Get ready for an exhilarating 24-hour race extravaganza! The Rolex 24 at Daytona is back, marking the beginning of another thrilling motorsports season. This iconic event brings together a stellar lineup of drivers from across the globe, including Indy 500 champions, Formula One legends, and NASCAR icons. With 200 drivers and 60 entries, the race promises an intense battle for glory.
Join us for live coverage as we bring you the latest updates, results, and highlights from the Rolex 24. From the green flag to the checkered flag, we've got you covered!
How to Watch the 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona:
- Start Time: The race begins at 1:40 p.m. ET.
- Venue: The road course at Daytona International Speedway, a challenging 3.56-mile layout with 12 turns, weaving through the infield and all corners of the famous NASCAR superspeedway.
- TV Coverage: Catch the full race on Peacock, or tune in to NBC for the start and conclusion.
- Announcers: Get ready for expert commentary from Leigh Diffey, Brian Till, Calvin Fish, Townsend Bell, Oliver Gavin, and pit reporters Amanda Busick, Dave Burns, Kevin Lee, Matt Yocum, and Chris Wilner.
- Track Map: Click here for a detailed layout of the Rolex 24 track.
Live Updates from the Rolex 24:
- Second Caution: As we approach the 15-minute mark, there's a single-car incident involving the No. 28 Porsche in GTD. The car suffered heavy damage to its front and rear, and driver Eric Zitza was attended to by safety personnel. Thankfully, Zitza was able to walk away from the crash.
- First Caution: Just minutes into the race, a full-course yellow flag was deployed to clear debris. The top three overall positions are currently held by the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963, No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06, and No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R.
- Green Flag Action: Less than 30 seconds in, and we've already seen a spin! Heading into the first turn, LMP2 cars got involved in an incident, and a BMW hybrid prototype lost traction and spun in Turn 2. With 23 hours and 59 minutes left, it's anyone's race!
Reviewing Recent Rolex 24 Results:
As we await the green flag, let's look back at the winners of the past seven years:
- 2019: Wayne Taylor Racing with Fernando Alonso
- 2020: Wayne Taylor Racing claims a consecutive win
- 2021: Wayne Taylor Racing makes it three in a row
- 2022: Helio Castroneves brings victory to Meyer Shank Racing
- 2023: Meyer Shank Racing dominates with a second consecutive win
- 2024: Porsche ends a 55-year drought for Roger Penske
- 2025: Porsche repeats victory at Daytona
NASCAR Representation:
This year's Rolex 24 features two full-time Cup Series regulars in the premier hybrid prototype category. AJ Allmendinger, a former winner with Meyer Shank Racing, returns to the Grand Touring Prototype division. Joining him is Connor Zilisch, who will make his GTP debut with Whelen Action Express Racing.
IndyCar Stars:
The race also boasts an impressive lineup of IndyCar drivers. Six-time champion Scott Dixon, who holds the record for most Rolex 24 victories among active drivers, is paired with Allmendinger, Tom Blomqvist, and Colin Braun on the No. 60 Acura in GTP. Three-time defending IndyCar champion Alex Palou, fresh from his Indy 500 win, will co-drive with Dixon on the No. 93 ARX-06 for Acura MSR.
The GT categories feature IndyCar winners like Will Power, Marcus Ericsson, Scott McLaughlin, and Kyle Kirkwood. Past IndyCar winners Colton Herta (LMP) and James Hinchcliffe (GTD Pro) are also in the mix.
Starting Lineup:
Click here for the full starting lineup and qualifying results. Acura takes the pole position for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener.
Key Storylines:
- Porsche Penske Motorsport Dominance: Porsche Penske Motorsport has won back-to-back Rolex 24 titles and is also the reigning champion in Grand Touring Prototype, the premier IMSA category.
- BMW's Hybrid Prototype Move: BMW, the defending Rolex 24 pole-sitter, has shifted its hybrid prototype program to BMW M Team WRT, a team with World Endurance Championship experience.
- RLL Team's New Alliance: After parting ways with BMW in GTP, RLL Team has moved to GTD Pro and partnered with McLaren.
- Chevy vs. Ford in GTD Pro: The Chevy vs. Ford rivalry is back in GTD Pro. Corvette Racing took the 2025 championship, but the Mustang is the defending Rolex 24 champion and had more class wins last year.
- Tough Title Defense in LMP2: AO Racing and five-time IMSA champion Dane Cameron face a deeper LMP2 category, making their title defense a challenging task.
- Winward Racing's Title March: Two-time defending GTD series champion Winward Racing aims for a third title with their third Rolex 24 victory.
Schedule Rundown:
The 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona kicks off at 1:40 p.m. with the green flag, but the excitement starts much earlier. The garage and pit lane gates opened at 6:30 a.m., and there was a buzz of activity with parade laps and a vintage car race. A driver and team manager briefing took place at 9:30 a.m.
Series officials will be making reconnaissance laps for over two hours before the race begins.
Driver introductions and prerace ceremonies began around 11:15 a.m., and the 60-car grid opened to fans at 12:15 p.m.
Formation laps will commence at 1:30 p.m., leading up to the highly anticipated start of the race.
Weather Forecast:
While much of the country is bracing for Winter Storm Fern, Daytona Beach is enjoying a different vibe. The Rolex 24, which has often faced frigid conditions and inclement weather, is set for a fabulous weekend. Weather Underground predicts mostly cloudy skies and a pleasant 71 degrees at the green flag. Over the next 24 hours, temperatures should remain in the low 60s with minimal rain chances. The checkered flag will likely fall as Sunday temperatures soar into the high 80s.
Perfect racing conditions, especially for those sheltering in place to avoid the winter apocalypse across the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard!
Daytona International Speedway hosts another marquee event as the rest of the country battles brutal winter weather. It's a familiar story, but the race promises to deliver an unforgettable experience.
Despite a promising forecast, a thick fog settled over the speedway on Saturday morning, adding an element of mystery to the proceedings.
