It was an eventful weekend for the NASCAR few who participated in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Austin Cindric, Shane Van Gisbergen, Parker Kligerman, and youngster Connor Zilisch showed their road-course prowess as they took to the 3.5-mile sports car course in the GTD category.
Stock Car Stars take on the Rolex 24; NASCAR’s Rolex 24 Report Card
Austin Cindric took the top spot for the stock car racers, getting the third position for a double podium for the Ford Mustang GTD, followed by the Trackhouse by TF Sport team consisting of Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen. Parker Kligerman’s 24 hours was cut short by a wreck under yellow, just two hours from the finish.
Any day you come home from the race track smelling like champagne is a good one. Podium @Rolex24Hours for us on car #64!
Awesome to be there for such a big day for Ford Mustang, and watch some top-shelf driving by my teammates to close the race. Great way to start the year!
— Austin Cindric (@AustinCindric) January 26, 2025
Cindric earns Double Podium for Ford:
When Ford announced their entry into the GTD class with their Mustang GTD in 2024, the hype was unimaginable. A mid-engine supercharged V8, pushing 800 horsepower. Rear-mounted eight-speed transmission and a rear wing big enough to land a plane on. Well, the hype did not meet the results in 2024. The Multimatic teams finished 6th and 9th respectively in the 2024 GTD Championship.
Well, 2025 is a new chapter and they came out of the gates HOT. Mike Rockenfeller took the #64 to the pole position in GTD. The trio of Cindric, Rockenfeller, and Seb Priaulx took that Mustang to 19th overall and third in class. A big weekend for the Mustang GTD, its first win, and a double podium to add to it. Cindric has added to his legacy at Daytona.
History for FORD!
The first win for the FORD Mustang GT3!!
Congratulations on the No. 65 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang on winning the GTD PRO Class in the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona!!@Rolex24Hours | @FordPerformance | @Multimatic | @ROLEX pic.twitter.com/2ebnCbDknA— IMSA (@IMSA) January 26, 2025
Costly Mistake Costs Van Gisbergen and Zilisch Podium:
The most watched group of the weekend was the Trackhouse by TF Sport WeatherTech Corvette of Connor Zilisch, Shane Van Gisbergen, Scott McLaughlin, and Ben Keating. Starting eighth in class, the #91 Corvette hung out around the same spot most of the race. Zilisch was handed the Corvette to bring the car to the finish, but with an hour to the finish, he would tangle with his 2023 LMP2 team ERA Motorsports, earning him a pass-through penalty. The team would finish 9th in class, 25th overall.
In his post-race interviews, Zilisch was clearly frustrated with the mistake, but the young driver has a lot to look forward to in 2025.
Trackhouse driver Connor Zilisch was frustrated with a mistake in the final hour that resulted in a spin and a ninth-place finish at the Rolex. He said knowing his Cup debut will be in March at COTA didn’t impact his outlook for this weekend but obviously he looks forward to it. pic.twitter.com/GJlq6IwSsr
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 26, 2025
READ MORE: Connor Zilisch to make Cup Series Debut at COTA, Red Bull Returns as a Sponsor
Kligerman leads GTD but wreck ends teams campaign:
Coming off his final season in the Xfinity Series, Parker Kligerman made his first start in the Rolex 24. Kligerman, a veteran road racer, normally can be found on the pit lane as a reporter for NBC, but he traded the microphone for a steering wheel this year. Driving for Forte Racing in the #78 Lamborghini Hurcan GT3 EVO2, he had teammates in Misha Goikhberg, Mario Farnbacher, and Franck Perara.
Kligerman would take that car to the top of GTD around the halfway mark of the race. After driving for six hours, Parker shared an update on Twitter.
That should do it for me, as I’ve done basically 6 hours ( two cup races?) and I’ve been up since 7am yesterday
We had a slight hiccup with a sensor (it stopped our energy replacement) and had to make an extra stop – but we are very much in contention 🙏
Bring it home boys! pic.twitter.com/tbjvmHrw1r
— Parker Kligerman (@pkligerman) January 26, 2025
A short two hours later, Kligerman joined IndyCar commentator James Hinchcliffe in the NBC booth to call the race. That is where problems occurred.
With five hours left on the clock, Goikhberg was involved in a crash that would result in terminal damage for the Lamborghini. The #21 AF Corse Ferrari hit the side of the car. The damage was severe enough that it would need towing back to the pit lane. The #78 would run 22 hours and 12 minutes, finishing 44th overall.
Overall, a decent showing by the NASCAR cadre in this year’s Rolex. Hopefully, the experiences gained throughout the 24 hours can translate to great on-track action in the 2025 NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tackled the 24; NASCAR Drivers Who Won the Rolex 24
Featured Image Credit: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire, 01/28/2025
