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Rolex 24 brings out diverse racing field
Drivers are ready for the Grand-Am Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Daytona sports-car race at Daytona International Speedway. This race has deep roots in our history with big-name racers, TV and even movie stars vying for the coveted prize.
Just go back in the record books and look at some of the amazing star power this race has generated. On that list of drivers you will find Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, James Garner, Tim Allen, Robert Carradine, Jason Priestley, Craig T. Nelson, Roger Penske, A.J. Foyt, Darrell Waltrip and on and on.
There was a point in time when Jack Roush’s Fords were simply dominating the series, but that is no longer the case. The competition is extremely tight. It would not surprise me in the least to see the finish of this race in 2012 mirror the type of racing we saw on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit in 2011. After 24 hours of racing, it might come down to a photo finish.
The other thing I love about the 24 Hours of Daytona is that it sends a clear signal to race fans that it is time to get back into the swing of racing for 2012. This year you will see the likes of AJ Allmendinger and Juan Pablo Montoya in this 50th anniversary race.
I tell folks all the time that positive momentum is such a powerful force. I mean, it doesn’t matter if you win a go-kart race, a win is a win to a driver. To come to Daytona and possibly win the 24-hour race basically sets the tone of your SpeedWeeks.
It’s great to be able to put that trophy on your mantle. There’s additional attention paid to you during SpeedWeeks for being the winner. You find yourself filled with confidence and you have a spring in your step. We all know that in racing, you are only as good as your last race, so it would be a great thing to walk into the Cup garage getting ready to begin SpeedWeeks knowing you already have a win under your belt.
Naturally this year’s race is one of the most coveted. You want your name on that trophy and in the record books for winning the 50th anniversary race. The other thing to remember is this race brings together drivers from other circuits. So to go out there with your team and beat drivers from all over the world basically is a pretty nifty achievement for any driver.
Race car drivers are all the same. They have the need to win. Like Tony Stewart said so eloquently last year in a postrace interview – “Second sucks.” So to feed that ego that these drivers all have, the 24 Hours of Daytona is a perfect opportunity to go out, race hard, have some fun and again, this year particularly, put themselves in some pretty lofty company in the record books.
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