I’m just about ready to pack up the car and make the almost 1,200-mile drive to Daytona for the Rolex 24, and I couldn’t be more excited.
The Rolex was always a race that I wanted to attend, but it wasn’t until 2020 that I had the opportunity to check it off of my list. It turned out to be everything I thought it would be, and at the end, I just kept saying to myself, “I can’t believe they just raced for 24 hours!”
One of the other great things about that trip was that I got to hang out with Abby for a couple of days, and though it was a while ago, was something that led to our partnership now. Thanks to a friend with one of the teams, I had a press credential to the Roar – which that year was in the early part of January – but I couldn’t get one for the actual race.
So on Friday of race weekend, I did a couple of interviews for a podcast I was doing at the time called The Rumble Strip. I talked to some cool people, including Ryan Myrehn, who has all sorts of announcing duties in the business, including as a pit reporter for the Indy 500 for IMS Radio, as well as Ryan Lewis, who finished third in the LMP2 class.
After I got my interviews done, Abby invited me to head over to her campsite to hang out, and that pretty much set my plans for the weekend, I was camping in Turn 3 for the Rolex 24! I had a great time, and promised I was going to make it back. Finally, that opportunity has come around, and this time, I’ll be bringing my 23-year-old son, Kevin, with me. Kevin has been coming to the Indy 500 with me since 2014, and we have gone to a lot of other IndyCar races, including at Milwaukee and Iowa, and I am looking forward to sharing this experience with him.
I’m into the Rolex 24…are you? If not, here are a few things to try to convince you.
Cars Are Always on Track
From 1:40 p.m. EST Saturday until 1:40 p.m. EST Sunday, there is always racing going on.
Got somewhere to be in the afternoon? When you get home, they will be racing.
Go out with friends and get home at 2 a.m.? Yep, still racing.
Up with a baby or sick kid at 4:30 a.m.? Still racing.
You get the idea. That’s the cool part about it, the drivers and teams have 24 hours and more than 3,000 miles of racing ahead of them, so no matter what you are doing in that timeframe, you can watch racing.
One other thing I like if you are watching on TV or the livestream is that it’s a more laid-back thing than a regular race. I know some people are kind of meh about it, but I like the fact they can do all sorts of interviews and really take the time to talk to people, especially when drivers get out of the car.
Do they have to fill time on occasion, of course, and yeah, they sometimes say dumb things on the air, but the fact is if you hang in there during those times, you can get some really great perspectives at other ones.
it’s january and there is racing
No matter what series you follow, it’s been a long off-season, especially if you are an IndyCar fan. As of today (Wednesday), it’s been 136 days since IndyCars have been on track, and we still have another 44 days to go until they are back on track at St. Pete.
That’s a lot of days. So seeing cars on track in the dead of winter should warm the cockles of your heart.
there are lots of Indycar drivers
Over the years, the Rolex has become very popular among IndyCar drivers, and this year, more than a dozen of them will be competing, including the GOAT, Scott Dixon, who will be making his 21st Rolex start and is looking to win his fifth Rolex.
The IndyCar drivers are spread out amongst all of the classes, so no matter your favorite driver, car, or manufacturer, you can always find someone to root for.
And, a quick plug here: Fast Cars Fast Girls will be sitting down for an interview with Pato O’Ward on Friday morning, so look for that soon. Pato will be making his fourth start in the Rolex and already has two class wins, and his United Autosports USA LMP2 entry was the fastest qualifier in its class last weekend and will start the race in P11, right behind the GTP cars.
The weather is going to be awesome this weekend, and it should make for a great race. If you are at the track, we will be back in Turn 3 so stop by and say hello.
Fast Cars Fast Girls 