NASCAR drivers are increasingly participating in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, treating it as more than just an off-season event. Their involvement showcases the growing intersection between stock car racing and sports car competition.

Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner, emphasizes his serious commitment to the race, joining the GTD PRO class in a Multimatic Ford Mustang. For Cindric, this race represents a full-circle moment, having started his Daytona career a decade ago in the Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Parker Kligerman notes that GT3 cars share similarities with NASCAR's next-gen vehicles, and the increased road course racing in NASCAR has made the Rolex 24 more valuable for stock car drivers. The event's popularity has grown significantly, with attendance "absolutely exploding" in recent years.

The 2024 entry list features notable NASCAR talent, including Trackhouse teammates Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch in the No. 91 GTD PRO Chevrolet Corvette. They're joined by IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin and accomplished amateur driver Ben Keating.

For young drivers like 18-year-old Zilisch, who won the LMP2 class in 2023, the race provides valuable learning opportunities through data sharing and extended track time. This experience proves particularly beneficial given NASCAR's limited practice sessions.

The increasing NASCAR presence at the Rolex 24 benefits both series:

• Demonstrates NASCAR drivers' versatility
• Provides valuable road course experience
• Offers extended practice time before the NASCAR season
• Raises the event's profile
• Creates unique driver partnerships and learning opportunities

The commitment level of NASCAR drivers participating in the Rolex 24 underscores the event's significance in modern motorsport, proving it's far more than just an exhibition race.

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