DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Preparing for the start of Saturday’s 55th annual Rolex 24 at Daytona, Jeff Gordon joked that he wasn’t at all prepared for the ‘culture shock’ of working with the Taylor brothers during the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic.
“Nobody’s prepared for that,” Gordon laughed. “Those guys have a lot of fun, but take it very serious. I’ve had a lot of fun interacting with them … I’ve probably gained quite a few followers on Twitter and social media because of those guys!”
Gordon shares the No. 10 Konica Minolta/Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R this weekend with both Ricky and Jordan Taylor, as well as retiring sports car legend Max Angelelli, with whom Gordon finished third in his only other Rolex 24 appearance in 2007.
Jordan Taylor, in particular, has had fun with Gordon joining the WTR squad, mocking up a photo on Twitter Monday with himself in a ‘Rainbow Warriors’ Jeff Gordon team jacket and sporting a mustache reminiscent of the one that Gordon wore in the early stages of his NASCAR career.
Race week. #Rolex24 (Photo: @jameypricephoto) https://t.co/2e3gtBE8wp pic.twitter.com/MkE0e2G3NC
— Jordan Taylor (@jordan10taylor) January 23, 2017
Gordon, a four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion and now-analyst for FOX Sports’ NASCAR coverage, admitted that he never imagined being able to have the opportunity to be back in the legendary sports car event, driving for such a storied manufacturer in Cadillac.
“This has been a dream come true for me,” Gordon said. “I have never had a chance to drive a car in a race in competition like this.”
“Certainly, not having the responsibility of driving the Cup car helped me to get prepared, get with the team and learn this car. My teammates have been amazing at WTR. It’s just been all-around fun so far.”
Gordon also explained that both team owner Wayne Taylor and the added allure of the new Cadillac DPi were factors in his quick acceptance of the offer to make his second Rolex 24 appearance, 10 years after his first.
“When Wayne called me and said, ‘Would you like to come back and drive the 24 Hours?’ I said, ‘I would!’”
“Then he said, ‘Take a look at this Cadillac,’ and I said, ‘I’m absolutely coming!’ It’s an amazing car, it’s been an amazing experience and I can’t wait to climb in later today and get started.”
Ricky Taylor started the race in the No. 10 Cadillac DPi, leading two laps in the opening hour during the first sequence of Prototype pit stops.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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