Apparently filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. this year made Jeff Gordon catch the racing bug again.
Gordon will be one of the drivers piloting Cadillac’s new DPi-V.R for Wayne Taylor Racing in the 2017 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona International Speedway, Motorsport.com reports. Max Angelelli, Ricky and Jordan Taylor will be the other three drivers competing alongside Gordon during the race.
The four-time NASCAR premier series champion reportedly got behind the wheel of the new prototype racer in November during a 24-hour endurance test at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“When I announced I would no longer be competing full-time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, my hope was that I would get an opportunity like this to compete again in such a prestigious event — with Konica Minolta and Wayne Taylor Racing — with the hopes of winning it this time,” Gordon said, via Motorsport.com.
Photo via Cadillac
The last time Gordon competed in the Rolex 24 — and the last time he raced on Daytona’s road course — was also with WTR in 2007. Back then, he finished on the podium with the help of Angelelli, team-owner Wayne Taylor and Jan Magnussen, father of Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen.
IMSA is set to host a test at Daytona, which Gordon is expected to attend, Dec. 13 and 14. Drivers then get one more opportunity to test at the track during the Roar Before the Rolex 24 from Jan. 6 through Jan. 8.
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Thumbnail photo via Michael Shroyer/USA TODAY Sports Images
