DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It is a big week in Daytona Beach with the Rolex 24 just days away.
Over 100,000 people will head to Volusia County for the 24 hour race and thousands are already at the speedway getting ready.
“I’ve been here many, many times, but as you pass through that tunnel and get in here and see these grandstands, it’s just like, ‘Alright, it’s starting again.’ We’re about to get into it,” said Bozi Tatarevic with Vasser Sullivan Racing.
The race on Saturday will kick off the IMSA Weathertech Championship season.
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“Last year, we were on the podium. This year, we are trying to go for that top step,” Tatarevic said.
Each team is spending this week after the Roar this past weekend, taking their car completely apart, inspecting it, and rebuilding to make sure it can handle the 24-hour endurance race this weekend.
“Now, we’re getting numbers and making sure everything is in the right place and everything is adjusted the way we want it to get maximum speed up there,” said Tatarevic.
Outside of the speedway, there is also a lot of excitement as this race also kicks off the busy tourism season in Volusia County with many hotels in the area sold out this weekend.
“We needed this drive, and of course, we’ll be following up with the 500, which I understand is sold out, and we’re coming into motorcycle week, also,” said Bob Davis, president of the county’s Lodging and Hospitality Association.
Over 100,000 fans can fit in the stadium seating with thousands more camping out and watching elsewhere in the speedway.
Sprinkle in a racing movie being shot in the area this week starring Brad Pitt and one of the cars in the actual race and eyes will be on Daytona.
“We are making the map all over the world with the Rolex, it’s becoming a huge, huge, big race,” said Davis.
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