NASCAR
Which Drivers in the 64th Running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona Have NASCAR Connections?
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The twice round the clock classic is mere days away; the Rolex 24 at Daytona will go green this weekend. For the 64th time, the very best in sports car racing representing drivers from across the motorsports sphere will compete at The World Center of Racing. Gearing up for the 68th Daytona 500 next month, a few NASCAR stars are getting in some extra laps. Here are the drivers in the IMSA season-opener who have NASCAR ties and hope to leave Florida with the coveted timepiece trophy.
- AJ Allmendinger – The three-time Cup Series road course winner and Kaulig Racing veteran returns for a fitting 16th Rolex 24 showing. Allmendinger was part of the overall winning team in 2012, driving for Michael Shank Racing. The road racing ace is back with Acura Meyer Shank, co-piloting the No. 60 Acura ARX. 2026 marks AJ’s first bid at the Rolex 24 since 2021, and he has some very stout teammates. Allmendinger will share driving duties with IndyCar legend Scott Dixon, as well as sports car veterans Colin Braun and Tom Blomqvist.
- Connor Zilisch – Another past Rolex champion, Cup rookie Connor Zilisch calls the Daytona 24 his favorite race of the year. The 19-year-old prodigy won this race two years ago, amidst his first outing with Era Motorsport. That year also saw Zilisch win overall at the Sebring 12 Hours, and win his Xfinity Series debut. The Trackhouse Racing star has been handed the keys of the Whelen Engineering Cadillac GTP entry, one of the fastest entries every year. A month prior to his first Daytona 500, Zilisch hopes to take home another prized trophy.
- Joey Hand – The factory Ford road racing specialist, Joey Hand will anchor Gradient Racing’s No. 66 Mustang GT3. Far from a Rolex 24 newbie, Hand has 16 past Daytona starts under his belt. His decorated career includes two overall Rolex 24 wins, a Le Mans class win, and fourth in 2024’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race. Hand also made an Xfinity start this past season with RSS Racing at Portland, finishing 18th.
- Mike Rockenfeller – Part of NASCAR’s Garage 56 Le Mans 24 effort from 2023, ‘Rocky’ is back for an 18th try at the Rolex 24. 2010’s overall winner on the Daytona high banks also found Le Mans victory that year. Rockenfeller will be in the Ford Multimatic Motorsports No. 64 Mustang GT3.
- Jordan Taylor – One of the most popular faces today in IMSA, three-time champion Jordan Taylor eyes a third Rolex timepiece. Following a four-year stint with Corvette Racing, the younger Taylor is back in the familiar Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac for 2026. Taylor has made starts across all three NASCAR National Series, including substituting for the injured Chase Elliott at COTA in 2023. The No. 40 is expected to be a prerace favorite among the GTP Class.
- Colin Braun – As mentioned above, Colin Braun will compete with Meyer Shank Racing alongside AJ Allmendinger. Braun has a 2023 overall win with this team at Daytona, in addition to two more class wins. The veteran has made over 80 combined starts between the O’Reilly and Truck Series, with a Truck win at Michigan in 2009.
- Earl Bamber – Another IMSA stalwart, Earl Bamber has seen multiple Rolex 24 podiums but has never taken home the overall prize. In NASCAR circles, Bamber has one O’Reilly Series start on the Daytona Road Course from 2020, where he was 33rd with Richard Childress Racing. Entering with the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac alongside Connor Zilisch, Bamber hopes to bring home the hardware in 2026.
- Kenny Habul – Working alongside IndyCar legend Will Power, Kenny Habul shares driving duties in the 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3. Habul is CEO of SunEnergy1, famously the sponsor Chase Elliott took to his first Cup win at Watkins Glen in 2018. The driver/businessman returns to the Rolex with this team for a second-straight season. Now gaining one of the best ever from IndyCar, Habul hopes to be better than his 15th-place 2025 showing.
- Mason Filippi –California driver Mason Filippi gears up for his second Rolex 24 appearance. The American was fifth in his lone outing from 2023, and returns piloting a DXDT Racing Corvette z.06 alongside Scott McLaughlin. Filippi’s NASCAR career has seen three road course starts between O’Reilly and Trucks. His stock cars highlight was a 25th-place run at Portland in 2022.
- Spencer Pumpelly – One of IMSA’s most decorated veterans, Spencer Pumpelly has seemingly won everything in his illustrious career. This includes Rolex 24 GT Class wins in 2006 and 2011. More recently, Pumpelly has been as close as second overall at Daytona in three of the last six years. The Virginia driver also has five past NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts. These are capped off with a 19th-place finish at COTA in 2021. Pumpelly will race in this year’s Rolex 24 with Magnus Racing’s No. 44 Aston Martin.
- Patrick Gallagher – Ohio’s own Patrick Gallagher has been steadily inching towards the top step on the Rolex 24 podium. Four past Daytona starts have seen him finish better every time, capped off with last year’s fifth-place run. Gallagher also has eight O’Reilly Series road course starts under his belt. His best finish was 19th at Road America in 2022. The famed Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin course was also the site of his first IMSA win in 2024. Keep an eye on the Turner Motorsport BMW No. 96 to possibly continue their upward trajectory.
- Dylan Murry –Three-time Rolex 24 starter and three-time ARCA East competitor Dylan Murry aims high once again. Part of the LMP2 class with AF Corse, Murry will be driving the No. 88 Oreca 07. Second in this class (2022) has been the high point in Murry’s young Rolex 24 career.
Full television coverage of the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona will be carried by NBC and Peacock. NBC will air the race start on Saturday (1:30-2:30 p.m. ET), as well as Sunday’s finish (12:00-2 p.m. ET). Flag-to-flag streaming is available on Peacock, as well as on IMSA YouTube (internationally), IMSA.tv, and IMSA Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to IMSA
