Daytona International Speedway Tag

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer The 57th Rolex 24 at Daytona started off the 2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and after everybody has had time to dry themselves off, let’s make some random observations. It was good to see the Mazda DPis up front near the start of the race. Team Joest has made a lot of progress with making those cars fast but reliability is still the biggest concern. Since the engine revs won’t be so high at Sebring, the team might have a shot at winning. After all, lastRead More

By IMSA Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A wet and wild Sunday led to the first rain-shortened Rolex 24 At Daytona in the 57-event history of the prestigious enduro on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. As one would have expected in the days of practice and qualifying preceding the drop of the green flag on Saturday afternoon, the outcome would be unpredictable. The conditions magnified that fact, but in the end, the four class winners were clearly deserving. Here are our five takeaways from a Rolex 24Read More

By IMSA Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan 27, 2018) – After more than 22 hours of tight competition, the weather forced an unprecedented early ending to the Rolex 24 At Daytona, but the racing and star players kept things dramatic and interesting for the whole span of the twice-round-the-clock event. A second red flag flew at Daytona International Speedway Sunday afternoon because of heavy rain showers with an hour and 45 minutes remaining in the scheduled race – the first time in history the race has had two redRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Mazda Team Joest had one of the fastest cars at the 57th Rolex 24 at Daytona but their pole-sitting No. 77 RT24-P suffered turbocharger failure just before seven hours were completed while the No. 55 machine had a brief fuel leak causing some lost time. Timo Bernhard was behind the wheel when suddenly the car had no drive and flames came out of the exhaust system. The car was towed to the garage and after a quick once-over, the decision to retireRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — The 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona is going green shortly and here we will have live updates throughout the race. The No. 50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi pulled into the pits before the start of the race. 00:00- No. 77 Mazda DPi leads from the start with the No. 6 Acura DPi. 00:09- No. 3 Corvette gets around a Porsche the GTLM lead while the No. 33 Mercedes AMG-GT3 leads the No. 13 Ferrari 488 GT3. 00:11- No. 99 Porsche in GTDRead More

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer After a year and a half together with Team Joest, Mazda has secured pole position for the 57th Rolex 24 at Daytona. Oliver Jarvis backed up the No. 77’s RT24-P’s performance from the Roar Before the 24 and set a new track record with a fastest lap of 1 minute, 33.685 seconds to average 136.792 mph around the 3.56 mile roval. This broke a 26-year-old record set back in 1993 by P.J. Jones in a Dan Gurney’s All American Racers Toyota. “I think the goal forRead More

By IMSA Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2019) – After two-and-a-half weeks as unofficial track record holders, Oliver Jarvis and Mazda Team Joest can finally, officially, call themselves track record holders on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road circuit after qualifying for this weekend’s 57th Rolex 24 At Daytona. With six minutes and 10 seconds remaining in the 15-minute qualifying session Thursday afternoon, Jarvis took the Motul Pole Award with a lap of 1 minute, 33.685 seconds (136.792 mph) in the No. 77 Mazda RT24-P DPi car. AndRead More

By IMSA Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2019) – No other manufacturer has had more success at Daytona International Speedway – and the Rolex 24 At Daytona in particular – than Porsche. And when the green flag flies Saturday at 2:35 p.m. ET (live NBCSN coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET), it’ll be a Porsche leading the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT field to the green flag. Thanks to a record-setting run by Nick Tandy on Thursday, the manufacturer will go for a 70th Rolex 24 class winRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent *Editor’s note: Motorsports Tribune will be previewing the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season for the full-time drivers in the series leading into next month’s 61st running of the Daytona 500. Age: 22 Years in Cup: Two Career Wins: One Biggest Accomplishment: 2015 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Champion The progression for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones continues in 2019. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver earned his first career victory in 2018, making the playoffs for the first time. Jones’ maiden victory came in the CokeRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent Despite losing the opportunity of a lifetime, NASCAR veteran Ross Chastain will still be competing in all three of NASCAR’s National Series. Chastain will have a partial schedule in the No. 45 Paul Jr. Designs TruNorth Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Reid Wilson will split time in the No. 45 Truck with the Alva, FL native. Chastain will drive the truck at Daytona International Speedway. Chastain has 59 starts in the Truck Series, finishing runner-up twice. In total,Read More