Nigel Cook/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Rolex 24 at Daytona: Here’s how NASCAR teams qualified

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 5:27 PM ET

Qualifying for the Rolex 24 at Daytona GTD Pro class has come and gone. A few NASCAR stars were involved or their teams were on the track during the session. Connor Zilisch, who just had his NASCAR Cup Series debut announced earlier today qualified the No. 91 Corvette for his team.

Meanwhile, Mike Rockenfeller, the endurance racing legend and one-off NASCAR driver qualified for Ford’s No. 64 Multimatic team. Austin Cindric is a late addition to the team and don’t you know it, they are on the pole for GTD Pro.

Connor Zilisch wheeled his Corvette to P8 overall in the session. He was just over a second off the pace Rockenfeller set. For his first time in a GTD Pro car, not too bad. Meanwhile, Parker Kligerman’s Lamborghini team qualified P6 with Franck Perera in the GTD division.

Rockenfeller was clear of the field by a good margin. Three-tenths of a second. That Ford Mustang program has really come together quickly.

And it's pole Mustang 64 with Mike Rockenfeller (1:45.523).

And for @laurinheinrich_ and @ThomasPreining1, hard luck guys, but you tried your best. Don't give up guys pic.twitter.com/z6BdXckNZk
— Velonerd Sportscars (@VelonerdSC) January 23, 2025

Qualifying on a hot lap is one thing. Being consistent and staying out of trouble throughout 24 hours and with four drivers is another thing entirely. Cindric and Zilisch have both experienced this race before. Kligerman is a rookie this year.

Daytona International Speedway kicks the year off with the Rolex 24. It is a fantastic showing of sports cars and motorsports. With Trackhouse heavily invested in the effort, the race should take on a new level of popularity.

Rolex 24 at Daytona has Trackhouse flavor

The Rolex 24 at Daytona is a test of will and endurance. These race car drivers are going to have to dig deep and focus throughout an entire day. Yes, there are multiple drivers, but everyone will have to be ready to go at any moment.

For this year’s race, Trackhouse has put a lot of investment into the effort. With Corvette and TF Sport, Trackhouse has put together an all-star roster. Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch, Scott McLaughlin, and Ben Keating.

All four of these drivers are talented and have won major races or championships in the past. There are six Supercars title between McLaughlin and SVG. Now they take those road course skills to IMSA.

Connor Zilisch was behind in qualifying. Give him a good hour behind the wheel in the race and he is going to be so locked into the track it will show why he’s making his Cup debut at COTA this season. Keep an eye on this Trackhouse group.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: