#SupercarSunday – Sportscars, spectators, supercars, racecars, and racers! - Speedway Digest

For many years now, the early days of January have been a wake-up call for race fans all across the country. Thousands of souls brave the unpredictable January weather, travelling to in search of speed. Where else would you go to find speed, than it’s birthplace; the world center of racing!

From January 8-10, the International Motor Sport Association (IMSA) welcomed more than 50 racecars, crews, and drivers to the high banks of Daytona for the Roar Before the Rolex 24. This preseason test provides the best racers in the world with a chance to knock some of the rust off, and prepare for the around the clock test of man and machine that is the Rolex 24 at Daytona, held on the weekend of January 29-31.

Now, I’m quite sure that many of you have heard the refrain offered up by NASCAR announcers time and time again; that the 43 men and women who compete in the Sprint Cup Series represent the pinnacle of racing achievement. While it is true that they are some of the best racers, believe it or not there are other forms of motorsports that also feature excellent drivers.

Competitors from many of the world’s greatest racing series will be represented at the Rolex 24, including, but not limited to: NASCAR, the Trans Am Series, NASA, Formula One, the Asian Le Mans Series, the European Le Mans Series, and Formula E. These talented individuals will compete for teams that are also a representation of the world of auto racing, including teams from Europe, Asia, North and South America. For the first time in several years, the Russian Federation is even represented by SMP racing.

In recent weeks, this column has begun to focus on the world of professional sportscar racing, featuring articles on the teams, cars, and drivers in what can easily be argued is the best sportscar series in the world. In the run up to the Rolex 24, we will continue our efforts to provide coverage for the organization, including interviews with some of the people who make the sport what it is today. Our efforts will also include special episodes of Speedway Digest Thursday Night Thunder, where we will provide insight and perspective leading up to the race.

Rolex 24 weekend practice begins on Wednesday, Jan. 27, with sessions for the Continental Tire Challenge and Ferrari Challenge. Opening WeatherTech Championship practice and qualifying is on Thursday, Jan. 28. The BMW Performance 200 takes the green flag on Friday, Jan. 29, while the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona rolls off on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Fasten your seatbelts, hold on tight, and get ready for a great 2016 season!

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.