54th Daytona 500 : 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona

It’s getting closer and closer. Later this week – Thursday – marks the one-month countdown to the 54th Daytona 500, being held at 1 p.m. Feb. 26 on FOX. Actually, Daytona International Speedway lifts the curtain on the 2012 season this week with the 50^th Anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona, the fabled, twice-round-the-clock GRAND-AM Road Racing Series event that emphatically puts the word “International” in the central Florida speed complex.

This will be a busy week, with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway kicking off Monday in Charlotte. The event, expected to draw more than 230 journalists, comes on the heels of last weekend’s successful NASCAR Acceleration Weekend featuring induction of the third class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and an all-day fan fest during which 60 drivers participated in autograph signing and Q&A sessions. Many fans camped overnight in order to secure wristbands to meet their favorite NASCAR stars.

All Nighter: 50^th Anniversary Of The Rolex 24 At Daytona Rolls Off Saturday

This weekend’s race, with SPEED and speed.com providing more than 25 hours of live coverage, continues to fulfill Bill France Sr.’s vision of producing one of world’s premier motor races. Stars from virtually every discipline – NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1, among them – will compete alongside GRAND-AM stars in the endurance classic. Ferrari returns to the race in force for the first time since 2003. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates tandem of Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas has its sight set on Hurley Haywood’s record of five Rolex 24 victories. Haywood will make his 40^th and farewell appearance in the event that begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. Legendary A.J. Foyt is this year’s grand marshal. Among the NASCAR drivers schedule to compete: Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, AJ Allmendinger, Michael Waltrip, Travis Pastrana, Michael McDowell, Max Papis and Jeffrey Earnhardt.