After Numerous Failed Attempts by Hendrick Motorsports Legend, Rolex 24 Finds It’s Lone NASCAR Participant for 2023

Endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the 24 Hours of Daytona are a completely different beast to NASCAR. They require much more of a driver, and the toughness of such races is evident by the fact that Jimmie Johnson is yet to win the event. However, all those odds have not convinced Austin Cindric against participating.

Cindric has been building a rapport with the Daytona track, having won the Daytona 500 last February with Team Penske in just his second attempt. He followed that up with a 3rd place finish later in the season, at the same track.

It looks like the 2022 Cup Series Rookie of the Year has decided to take his relationship with Daytona one step further. Cindric will be attempting to win the Rolex 24 with his second appearance in the event. Cindric will be joining F1’s Pietro Fittipaldi, IndyCar’s Devlin DeFrancesco, and Eric Lux. Together, the 4 drivers will be driving the #51 car for Rick Ware Racing under the LMP2 category.

NBC reported Cindric’s statement on the participation: “The Rolex 24 is an event that I’ve always been passionate about. With it being my fifth attempt, I’m hungry to continue my pursuit for a win and a Rolex watch. I have a great, experienced lineup of co-drivers with a winning pedigree.”

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NASCAR drivers haven’t found too much fortune in this event. With Cindric possibly the only driver from NASCAR taking part, he could make history.

Austin Cindric will have JJ in his corner

The enormity of the Rolex 24 event is clear from the fact that someone of Jimmie Johnson’s ilk and abilities is yet to strike gold at the event. But it’s not as if Jimmie didn’t try his best.

Jimmie has run the Rolex 24 event, a total of 9 times in his career. His most recent run came in 2022 when his #48 Ally Cadillac required lengthy repairs; that ended his quest for the elusive race trophy.

But as Jimmie made a return to NASCAR from IndyCar racing in 2022, he also set out his plan for the 2023 season. He outlined his goals in an interview with NBC – all of which are endurance-based. Firstly, he’d like to do The Double, i.e. running the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

Secondly, he’d like to run the 24 Hours of Le Mans (which he most likely will do with Hendrick Motorsports’ Garage 56 car). And finally, he’d like to win that Rolex watch that has eluded him all these years.

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All 3 of those goals require great mental and physical strength. Crossing off even one of those would be a feat.