CONCORD, N.C. -- Chase Elliott is getting ready for the final stop of his busy offseason schedule. The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion will head to Daytona, Florida, for the Rolex 24 this weekend.
It marks the first time Elliott has participated in the event. He will join drivers from all backgrounds in motor sports for a chance to have his team cross the finish line first after 24 hours of racing.
“The Rolex is a major race, and I think a race that anybody across any type of motorsports really respects,” Elliott said. “I think everybody wants a watch before their career’s over. I think it’s a great event.”
Elliott will drive the No. 31 car with Felipe Nasr, Pipo Derani and Mike Conway. He'll also be part of the same team as former Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, who will be with the No. 48 slate of drivers.
Johnson, who retired from full-time racing in the Cup Series last season, has run in the Rolex 24 seven times. Elliott said his experience will be an asset heading into the race.
“Jimmie and I aren’t sharing a car, but we’ll be on the same team and (I’m) going to lean on him, for sure, as we get in there,” he said. “I think he’s had a chance to run to this point, whereas I haven’t.”
Aside from the racing being a prestigious event in the motor sports world, Elliott is using this offseason to race in events that are completely different from stock racing. He placed third in the Carolina Midget Showdown in December and ran in the Chili Bowl in early January.
(I’m) looking forward to learning,” Elliott said. “Again, I think much like the Chili Bowl, (it’s) something different, a completely different element of racing that I haven’t really tried before. (I’m) just trying to branch out and be more diverse and learn a new discipline, and I think that’s where my interest really is at right now.”
Elliott’s team will enter the Roar before the 24 on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET to qualify for the Rolex 24. The 24-hour event will start on Saturday, Jan. 30 and conclude on Sunday, Jan. 31.