Rolex 24 at Daytona Preview: 24 Hours of Chaos, Speed, and Why Endurance Racing Is Perfect

By Larry Belmontes

Date: 1/21/26

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you already know this about me:

I love endurance racing.

And yes, I’ll say it plainly, endurance racing is perfect for my ADHD brain.

I wake up in the morning? There’s a race.

I go about my afternoon? There’s still a race.

I lie down to go to sleep? Guess what, still racing.

I wake up the next day? Oh look… the finish.

That’s magic.

And among all endurance races worldwide, few, if any, do it better than the 64th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Why the Rolex 24 Is Different

The Rolex 24 isn’t just another endurance race. It’s a full-scale motorsport ecosystem packed into one venue, one weekend, and one relentless test of survival.

This year’s field features 60 cars battling for 24 straight hours, split across four classes:

• GTP (Hypercar) – the headline acts, factory-backed speed machines pushing technological limits

• LMP2 – pro-am prototypes that are deceptively fast and brutally unforgiving

• GTD Pro – all-pro GT3 warfare, door-to-door and unapologetic

• GTD – driver lineups blending professionals and amateurs, where patience wins races

The beauty of modern IMSA is how these classes separate, and then violently reconnect. Class splits create moments of calm, but restarts bring everyone back together, instantly turning the race into organized chaos.

This is no longer a marathon.

It’s a 24 hour sprint race.

Everyone runs at 10-tenths.

Honestly? 11 tenths.

From the green flag to the checkered flag, there is no coasting. Every lap matters. Every mistake is punished immediately.

Seeing It in Person Changed Everything

Last year, I had the privilege of attending the Rolex 24 in person, and it completely rewired my brain.

Watching the sun dip below the horizon at Daytona, fireworks exploding overhead, and cars slicing through the banking under the lights is something no broadcast can fully capture. The track becomes alive at night. The sound changes. The rhythm changes.

And then there’s the pit lane at 2am.

That’s where endurance racing reveals itself. Crews thrashing on wounded cars. Engineers staring at screens like surgeons. Drivers climbing out exhausted, or climbing back in with tape, bruises, and pure willpower.

I watched a Lamborghini get worked on endlessly before the decision was finally made to park it. No theatrics. No drama. Just heartbreak and acceptance.

That’s endurance racing.

It’s beautiful, and it’s cruel.

IMSA’s Best Racing Lives Here

IMSA quietly puts on some of the best racing anywhere in the world, and Daytona is where every season truly begins.

The competition is tight. The margins are microscopic. And last year, things got… a little too intense.

I was there when the Corvette and BMW situation boiled over, a shoving match that felt small in the moment, but later became the opening chapter of something much bigger. As the season unfolded, IMSA had to step in and crack down on in-race behavior because the aggression had crossed the line.

That reset?

It started here.

Daytona always tells us what kind of season we’re about to have.

Storylines Born at Daytona

The Rolex 24 doesn’t just crown winners, it launches narratives.

Last year:

• Porsche Penske Motorsport took the overall win, setting the tone for the top class

• Ford claimed a massive first victory with the Mustang

• AWA Racing kicked off their GT3 season with a Daytona win that ultimately earned them an automatic GTD-Am invitation for this year’s race

Momentum matters here. Confidence matters here. Teams leave Daytona either believing they can win championships, or knowing exactly how far they still have to go.

This race defines seasons.

Why I Can’t Wait for the Green Flag

In just a few days, the engines will fire again. Sixty cars will launch into a controlled war of attrition. Sleep will become optional. Coffee will become mandatory.

And for 24 hours, motorsport will take over completely.

This is why I love endurance racing.

This is why IMSA deserves more spotlight.

This is why the Rolex 24 stands alone.

Daytona isn’t just the opener.

It’s the foundation.

And in six days, it all begins again.

Tune into Apex To Asphalt each season for PURE auto sports talk with Darryl Kinsey Jr. and Christopher Lehman each week!

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