Scott Pruett picked to be grand marshal for 57th Rolex 24 at Daytona

Five-time Rolex 24 at Daytona champion Scott Pruett will serve as grand marshal for the 57th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan. 26-27, giving the “Drivers, start your engines” command for North America’s most prestigious sports car race.

The Rolex 24, which kicks off IMSA’s season-long 50th anniversary season and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, will showcase an international field of drivers racing on Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile road course.

“It’s impossible for me to sum up, in just a few words, how honored I am to be chosen as grand marshal for the 57th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” Pruett, 58, said. “This track is truly special to me for so many reasons. To be the grand marshal in itself is wonderful and to be it while ushering in the 50th anniversary of IMSA makes it all the more special. It’s going to be an emotional weekend and start of the race for me, personally, as I’m sure I will miss suiting up and taking the wheel.”

Pruett, friend of Rolex, has raced in many forms of motorsport, including NASCAR, open wheel, sports car and karting. He retired from competition following the 2018 Rolex 24 as the all-time leader in IMSA with 60 victories and seven championships.

At Daytona, Pruett owns five Rolex 24 overall victories, an all-time record he shares with Hurley Haywood, and also holds the record for Rolex 24 class victories with 10. Other Daytona successes include two summer sports car victories and a triumph in the 1991 International Race of Champions series opening round.

Daytona Beach was the setting for another career milestone for Pruett in 2017, when he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which resides in the speedway’s Ticket and Tours Building.

“Scott Pruett is a true American legend in road racing,” Daytona International Speedway president Chip Wile said. “In a career that has spanned 50 years, Scott has experienced numerous successes and triumphs, many of them right here at Daytona International Speedway. He was a versatile driver who was always relentless and focused on-track, and an engaging personality off the track. We look forward to having Scott preside as grand marshal for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.”

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