAR star Rusty Wallace joined IRL star Danica Patrick in the 2006 race, while Tony Stewart has gained a reputation of "checkers or wreckers" after his gallant 2004 drive with a badly stricken car in the lead, while attempting to nurse it to victory with less than 20 minutes remaining, the suspension finally gave up and Stewart crashed. Indy 500 champions Buddy Rice and Dan Wheldon have also made appearances in the race, with Wheldon's 2006 victory in the Rolex the first time a reigning Indy champion had won the classic. Previous Rolex 24 races have featured Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (the two were paired in the 2001 race, a memorable moment in the history of sportscar racing, and it is said they began this revival of the all-star format), Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Paul Tracy, Sébastien Bourdais, Kurt Busch, Kyle Petty, Randy LaJoie, and stars who have raced in every major form of motorsport.
The drivers seem to enjoy the all-star showdown, although the presence of these "ringers" has, along with the formula governing the cars, drawn the ire of sportscar-racing purists, who tend to view the series as a dumbed-down version of "real" sportscar racing. Many observers, on the other hand, believe the presence of these visiting stars is beneficial. They argue the racing only intensifies when a handful of top-flight drivers from other forms of motorsport decide to take on the road racing aces. For example, the star power added to the field created some passionate driving in the 2006 race.
The 2007 Rolex field is expected to be full of such stars. Jeff Gordon will drive the Wayne Taylor Racing #10 SunTrust Pontiac, with Michael Shank Racing having Indianapolis 500 champions Hélio Castroneves and reigning IRL and Indianapolis 500 champion Sam Hornish, Jr.. Bobby Labonte will pilot the #19 Daytona Prototype. 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and Daytona 500 champion Jimmie Johnson will drive the #91 Riley-Matthews Motorsports Pontiac, with sponsorship from Johnson's NASCAR sponsor Lowe's. 1996 CART Champ Car champion Jimmy Vasser will drive for the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing squad.Dale Earnhardt Jr will team up with Tony Stewart and Andy Wallace to drive the #20 Bass Pro Pontiac.
It is expected that Juan Pablo Montoya and Kyle Petty will also participate in the event.
Hornish and Montoya will both reunite with car owners from past endeavors. Hornish drove for Shank in the Champ Car Atlantic Series, while Montoya, fresh from rejoining Chip Ganassi Racing for NASCAR efforts, will drive a Ganassi Target Lexus Riley, likely with the Ganassi IRL team drivers.