Daytona International Speedway is known as “The World Center of Racing” all year, but during the last two weeks of January, it truly lives up to its name. The track’s garage is filled with a mix of diverse accents and high-tech machines as drivers from all over the world take turns behind the wheel of cars that are shared during the 24-hour race.
The prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, which has been a major event for 63 years, brings together renowned drivers and luxury automakers to race on the track’s 3.56-mile road course.
The Rolex 24 is celebrated for its rich history in motorsports, and the 2025 event will showcase a field of 61 cars, including some of the world’s best drivers, such as those who have won at Daytona, Indianapolis, Le Mans, and other iconic tracks. This race has earned a reputation similar to the “International Race of Champions,” with competitors from NASCAR, Formula One, IndyCar, Formula E, and the World Endurance Championship coming together to race in a challenging, round-the-clock event.
Ricky Taylor, who won the overall Rolex 24 in 2017 and 2021, commented on how exciting it is to race with legendary drivers like Jeff Gordon, Fernando Alonso, and Scott Dixon.
These drivers, who have won prestigious events like the Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500, and Coca-Cola 600, have shown that winning the Rolex 24 is a true mark of achievement. For drivers, racing alongside these superstars is a unique experience that provides an opportunity to learn from the best.
There are several reasons the Rolex 24 continues to be such an important event in motorsports:
It’s highly coveted and tough to win: Many of the biggest names in American motorsports, including Gordon, Dan Gurney, Mario Andretti, and AJ Foyt, have won at Daytona. However, many NASCAR champions, such as Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., have fallen short in their pursuit of the trophy. The challenge of winning comes from the difficulty of sharing a car with multiple drivers and the risk of errors in the heat of competition, especially during the early hours of the race.
The race has a rich history: The Rolex 24’s history began in 1962 when NASCAR founder Bill France created the Daytona Continental. France’s vision was to bring together top drivers from various racing disciplines at his new speedway, and this continues today with the Rolex 24, which has become a must-attend event in motorsports.
This year, an example of this global mix will be seen in the Trackhouse Racing Corvette, which will have two American drivers, Ben Keating and Connor Zilisch, alongside two New Zealand drivers, Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin. Van Gisbergen, a four-time NASCAR winner, and McLaughlin, a seven-time IndyCar winner, will race together in their sixth and third Rolex 24 starts, respectively.
The cars are also stars: The Rolex 24 has been a battleground for manufacturers since the 1960s, including the iconic “Ford vs. Ferrari” rivalry. This competition continues with new cars and hybrid engines introduced in 2023, allowing teams to vie for wins at both Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Automakers like BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Acura, and Cadillac are competing in the top division of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with Aston Martin set to join in future events. In the GT classes, which feature production-based models, a variety of brands, including Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin, are all represented.
With such a strong history, a star-studded lineup of drivers, and some of the best cars in the world, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the most prestigious endurance races in motorsports. It serves as the perfect way to kick off the motorsports season, with all eyes on Daytona for an exciting and competitive event.
