This weekend IMSA gets their schedule into full swing with the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with a full field of drivers. The race draws drivers from all across racing including NASCAR. This year Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen are among the drivers participating in the race.
Over the years some two dozen NASCAR drivers have been a part of the 24 hour endurance race at Daytona International Speedway.
John Andretti was the first driver from NASCAR to run the race in 1989 and along with Bob Wolleck and Derek Bell, took their Porsche 962 to the front of their class.
In 1995, Mark Martin was among the team that won the race.
Just weeks before his death at Daytona International Speedway in 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr joined his son Dale Jr to finish the race fourth overall.
Tony Stewart ran the race five times with the best finish of third in 2004. Smoke ran in 2002, and 2004-2007.
Seven time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has run in the 24 Hour race nine times between 2004 and 2022. Running the number 48 Ally Action Express Cadillac Dpi with teammates Mike Rockenfeller, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez; the group came in second three times.
Paul Manard has run the Rolex 24 three times with his best finish of 15th in 2010.
Jamie McMurray has run the 24 Hour race seven times and in 2014 and 15, he was joined by Kyle Larson. The duo was on the winning team in 2015.
AJ Allmendinger has run the Rolex 24 Hours 15 times! In 2012 he was on the winning team.
Casey Mears was a part of the winning team at the 24 Hour race in 2006.
Former IndyCar and NASCAR has been a part of the Rolex 24 in 2006 and 2009 with an eighth place finish in 2009.
Rusty Wallace participated in the 24 Hour race in 2006 but the team failed to finish the race.
Four time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has run the Rolex race twice – in 2007 and 2017. In 2017 as a part of Wayne Taylor racing with brothers Jordan and Ricky Taylor and Max Angelelli drove to take the checkered flag first. He also drove for Wayne Taylor Racing in 2007 where the team finished third.
In 2008 Kurt Busch joined Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe to drive their Penske Taylor Racing car to a third place overall finish.
Juan Pablo Montoya has been in eleven Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona races and drove to win first overall three times – 2007, 2008, and 2013.
Brendan Gaughan has been a part of two Rolex 24 Hour races with a best finish of 12th place.
Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks has been a part of two 24 Hour races. He was teammates with AJ Allmendinger in 2019.
When Austin Cindric takes the green flag this weekend, it will be his fourth Rolex 24 driving for a number of different teams.
In 2020, two time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch made his Rolex 24 debut as a part of the AIM Vasser-Sullivan team with Jack Hawksworth, Parker Chase, and Michael De Quesada.
In 2021, Austin Dillon ran the Rolex 24 on the Rick Ware Racing team with Cody War and Sven Muller.
Also in 2021, NASCAR champion Chase Elliott joined the Whelen Enginering Racing team with Mike Conway, Felipe Nasr, and Pipo Derani.