The annual clarion call for motorsports has arrived again with the Rolex 24 at Daytona, signifying the dawn of another racing season.
The 64th edition of the sports car classic will gather another all-star field of star drivers from around the globe.
The endurance event has drawn Indy 500 winners, Formula One world champions and NASCAR Hall of Famers, and this year’s 24-hour renaissance will feature many big names among the 200 drivers who will be piloting 60 entries around the World Center of Racing.
Follow along below for our live coverage of the Rolex 24 at Daytona with updates before, during and after the race.
How to watch the 64th Rolex 24 at DaytonaStart: The green flag is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ETWhere: The road course at Daytona International Speedway, a 12-turn, 3.56-mile layout that winds through the infield and all four corners (plus a backstretch chicane) of the 2.5-mile superspeedway made famous by NASCAR.TV: Flag-to-flag coverage of the race will be available on Peacock. NBC also will have coverage of the start of the race from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Jan. 24 and the conclusion from noon-2 p.m. ET on Jan. 25.Announcers/reporters: The announcing team will feature play-by-play announcers Leigh Diffey and Brian Till, analysts: Calvin Fish, Townsend Bell and Oliver Gavin; and pit reporters Amanda Busick, Dave Burns, Kevin Lee, Matt Yocum and Chris Wilner. Peacock Pit Box coverage will be provided by Marty Snider and Steve Letarte.Track map: Click here for the layout of the Rolex 24 at Daytona
Rolex 24 at Daytona live updatesWake up!
How do drivers stay relatively refreshed throughout the entirety of a 24-hour race?
We wrote about that back in 2020. One of our favorite anecdotes came from AJ Allmendinger about his Rolex 24 debut 20 years ago:
“I drank like 14 Red Bulls during the night – not great for hydration by the way — so I didn’t sleep the whole time,” said Allmendinger, whose Michael Shank Racing team actually finished second in his first endurance race. “I wasn’t right for three days after that. So as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to kind of pace myself. I still don’t sleep a lot because especially when it’s going well, I’m so amped up. I’m always afraid if I close my eyes, I’m going to wake up and we’ll be out of the race for some reason.”
Here’s how Allmendinger and other drivers manage the graveyard shift of the Rolex 24 at Daytona:
Here are the routines and tricks to waking up in the middle of the night to go 180 mph at Daytona.
#7: Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche 963, GTP: Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, Laurin Heinrich
Brandon Badraoui/Lumen Digital Agency
Be right back!
OK, maybe not right back. But we’ll have to put the updates on pause for a little while.
We’ll be checking back in when dawn breaks (or shortly thereafter). Enjoy the overnight racin’!
Hour 9 leaderboard
Check out the recap below from IMSA to review nine hours of highlights in under 3 minutes.
With 15 hours remaining, the No. 6 963 of Porsche Penske Motorsport remains in the lead ahead of its No. 7 teammate. The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06 is in third, followed by the MSR’s No. 60 Acura and the No. 40 Cadillac WAyne Taylor Racing V-Series.R.
Other category leaders:
LMP2: No. 99 ORECA, AO RacingGTD Pro: No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller MotorsportsGTD: No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, Af Corse Usa
Click here for the full running order after Hour 9.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for the flag analysis and race control messages.
FIREWORKS!
Perfect execution by NBC Sports analyst Steve Letarte, who calmly pressed the button that triggered launching 3,000 fireworks into the fog at 10 p.m. ET.
Fireworks at the 2026 Rolex 24
Though visibility was less than optimum at Daytona International Speedway, it hardly dampened the enthusiasm from an overflow crowd.
Hour 8 leaderboard
A third of the way through the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Porsche Penske Motorsport remains in control.
The No. 6 Porsche 963 held a comfortable lead on the No. 7 through eight hours. The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06 was in third after starting on the pole.
Two Cadillacs — the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R and the No. 31 of Whelen Action Express Racing — rounded out the top five.
Other category leaders:
LMP2: No. 04 ORECA, Crowdstrike Racing by APRGTD Pro: No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller MotorsportsGTD: No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, Heart of Racing Team
Click here for the full running order after Hour 8.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for the flag analysis and race control messages.
Connor Zilisch on GTP debut, F1 future?
After his debut in a Grand Touring Prototype entry, Connor Zilisch joined Marty Snider and Steve Letarte for a wide-ranging interview on the Peacock Pit Box.
The leading contender for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series rookie of the year is a sports car veteran with LMP2 victories in the Rolex 24 and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, but driving the No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R was his first taste of a race stint in the premier hybrid prototype category.
“It’s fun being the fast car and not having to look in the mirror really ever,” Zilisch said. “Really cool to go over 200 mph for the first time. Just so many cool things to experience with this team, so many talented teammates with Fred, Earl and Jack. It’s been a lot of fun getting to learn from them and grow as a driver and a person. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Zilisch, 19, avoided any trouble despite a near collision with six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, one of his heroes.
“It’s so cool to race against guys I look up to as drivers, and now so many factory drivers at the highest level of sports car racing,” he said. “It’s only going to make me better. I’m having fun, I’m learning.”
His car has vastly different technology than the No. 88 Chevrolet he will be driving in the Cup Series this season.
Got the Rolex 24 on my TV, and then a man climbing a skyscraper on my computer. What a night, time for some sleep😃
— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) January 25, 2026
“In my Cup car, I have one button — the radio button,” he said. “I come here, and the whole wheel is lit up, and there’s code words for everything. It’s crazy confusing. I spent so much time in the simulator at GM, that helped a lot and got me up to speed with everything I need to know. There’s a lot they’re telling you throughout the race. It’s cool to have that, my first time driving a hybrid, really cool to learn that and test myself and challenge myself to learn new things.”
Could Zilisch eventually find his way to driving a Cadillac in Formula One?
“That’s something I dreamed of as a kid,” he said when asked by NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey. “If I have a very successful first few years in NASCAR, I wouldnt’ say no to it. I love F1 racing, but honestly I love what I’m doing in NASCAR. It’s so much fun to race on the biggest stage in America. I’m certainly excited and infused in everything I’m doing in the NASCAR world.
“That’s got my attention with 38 weeknds. You never know. One day if that opportunity comes about, and I feel I’ve done everything I need to do on this side of the pond, I would definitely think about it.”
“If I have a very successful first few years in NASCAR it’s not something I wouldn’t say no to. I love F1 but I love what I’m doing in NASCAR.” – Connor Zilisch tells @leighdiffey he’s committed to NASCAR when asked about the possibility of working with @Cadillac_F1 pic.twitter.com/FOaKms1zes
— SpeedFreaks (@SpeedFreaks) January 25, 2026
For now, Zilisch is laser-focused on his Feb. 15 debut in the Daytona 500 fo Trakchouse Racing.
“I don’t think you’re ever ready truly, but I’m as ready as I can be,” he said. “Sundays are a whole different ballgame. It’s kill or be killed. Those guys are not going to show me any mercy. I’m excited to race a lot of world-class talents in the Cup series and get to race every weekend.”
Hour 7 leaderboard
With fog descending on Daytona International Speedway, the path remains clear for Porsche Penske Motorsport, whose 963 entries are running 1-2 in pursuit of a third consecutive Rolex 24 victory.
The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06 is in third followed by the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 and the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, rounding out a top five with four manufacturers in Grand Touring Prototype.
Other category leaders:
LMP2: No. 04 ORECA, Crowdstrike Racing by APRGTD Pro: No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller MotorsportsGTD: No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, Heart of Racing Team
Click here for the full running order after Hour 7.
Click here for the class breakdown.
THE FOG!
Just before the end of the seventh hour, the fog is rolling in again at Daytona International Speedway. The change in the weather bookends a Saturday morning in which the track was barely visible.
Check out this view from a fan in the frontstretch grandstands (the iconic Ferris Wheel can hardly be seen in the infield):
Fog during the Rolex 24 at Daytona
The limited visibility figures to present some challenges with more than 50 cars whizzing around the a 3.56-mile road course at night.
A thick fog settles over the speedway as the Rolex 24 inches closer to the green flag on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.
Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Hour 6 leaderboard
A quarter of the way through the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 7 963 remains a threat for its third consecutive victory in the season opener.
Through 192 laps, the No. 7 has a 3.445-second lead on the No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06 that started on pole.
BMW M Team WRT’s pair of BMW M Hybrid V8s are running third and fourth through six hours, and Grand Touring Prototype cars still comprise the top 10.
Other category leaders:
LMP2: No. 99 ORECA, AO Racing GTD Pro: No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Paul Miller RacingGTD: No. 70 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, Inception Racing
Click here for the full running order after Hour 6.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for the flag breakdown and race control messages.
Kiwi heaven
New Zealand always has been a country that punches above its weight with global motorsports stars, and the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona has underscored the prevalence of the Down Under region of the world.
Scott McLaughlin, who stars for Team Penske in IndyCar, is among six New Zealand natives in this year’s field, and the list also includes six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and IMSA champ Earl Bamber. Shane van Gisbergen, the three-time Supercars champion who took the NASCAR Cup Series by storm with five wins as a 2025 rookie, is absent, but the Auckland native has multiple Rolex 24 starts, including a Trackhouse Racing GT car last year with McLaughlin and Connor Zilisch.
Absolutely packed at Daytona. Love to see it. Let’s go!!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) January 24, 2026
“I grew up worshipping Scott Dixon, and Earl Bamber, I grew up racing him,” McLaughlin said. “It’s pretty awesome. We’re a little country of 5 million people with a great rugby team, and we drive race cars pretty fast.”
McLaughlin is making his third Rolex 24 start, co-driving the No. 36 Corvette Z06 GT3.R for DXDT Racing.
“I feel it’s my best shot ever at the Rolex,” he said.
Hour 5 leaderboard
With the track plunged into darkness, the race has shifted back into a Porsche-Acura battle with the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport leading in search of its third consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona.
The No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06 is running second after starting on pole, followed by the No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac.
Aside from a problem dropping the No. 23 Aston Martin Valkyrie more than 30 laps off the pace, there’s been little attrition in the premier Grand Touring Prototype category. The top 10 is occupied entirely by hybrid prototypes, and all have completed 161 laps around the 12-turn, 3.56-mile road course.
Other category leaders:
LMP2: No. 99 ORECA, AO Racing GTD Pro: No. 9 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2, Pfaff MotorsportsGTD: No. 34 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, Conquest Racing
Click here for the full running order after Hour 5.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for the flag breakdown and race control messages.
Take a sunset ride in the Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R 🎧
2026 ROLEX 24 AT DAYTONA
🟢: Saturday, January 24 | 1:30PM ET
📺: Peacock
🌍: IMSA YouTube Live | IMSA .tv
📻: IMSA Radio pic.twitter.com/ytPYsmYW06
— IMSA (@IMSA) January 25, 2026
Hour 4 leaderboard
With sunset approaching, the No. 31 Cadillac has taken the lead in what could be a redemptive storyline. The Whelen Action Express entry turned the fastest lap in qualifying but had its time disallowed for a technical infraction.
The Cadillac V-Series.R, which leads the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 seeking its third consecutive win at Daytona, has a lineup of Jack Aitken, Frederik Vesti, Earl Bamber and Connor Zilisch, the NASCAR Cup Series rookie.
The No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8 is running third. Other category leaders:
LMP2: No. 99 ORECA, AO Racing GTD Pro: No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller MotorsportsGTD: No. 34 Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, Conquest Racing
Click here for the full running order after Hour 4.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for the flag breakdown and race control messages.
Hour 3 leaderboard
A full-course caution flew for a multicar incident involving the No. 83 in LMP2 and the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 in GTD. Under yellow, the leaders were:
GTP: No. 7 963, Porsche Penske Motorsport LMP2: No. 99 ORECA, AO RacingGTD Pro: No. 64 Ford Mustang GT, Ford RacingGTD: No. 96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Turner Motorsport
Click here for the full running order.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for the flag breakdown and race control messages.
Colton Herta on the Rolex 24 and his F1 future
Being interviewed on the Peacock Pit Box while watching a near-collision of the No. 6 Porsche 963 and a GT car, Colton Herta offered a bemused smile.
“It’s so easy to tell yourself, ‘Oh, it’s a long race, take it easy,’ and then you put the helmet on and kind of turn into a psychopath, me included,” said Herta, who is among the trio of drivers on the No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R. “Everybody has a case of that. I guess that’s why we do what we do.”
Famous for being the youngest winner in IndyCar history, Herta also has made quite a name in sports cars as a two-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner (in GTLM and LMP2) and the overall in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. This year, he is vying for a third Rolex 24 win but his first overall in the Grand Touring Prototype category.
Next year, he branches into other motosports series as a full-time F2 driver that will prepare him for a possible career in Cadillac’s new Formula One team. Herta will be the reserve test driver for Cadillac, which will be testing in Barcelona next week.
‘It’s going to be a lot,” said Herta, who has shorn his normally flowing locks ahead of his adventures in Europe and around the globe. “It’s going to be hectic. I’ll be coming from the U.S., going to Europe and testing and preparing to help Cadillac in F1 in any way that I can.
“The main thing is just focus on F2. The F1 team still is learning day by day what I’m going to do. The main focus is getting that car on track, which we saw at Silversone for the shakedown and will at Barcelona for the testing. I’m super excited to see how they do. It’s a huge supportive role and doing what I can to show I’ll be ready when and if my chance comes in Formula One.”
Herta said he will miss IndyCar, where he had raced full time from 2019-25. “I really enjoyed the competitiveness of IndyCar, the ability to be strong,” he said. “The aggressiveness you could drive with that race car. It’s unlike any other car in the world. It’s a joy to drive, and I’ll miss that aspect of it.”
Key upcoming moments in race coverage
With the Rolex 24 being streamed around the clock on Peacock, here are a few important reminders of special times for tuning into the stream:
5:56 p.m.: The sunset at Daytona International Speedway should be gorgeous on a Saturday afternoon like this … and then the action should pick up as the race’s compelxion changes at night with 60 cars whizzing around the road course in darkness10 p.m.: Fireworks! The infield display is always a highlight of the Rolex 24, which continues racing throughout the spectacular overhead showMidnight to 6 a.m.: The Peacock audio feed will switch to the always capable team at IMSA radio, which ensures nonstop commentary for 24 hours.6 a.m.: Enjoy breakfast at Daytona as the NBC Sports broadcast team is back on air.Noon-2 p.m. : The finish of the race’s 64th running will be covered on NBC and Peacock
GTP & LMP2 Start
Brandon Badraoui/Lumen Digital Agency
Hour 2 leaderboard
Through two hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 is in front, followed by PPM’s No. 7 963 and the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac.
In other classes, the leaders are No. 99 AO Racing ORECA (LMP2), No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R (GTD Pro) and the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (GTD).
Click here for the full running order.
Click here for the class breakdown.
James Stewart, Will Power as Rolex 24 newbies
Two racing champions from other motorsports series made their Rolex 24 debut this weekend as driver and fan.
Two-time IndyCar champion and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power was scheduled to make his debut in the 2023 race but had to cancel at the last minute when his wife, Liz, suffered a near-fatal spinal infection. After switching from Team Penske to Andretti Global for the 2026 season, Will Power is making his first IMSA start this weekend as a GT driver at Daytona, where he is getting acclimated to being in the slowest category.
“It’s awesome to see how many people are here and how many different cars and teams,” Power told NBC Sports’ Chris Wilner early in the race. “Very different for me having to constantly watch for people coming by really fast, but I really love the different driving style of GT3 Mercedes. I can’t wait to get in and do a couple of stints and see what it’s all about.”
Supercross legend and NBC Sports analyst James Stewart also was wide-eyed at Daytona during a visit to the Peacock Pit Box with Marty Snider and Steve Letarte. Stewart brought his two sons and clearly has enjoyed their reaction to being among the thousands of fans who have crowded the infield and starting grid, noting “they don’t get like this at Supercross. I can see it in their faces. I guess it’s the cars. It’s really cool.”
Stewart, who dabbled in auto racing while winning several championships on dirt bikes, also has enjoyed the ambiance at the World of Center of Racing, where he once competed annually in Supercross.
“It’s been really cool and different for me,” Stewart said. “I can get behind the scenes and check the cars out. Nice to be here as a fan, I can’t believe how close they can get to the cars and drivers. Reminds me of what we do in Supercross.”
The third and final California race will set the tone for the first half of the 2026 Supercross season.
Overall lead change
The intrasquad battle continues as Kevin Estre moves the No. 6 Porsche Penske Motorsport into first past No. 7 teammate Felipe Nasr.
Last year, the No. 7 and No. 6 traded the lead multiple times in the closing hour before Nasr emerged victorious.
Lead change! The No. 6 & No. 7 swap positions!
🟢: Saturday, January 24 | 1:30PM ET
📺: NBC | Peacock
🌍: IMSA YouTube Live | IMSA .tv
📻: IMSA Radio pic.twitter.com/zHNJMljMbY
— IMSA (@IMSA) January 24, 2026
Leaderboard at Hour 1
The bid for a third consecutive Rolex 24 victory is off to a strong start for Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 963, which led nearly all of the first hour. PPM’s No. 6 is running second, followed by the pole-sitter No. 93 Acura ARX-06.
In LMP2, Ben Keating has the No. 52 up front. In GTD Pro, the No. 3 Corvette has led the duration from the pole. In GTD, Winward Racing’s steady No. 57 Mercedes is in first.
Click here for the results of the first hour.
Click here for the class breakdown.
Click here for a rundown or flags and messages from race contol.
Porsche runs 1-2 after 30 minutes
After early chaos, the race seems to be settling into a rhythm but not without more action.
Porsche Penske Motorsport’s pair of 963 now are running 1-2 with Felipe Nasr at the front. No. 6 teammate Kevin Estre moved into the second spot by storming past pole-sitter Renger van der Zande in the No. 93 Acura ARX-06. The pair seemed to make some backstretch contact in the incident.
Other categories, the leaders are: No. 99 AO Racing in LMP2, No. 3 Corvette in GTD Pro, No. 21 Ferrari in GTD.
Second caution approaching 15-minute mark
This cleanup could take a while as the No. 28 Porsche in GTD has heavy front end and rear damage in a single-car incident.
The car slammed a tire barrier near the pit exit entering the infield section of the course. Driver Eric Zitza was able to walk gingerly from the scene while being attended by safety personnel.
The No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 leads under yellow with Felipe Nasr behind the wheel.
First caution flies in first 2 minutes
The first full-course yellow flag is out in the Rolex 24 at Daytona to clear debris.
The top three overall: No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 (which jumped from third to first to open its title defense), No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing ARX-06, No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R.
Green flag at Daytona! And a spin!
Less than 30 seconds into a 24-hour race, and the action has begun.
Heading into the first turn, there was an incident involving at least three LMP2 cars, and then one of the BMW hybrid prototypes also spun just ahead in Turn 2 after losing traction on exit.
And there still are 23 hours and 59 minutes to go!
WE’RE GREEN AT DAYTONA!
Who’s staying up for 24 Hours with us?!!
🟢: Saturday, January 24 | 1:30PM ET
📺: NBC | Peacock
🌍: IMSA YouTube Live | IMSA .tv
📻: IMSA Radio pic.twitter.com/SG1Vo50ly9
— IMSA (@IMSA) January 24, 2026
Reviewing recent Rolex 24 results
About 15 minutes ahead of the green flag in the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona, here’s a recap of recent winners.
Last year, Porsche Penske Motorsport took its second consecutive overall victory with Felipe Nasr again closing it out in the No. 7 Porsche 963.
Nasr outdueled teammate Matt Campbell in the final hour, taking the lead with 22 minutes remaining to win by 1.335 seconds over Blomqvist in the No. 60 Acura ARX-06 of Meyer Shank Racing.
Below are the results from the last seven years since NBC Sports began broadcasting the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2019:
2019: Wayne Taylor Racing wins with Fernando Alonso
2020: Wayne Taylor Racing wins second consecutive Rolex 24
2021: Wayne Taylor Racing makes it three in a row
2022: Helio Castroneves delivers Rolex 24 win to Meyer Shank Racing
2023: Two in a row as Meyer Shank Racing opens GTP era with victory
2024: Porsche ends 55-year drought for Roger Penske in Rolex 24
2025: Porsche wins second consecutive Rolex 24 at Daytona
Are there any NASCAR drivers in this year’s Rolex 24?
Two full-time Cup Series regulars will be competing in the premier hybrid prototype category.
AJ Allmendinger will return to the Grand Touring Prototype division with the No. 60 Acura ARX-06 of Meyer Shank Racing. The Kaulig Racing driver won the top overall division of the Rolex 24 in 2012 with MSR co-owner Mike Shank.
Connor Zilisch, who will be a Cup Series rookie next year after finishing runner-up in the Xfinity Series, will make his GTP debut with the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R of Whelen Action Express Racing.
There also are several IndyCar stars in the race. Six-time series champion Scott Dixon, who also leads active drivers with four Rolex 24 victories, is among six full-time IndyCar drivers in the field. Dixon is paired with Allmendinger, Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun on the No. 60 Acura in GTP.
Three-time defending IndyCar champion Alex Palou, who has won four of the five titles and last year’s Indy 500, will be co-driving the No. 93 ARX-06 for Acura MSR, aligning him with Dixon, his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate.
The GT categories will include two-time series champion and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power, 2022 Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and IndyCar winners Scott McLaughlin and Kyle Kirkwood.
Past IndyCar winners Colton Herta (LMP category), who will be racing overseas in F2 this season, and broadcast analyst James Hinchcliffe (GTD Pro) also are in the race.
Starting lineup for the 2026 Rolex 24
Click here for the full starting lineup and qualifying results for the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Acura will start on the pole position for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener.
Who is on the Rolex 24 pole?
The Acura Meyer Shank Racing No. 93 Acura ARX-06 qualified second but inherited the pole position because of a technical infraction that nullified the top qualifying speed of the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R.
The No. 40 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac V-Series.R will start second, followed by Porsche Penske Motorsport’s No. 7 Porsche 963, which is seeking a third consecutive Rolex 24 victory as the overall winner in Grand Touring Prototype.
The pole-sitters in other categories are No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07 (LMP2), No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette Z06 GT3.R (GTD Pro) and the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo (GTD).
Who is racing in the Rolex 24 at Daytona?
Drivers in the Rolex 24 will represent at least 30 countries and will be racing across four categories: Grand Touring Prototype (GTP, 12 cars), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2, 12 cars), GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro, 15 cars) and GT Daytona (GTD, 22 cars).
The field includes 65 former Rolex 24 winners, 59 winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 52 past IMSA champions.
There also are 12 manufacturers in the Rolex 24, which has an automaker lineup of Porsche (a race-high nine cars), Ferrari, Chevrolet, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Aston Martin, Ford, Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Lexus and McLaren.
Click here for the starting lineup in the race:
Acura will start on the pole position for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season opener.
Key storylines in the 64th Rolex 24 at DaytonaSchedule rundown
The green flag will drop at 1:40 p.m. on the 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona, but it’ll be preceded by the usual frenzy and prerace pageantry as thousands crowd the grid and garage of 60 entries.
The garage and pit lane gates opened at 6:30 a.m., and there was minor track activity throughout the morning with parade laps and a historic vintage car race. A driver and team manager briefing was held at 9:30 a.m.
Series officials will be making “recon laps” for more than two hours before the start of the race.
Pre-Race, Fan Walk
The prerace grid for the 64th Rolex 24 at Daytona on Saturday, Jan. 24 (IMSA Jake Galstad/Lumen Digital Agency).
Driver introduction and prerace ceremonies began around 11:15 a.m. on the frontstretch, and the 60-car grid opened to a fan walk at 12: 15 p.m.
Formation laps for the field will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Rolex 24 weather forecast
While much of the country is tracking the path of Winter Storm Fern with concern, the vibes are much different in Daytona Beach.
The Rolex 24 has been battered by frigid conditions and inclement weather often in recent years, but this weekend looks fabulous. Per Weather Underground, it’s expected to be mostly cloudy and a pleasant 71 degrees at the green flag today.
Over the next 24 hours, the low should remain in the low 60s with rain chances never above 16%. The checkered flag should fall as Sunday temperatures peak in the high 80s.
Those are good conditions for racing — especially with a captive audience that is sheltering in place to avoid the apocalyptic forecasts of snow and ice across the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard!
Daytona International Speedway as the host of a marquee event while the rest of the country faces brutal winter weather … hmmm, where have we heard that before?
A thick fog settles over the speedway as the Rolex 24 inches closer to the green flag on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.
Despite a promising forecast for the race, a thick fog settled in Saturday morning over Daytona International Speedway (Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images).