Daytona Beach, Fla. — Businesses in Daytona Beach are getting ready for an exciting weekend, as preparations are underway for the 62nd Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona race.

What You Need To Know

  • Local restaurants and hotels in Daytona Beach are getting ready for the 62nd Annual Rolex 24 at Daytona race
  • The 24-hour endurance race kicks off the new IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar Championship season at Daytona International Speedway

  • Thousands of fans are expected to attend the event
  • The Rolex 24 kicks off on Saturday at 1:40 p.m. and ends 24 hours later

Originally known as the 24 Hours of Daytona, the Rolex 24 At Daytona is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually that kicks off the new IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar Championship season at Daytona International Speedway.

With thousands of people from all over the country heading to Volusia County for the race, local restaurants and hotels stand to benefit from the crowds.

“If you don’t get excited when you hear those engines crank up at the speedway this time of the year in our business, you got to check your smart plugs," said Shores Resort & Spa general manager Robert Burnetti. "I mean, this kicks everything off for us. So, we’re really excited about the Rolex 24-hour race this year."

This year Shores Resort & Spa is involved in the Taste of the 24, a charity that works to improve the lives of children in NASCAR communities.

Burnetti said with good weather forecast for the weekend, he expects the resort's 212 rooms to be fully booked. 

“We’re seeing some folks come in earl," he said. "We start cranking up now. The weekend will be sold out. So, it’s a great time for us."

Daphine Shean said she's seen how big races can affect businesses in the area in the more than two years she has worked as a pool bartender at the Shores Resort & Spa.

As she gets the bar ready for the day, she said they will need to be extra prepared for the guests pouring into town this weekend.

“That’s what I’m going to be doing today," she said. "I’m just going to be doing a lot of stocking, because I know that people are going to start checking in this evening."

She said during race weekends, fans spend a lot of time between the track and the hotel.  

“They go to the track, come back with their memorabilia and their little bag of goodies, and then they come in and get changed and head out again for the race," Shean said. "So, we’re a morning pit stop, an afternoon pit stop. And then some guys just stay here all day."

Burnetti said the Rolex 24 is in their top five revenue weekends.

“I talked to my friends at the Speedway, and I know last weekend they were shocked at how busy things were," he said. "So this weekend should be a real home run."

The Rolex 24 kicks off Saturday at 1:40 p.m. and ends 24 hours later.