Tower Motorsports Loses the Rolex

I hope the LMP2 class winners enjoyed their Rolex watches while they had them, because it appears they're going to have to send them back.

(Photo: Jake Galstad / IMSA)

The Morning Warmup

Jan. 31, 2025

Gooooood morning, race fans! Are you ready for a little Clash at The Madhouse?

With the start of the 2025 NASCAR season upon us, it felt like the right time to unveil my plans for the year. I’m going to give a two-pronged approach to racing coverage, handling the newsletter and exclusive long form content here and posting other goodies like interviews and analysis on my Patreon page.

You can read more about my plans here. Long story short: I plan to keep things simple this time around. I hope you’ll support me along the way.

Now onto some racing news. We’ve got a bit of drama in the aftermath of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

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Today’s Top Stories

1) Rolex 24 LMP2 winner changed after post-race inspection failure (SportsCars)

So… Does anyone know how to return a Rolex?

Three days removed from the end of a memorable Rolex 24 at Daytona, there’s been a change in the official race winner of the LMP2 class. Initial runner-up United Autosports USA has inherited the victory after provisional winner Tower Motorsports’ car failed post-race inspection.

The issue at hand was tied to the skid block underneath the car. During inspect, it was discovered to have exceeded the maximum allowable wear, set for five millimeters. Tower Motorsports attempted to protest the decision, but the filing was denied by IMSA officials. Tower Motorsports has been demoted to 12th and last in LMP2, stripping the victory from Sebastien Bourdais, John Farano, Sebastian Alvarez and Job van Uitert.

In a statement to Sportscar365, Tower Motorsports leader Ricky Capone argued against IMSA’s decision. It reads:

“Tower Motorsports is deeply disappointed by IMSA’s decision to penalize our No. 8 LMP2 entry following post-race technical inspection at the 24 Hours of Daytona. Our team strongly contests this ruling and maintains that we did not intentionally violate any technical regulations.

The infraction cited by IMSA relates to excessive wear on the skid block, an issue that can naturally occur over the course of an intense endurance race due to variables outside of a team’s direct control.

The No. 8 car has consistently passed technical inspection throughout the event and in previous competitions without issue. We firmly believe that this outcome does not reflect any wrongdoing or competitive advantage on our part.”

As a result, the quartet of Daniel Goldberg, Paul di Resta, Rasmus Lindh and James Allen have now been declared LMP2 class winners with the No. 22 United Autosports team. It’s second major win for the program, coming seven months after its LMP2 class win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“We came to Daytona with one very clear goal and we have achieved it,” United Autosports CEO Richard Dean said after the decision. “To win the Rolex 24 At Daytona any year is pretty special, but to win it only a few months after celebrating victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours makes it an extra-special moment. Zak (Brown) and I would like to thank the entire team for their dedication and commitment. We can all be very proud of what we have achieved.”

The No. 74 Riley ORECA was bumped up to second by the penalty, with the No. 52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports entry now completing the class podium.

IMSA’s GTD class also saw the final results shaken up by a post-race penalty. Triarsi Competizione’s No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 entry was relegated to last in GTD (22nd) after Stevan McAleer was determined to have driven more than four hours in a six-hour penalty.

(Source(s): R.J. O’Connell / RACER, John Dagys / Sportscar365)

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Race Recaps

Sim Racing

eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series: The year of NASCAR sim racing opened with a chaotic Clash at virtual Daytona International Speedway. But in the end, defending champion Parker White prevailed again - this time by dodging a pack-consuming crash on the last lap.

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News and Notes

NASCAR

• If you haven’t already seen it, NASCAR’s 24/7 free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) network has officially launched on Tubi. You can check it out here and might to tomorrow - the channel will offer a free stream of the Modified race from Bowman Gray Stadium. (Tubi)

• Speaking of that race, the Cook Out Madhouse Classic’s entry list has been revealed, with some memorable names including Modified-turned-Cup driver Ryan Preece. (NASCAR.com)

• On the topic of NASCAR streaming options, Max is going all in for its first run with the Cup Series. The series is launching an exclusive NASCAR Driver Cam experience that will allow fans to watch individual cams or use one of two pre-set Multiview options with four drivers each. The news even caught the eye of tech journalist Emma Roth at The Verge.

• NASCAR President Steve Phelps sent an email out to NASCAR fans ahead of the 2025 season, talking up the year to come and saying the series is “blending tradition and innovation to deliver something special for every fan.” (Bob Pockrass / X)

• Go ahead and criticize three-time Cup champion Joey Logano for any perceived lack of integrity to his title campaigns. He isn’t bothered. (Mark Long / Associated Press)

• One of NASCAR’s rule changes for 2025 is the so-called ‘Kyle Larson Rule,’ which effectively penalizes drivers that miss a race for any non-injury reason. Retired stars Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick find the rule unnecessary. (Matt Weaver / Sportnaut)

• With an eye on an early win, Cup Series competitors Michael McDowell and Justin Haley will each compete for Spire Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series opener along with their regular duties. (Kevin Rutherford / Frontstretch)

• Who got it right? With the offseason nearly complete, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass ranked the various driver, crew chief moves heading into the 2025 campaign.

• At 53 years old, Tim Brown is far from the usual Cup debutant. But the Bowman Gray veteran deserves your attention as his NASCAR dreams come true in the Clash. (Nick DeGroot / Motorsport)

• For those that love NASCAR podcasts, Dirty Mo Media unveiled their full list of planned shows for the 2025 season yesterday:

dirtymomedia

A post shared by @dirtymomedia

• A new year brings new rookies in each series. Here’s a look at this season’s Rookie of the Year candidates. (Dustin Long / NBC Sports)

• It’s time for another year of Cup Series racing. With it comes a host of things to discuss. (Matt Weaver / Sportsnaut)

• National Debt Relief is stepping in to sponsor Denny Hamlin for four Cup Series races this year. There’s a lawsuit/economy joke in there somewhere, but I’m not making it. (Kelly Crandall / RACER)

• Supercars legend Dick Johnson and iconic NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham recently reunited as part of Johnson’s trip to the United States for a Ford Performance season launch. (Will Dale / V8 Sleuth)

• It’s preseason predictions time for The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck. The veteran journalist asked five questions to be answered this year and wants you to see if you can answer them better than him.

• Well played, Hendrick Motorsports.

IndyCar

• McLaren CEO Zak Brown has a vested interest in both IndyCar and Formula 1. He hopes the former can use the latter to learn how it can move towards the future. (Nick DeGroot / Motorsport)

F1

• Formula 1 appears poised for a return to African soil in the near future, but the race is on to see where exactly that return might come.

• As has become tradition in the lengthy career of Lewis Hamilton, he’s crashed in preseason testing ahead of his debut with a new team. But in his defense, it happening in arguably the worst Ferrari he’ll drive. (Scott Mitchell-Malm / The Race)

• There were repercussions, though. Hamilton’s shunt caused a planned run for Charles Leclerc to be scrapped. Ferrari won’t return to the track in Barcelona this week.

• What went wrong at Red Bull in 2024? Former technical leader Adrian Newey figures a lack of experience accelerated the team’s decline. (Jon Noble / The Race)

• The year 2025 promises to be one of the biggest ones of Max Verstappen’s life - both on and off the track. Verstappen may soon find himself at a crossroads with Red Bull Racing. (Luke Smith / The Athletic)

• There are a whopping five rookie drivers entering the fold in F1 this year. What can we expect from each entrant during their debut campaigns? (Filip Cleeren / Motorsport)

Supercars

• There’s been a big scoop overnight: Triple Eight is making a shocking move to Ford in 2026, taking homologation duties from Dick Johnson Racing. (Andrew van Leeuwen / Speedcafe)

• Today in stories you wouldn’t expect: Rolex 24 and Bathurst 12 Hour winner Christopher Mies turned laps in a Gen3 Ford Mustang Supercar at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this week. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)

• The withdrawal of 111 Racing from Bathurst cost young Supercars prospect Cameron McLeod a chance to make his GT3 racing debut. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)

Sports Cars

• Sports car racing has another LMDh program incoming. Ford is planning to enter the LMDh ranks in 2027. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)

• The Rolex 24 is an iconic race for American motorsport, essentially IMSA’s Super Bowl and the unofficial beginning of racing season for many asphalt racing fans. The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi attended this year’s race and told the story of the work involved with pulling off the 24-hour event.

• After an early exit from the Rolex 24, Lamborghini has laid out future plans for its SC63 prototype program, scaling back to five IMSA endurance races and focusing on development after running full-time in both the FIA WEC and IMSA in prior years. (Stephen Kilbey / RACER)

• Despite earlier reports suggesting that McLaren’s budding sports car ambitions could affect its IndyCar or Formula E programs, the company has said a Prototype entry wouldn’t come at the expense of its current efforts. (Dominik Wilde / RACER)

• Alpine is rolling out a tweaked livery for its A424 Hypercar ahead of the machine’s second WEC campaign. (Davey Euwema / Sportscar365)

alpine_racing

A post shared by @alpine_racing

• Iron Dames has signed Marta Garcia and Vanina Ickx for its Proton Huber Competition-run Porsche 922 GT3 entry in the Le Mans Cup season. (Daily Sportscar)

• Random Vandals Racing will field Connor De Phillippi and Kenton Koch for a full-season GT World Challenge America campaign, with IndyCar regular Conor Daly joining the pair for the year-ending Indianapolis 8 Hour. (Davey Euwema / Sportscar365)

• CLX Motorsport (who you might remember as COOL Racing) will compete in European Le Mans Series’ LMP2 class with Tom Blomqvist, Alex Malykhin and Harry King this season. (Daily Sportscar)

• Ford Performance has added Arjun Maini, Jusuf Omega and David Schumacher it its factory driver lineup for the year. (Davey Euwema / Sportscar365)

• Looking to scratch that post-Rolex 24 sports car itch? The Bathurst 12 Hour might be the race for you. Here are the top 10 moments from the race’s history to get you excited for this weekend:

Dirt

• Hunter Schuerenberg wasn’t sure he would have a ride this season. Now he’s set to be a World of Outlaws rookie. (Jeremy Elliott / Sprint Car Unlimited)

• Another midwestern series is coming back. POWRi Racing will relaunch the Illinois Midget Racing Association (IMRA) for a 2025 season. (POWRi.com)

• Looking to follow the dirt portion of Florida Speedweeks? Here’s a watch guide showcasing what you can follow on FloRacing. (Brandon Paul / FloRacing)

• Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competitor Brian Shirley was thankfully unharmed in a fiery Wednesday crash at Needmore Speedway.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1764202044147289

Short Tracks

• Pavement Super and Pro Late Model ring has again instated an Approved Body Configuration committee to help oversee regulations around the country. Includes are Freddie Query, Tim Bryant, Todd Thielen, Kip Childress, Tim Huddleston, Dan Garber and Brent Roy. (Matt Weaver / Short Track Scene)

• North Carolina’s Ace Speedway is back under NASCAR sanctioning for 2025, giving competitors a shot at the NASCAR Advance Auto Weekly Series title. It was last won by an Ace regular in 1993.

Moto

• KTM officially rolled out its four identical RC16 bikes for the 2025 MotoGP season this week, pairing with Tech3 for the effort. The company enters the season with uncertainty over insolvency, but vows to race on. (Rachit Thukral & German Garcia Casanova / Motorsport)

• There was much to learn from the launch after a difficult offseason for the Red Bull-affiliated squad. (Valentin Khorounzhiy / The Race)

• Veteran Andrea Dovizioso will join Yamaha for its planned shakedown test at Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit this weekend. (German Garcia Casanova / Motorsport)

Electric Racing

• Here are more details about Formula E’s “Evo Sessions,” an event meant to fill its current schedule gap and expose celebrities and influencers to the all-electric tour. (Dominik Wilde / RACER)

• Ex-Formula 1 competitor Johnny Herbert has left his role as an FIA steward and joined Lola Cars as a Global Brand Ambassador, helping the company to work with partners and strengthen its overall business. (Dominik Wilde / RACER)

Drag Racing

• Remember Cody Coughlin? The former Craftsman Truck Series competitor and asphalt Late Model standout is going Pro Stock racing with KB Titan Racing this year. (Drag Illustrated)

Other

• Former Williams Academy driver Zak O’Sullivan has seen his F1 dreams fade away as funding plagued a race-winning Formula 2 campaign in 2024. Now he’s off to Super Formula, where he hopes a stint with Toyota’s Konda Racing can help rejuvenate his racing career. (Sam Hall / Motorsport)

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On Track This Weekend

We’ve got the best of both worlds when it comes to asphalt racing this weekend. NASCAR will hold a short Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium while drivers race for 12 hours around Bathurst. If that doesn’t work for you, there’s also dirt racing to be watched in Florida and another round of Supercross

All Times ET

Friday, Jan. 31

Sports Cars

Intercontinental GT Challenge

• Bathurst 12 Hour Qualifying: 9:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube

Dirt

• American Sprint Car Series (Volusia Speedway Park): 5:15 p.m., DirtVision

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Saturday, Feb. 1

NASCAR

Bowman Gray Stadium

• NASCAR Modified Cook Out Madhouse Classic: 1:30 p.m., FloRacing/NASCAR Channel on Tube

• Clash Practice/Qualifying: 6:00 p.m., FS1

• Clash Heats: 8:30 p.m., FS1/MRN

Sports Cars

Intercontinental GT Challenge

• Bathurst 12 Hour : 9:00 p.m., GT World on YouTube

Dirt

• American Sprint Car Series (Volusia Speedway Park): 5:15 p.m., DirtVision

Moto

• Monster Energy Supercross (Arizona): 8:00 p.m., Peacock

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Sunday, Feb. 2

NASCAR

(At Bowman Gray Stadium)

• Cup Series Clash Last Chance Qualifier: 6:00 p.m., FOX/MRN

• Cup Series Cookout Clash: 8:00 p.m., FOX/MRN

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Number of the Day: 4

Bowman Gray Stadium isn’t like the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum track. But given its similar, tiny nature, there are likely to be similarities between this year’s Clash and the prior three editions of the race. One thing likely to remain? The importance of track position. Each of the three Clash winners in LA started fourth or better in the feature. The feature is short and passing promises to be at a premium, so don’t be surprised if that trend continues at The Madhouse.

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Resources

Series Websites:

• NASCAR

• ARCA Racing

• CARS Tour

• F1 Academy

• Formula 1

• Formula 2

• Formula 3

• Formula E

• High Limit Racing

• IMSA

• IndyCar

• iRacing (Sim Racing)

• MotoGP

• NHRA

• SRO Motorsports Group (GTWC)

• Supercars

• SuperMotocross

• USAC

• World Endurance Championship

• World of Outlaws

• World Superbike

• WRC

Schedules:

• Raceday.Watch (Covers pretty much all motorsport)

Media Outlets

• Associated Press (NASCAR, F1)

• The Athletic (F1, NASCAR)

• BBC F1

• Catchfence (NASCAR)

• Daily Sportscar

• DIRTRACKR (Dirt Racing)

• Dirt on Dirt (Dirt Late Models)

• Dirt Track Digest (Dirt Racing)

• DirtVision (Dirt Racing)

• Drag Illustrated (Drag Racing)

• Dragzine (Drag Racing)

• FloRacing (Dirt, Short Tracks)

• FOX Sports (Primarily NASCAR, IndyCar likely in 2025)

• Frontstretch (NASCAR, Open Wheel, Sports Cars, Short Tracks)

• Kickin’ the Tires (NASCAR)

• Motorsport (General, wide-ranging racing coverage).

• NBC Sports NASCAR

• NBC Sports Motorsports (Dirt, MotoGP, SuperMotocross)

• Ohio Dirt (Dirt Racing)

• Outside Groove (Dirt Racing)

• Planet F1

• RACER (Open Wheel, Sports Cars, NASCAR, Drag Racing,Off-Road/Rally)

• The Race (Open Wheel, MotoGP)

• Short Track Scene (Short Tracks)

• Speedcafe (Australian Motorsports)

• Sportscar365

• Sportsnaut (NASCAR)

• Sprint Car Unlimited (Dirt Sprint Cars)

• TobyChristie.com (NASCAR)

• Traxion (Sim Racing)

• V8 Sleuth (Supercars)