The pace has not slowed during the night at Daytona International Speedway for the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask 16 Rolex 24. Penske Racing No.16 Porsche Riley Daytona Prototype led at the top for four hours. The pole sitter, No.58 Brumos Porsche Riley DP took over the slot for Hour 17, while Penske Racing fell back to fifth position. Five DP’s remained on the lead lap, and ten seconds of each other.
The GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac Riley DP fell back early one due to a gear box change. The team has been slowly working its way back up the charts, and at Hour 17, the team was in eleventh overall, eighth in class.
KYLE PETTY, whose was driving the No.45 Victory Junction – Orbit Racing BMW Riley DP when it failed the last time, made the transition from driver to broadcaster. He was in the SPEED TV booth when the Rolex coverage returned Sunday morning. He had said earlier in the weekend that he wanted to focus on his broadcasting.
The top GT car, TRG No.66 Porsche GT3 Cup ran eighth overall and was the only car on the GT lead lap. Those cars were only 17 seconds apart.
The top GT car continued to run eighth overall, although the top team continued to swap between two multi-car teams – Farnbacher Loles Racing, which ran six Porsche GT3 Cup cars and TRG which ran five Porsches. The top teams remained the same, but the actual car holding the lead varied.
The teams continued to race, pit, race, cruise behind the pace car, and repeat as necessary.
By the end of Hour 17, there had been 18 cautions for 85 laps. The leader had completed 513 laps with an average of 126.16 mph.
Thirty-nine lead changes occurred between 19 drivers in nine cars.
During the night the cars, with their lights and graphics made for nice viewing against all the lights and glitter of the midway.