Racing fans traditionally collect broken car parts as souvenirs at major events, but this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona saw concerning incidents of unauthorized parts collection and theft.

DXDT Racing officially allowed fans to take damaged parts from their Corvette Z06 GT3.R after it caught fire during Charlie Eastwood's stint, forcing their withdrawal. Fans collected items including a burnt bumper and roasted diffuser from the team's designated disposal area.

However, AO Racing experienced unauthorized removal of parts from their damaged No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 and No. 99 ORECA 07 LMP2 vehicles. Team principal Gunnar Jeannette expressed concern about increasingly bold behavior from some attendees, including:

• Unauthorized entry into team trailers
• People wandering into restricted pit box areas
• Theft of damaged parts without permission
• Inappropriate requests for parts during active racing

The incidents highlight growing security concerns as IMSA provides unique fan access compared to other racing series. Teams may need to implement additional security measures, such as dedicated garage staff, for future events to protect their equipment and maintain appropriate boundaries while preserving the fan-friendly atmosphere.

The situation represents a challenge in balancing IMSA's traditionally open access with the need to protect team assets and maintain professional racing operations. These incidents may influence security protocols for the 2026 season and beyond.

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