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One
must keep in mind that this race saw the largest entry in the history of the Rolex 24: seventy-one
cars in total, made up of twenty-eight Daytona Prototype cars and forty-three GT cars.
Imagine
twenty-four hours of grueling racing on this famed 3.56-mile, 14-turn circuit that incorporates
the big-banked ovals of NASCAR with the twisting, turning inside road course. Even with the split
start (DPs get a thirty-second start over the slower GT cars to avoid major congestion right
off the bat), the prototypes were passing the GT cars within laps of the start. So seeing all
these cars at one time racing on a fabled circuit was something the fans will never forget.
The
five-time winner of this race, Hurley Haywood, showed that even at his age, approaching
59, he can still run with the best.
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Driving
the Brumos Porsche Riley #59, he and his teammates, JC France, Joao Barbosa and Roberto
Moreno, took home a solid fourth-place finish overall. Rumors filled the arena that this might be
Hurley’s last stand. It was later revealed that Haywood would finish out this season and race only
the endurance races next year. He has not only won this race five times, but has also won
the 24 Hours at Le Mans three times and the 12 Hours of Sebring twice.
This
year the crowd was very impressive. The infield was closed off for a time so that the long line
of cars entering the parking area might find a place before the race began. Although the grandstands
were far from filled, one must remember this is not the Daytona 500 but the 24 Hours of Daytona.
It was a great race.
One that later yielded the fact that it was the most watched Grand Am race in series history.
And all one had to do was to ask any driver how he or she enjoyed this race and they would gleefully
exclaim that it was a blast to drive! The crowd felt it as well. And during the podium celebration
under the returning Florida sun, Rolex watches were presented to all who placed, first through
third, in both classes. The watches glistened under the sun, and surely each one of them was
keeping perfect time, just like the drivers.
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