What’s Happening?

Many NASCAR fans on the internet clamor for the return of Speedweeks in Daytona. We used to have it all, didn’t we? The week before the Daytona 500, we had the ARCA race on Saturday, followed by the Budweiser Shootout (later rebranded the Busch Clash) that night. Then, one week before the annual running of the Great American Race, we had qualifying for the front row. Between all that and the duels the following Thursday, we had an IROC race and countless practice sessions. Now, we’re limited to mere days.

But when I was younger, I always considered the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona the real kickoff of Speedweeks week in and week out. That’s mostly because back then, NASCAR drivers competing in the annual endurance race were a lot more common than they are today.

Heading into our first raceless weekend of 2025, we here at the Daily Downforce thought it’d be fun to look back at some of the higher-profile times NASCAR drivers competed in the Rolex 24. So, let’s get to it!

You Should Know:

• The Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona is an annual 24-hour endurance race that kicks off the IMSA season every year. IMSA is a sportscar racing series similar to that of the American Le Mans Series. IMSA is as NASCAR-owned property.
• Throughout the years, particularly during NASCAR’s height of cultural relevance, many NASCAR drivers participated in the event. Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, and Tony Stewart all had at least one start in the race. Even NASCAR’s Undisputed Most Popular Driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., competed in the race a handful of times.
• The Rolex 24 typically occurs during the last weekend in January each year, just a few weeks before the annual Clash. No NASCAR drivers are currently enlisted to compete in the 2025 running of the race.

Mark Martin Wins (1995)

Mark Martin was the first NASCAR legend to make some noise in the historic Rolex 24 at Daytona. Martin’s lone start in the Rolex 24 came in 1995 when he, driving the number 70 Roush Racing Ford Mustang, won the GTS1 Class. Martin’s team comprised Tony Kimbal, Paul Newman, and Mike Brockman. By all accounts, Martin wheeled the car to a thrilling finish, taking 3rd overall. But leading their class meant that they would each receive the unique hardware awarded to champions of this race: Rolex watches.

Earnhardt Father-Son Duo Compete (2001)

One of the more publicized attempts by a few NASCAR drivers running this race came in 2001. That was the year the father-son duo of Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. teamed up with road racers Andy Pilgrim and Kelly Collins to drive that iconic black and yellow Corvette Racing number 3 entry. They competed in the GTS class, finishing second in the class and 4th overall. It was the first time either Sr. or Jr. competed in this type of race, driving these kinds of cars. Dale Jr. has recently spoken fondly of the race, saying that he and his father had very different approaches to the race. Dale Jr. was a young and hungry driver, while Sr. was a seasoned veteran who had been humbled in the later years of his career. Junior even stated in more recent interviews that this was the first time he realized what his father might want to do after stepping away from NASCAR full-time.

Fun fact: the iconic blacked-out bumper that Dale Jr. would later run in time at Hendrick Motorsports was inspired by the paint scheme run in this race.

Tony Stewart & Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Attempt (2004)

The 2004 Daytona Speedweeks ended up being very special for Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart alike. But before Little E went on to sweep the weekend, with Tony Stewart finishing second behind him, Stewart and Earnhardt teamed up in the 2004 running of the Rolex 24. Earnhardt and Stewart competed in the DP class number 2 entry of Howard-Boss Motorsports alongside road racer Andy Wallace. The duo led for much of the race in their class. Unfortunately, a mechanical failure in the middle of the night caused them to DNF.

This was the last time Dale Earnhardt Jr. competed in the Rolex 24, but it was not his last start in the series. Later in 2004, during a NASCAR off weekend, Dale Jr. teamed up with Boris Said to race a Corvette at Sonoma. Unfortunately, the stint ended in literal flames, with Little E suffering second-degree burns.

Tony Stewart competed in the Rolex 24 a total of 5 times. His best finish came in 2005 when he finished 3rd (out of 3) in his class. Just more heartbreak for Tony Stewart on the beaches of Daytona.

Team Ganassi’s All-Star Entry (2015)

Chip Ganassi Racing has to be the most accomplished of NASCAR teams that competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. They, as a team, have won the race a total of 8 times. The last time CGR went to victory lane in the race came in 2015…with the help of a couple of NASCAR drivers. Six years before becoming a NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Larson was a champion of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He won driving the number 02 for CGR alongside his NASCAR teammate Jamie McMurry and his IndyCar comrades, Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan. And they did so in a convincing fashion. They not only won their class but overall as well. Their closest competition was 1.333 seconds back. After that, the rest of the field was 6 laps down or more.

Chase Elliott Competes (2021)

The last time a high-profile NASCAR driver competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona was 2021, with Chase Elliott. Elliott competed for Wheelen Engineering Racing, driving their number 31 DPi car. He raced alongside Mike Conway, Pipo Derani, and Felipe Nasr. Unfortunately, the attempt was relatively unsuccessful. They finished the race 8th overall and 6th in the DPi class. By the end of the race, they were 24 laps down from the leaders.

Conclusion

Tell us what you’re thinking, NASCAR fans! Do you watch the Rolex 24 every January? Let us know your thoughts!