Gordon won't defend Rolex 24 win
Tuesday, 24 October 2017
By Marshall Pruett / Image by Alexander Trienitz/LAT
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One big name in, one big name out.
Of all the things retired NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has planned for 2018, returning to defend his overall win with Wayne Taylor Racing at the Rolex 24 At Daytona is not on the list. With Gordon's absence, Fernando Alonso
should have no competition for No. 1 status in the autograph session.
Having stood atop the podium with Ricky and Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli in January after capturing the victory in WTR's Cadillac DPi-V.R, the four-time Cup title winner says he's chosen to cherish the memory and ride into the Rolex 24 sunset.
"I mean, who doesn't want to go out on top!" Gordon told
RACER. "I plan on watching the event – not competing in it. I'll be pulling for Jordan Taylor and Wayne Taylor Racing, and I'm excited to see how Ricky does with Penske's new team."
Gordon retired from competing NASCAR at the end of 2015, only to return later in 2016 to sub for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. Along with his new career with FOX as a broadcaster, Gordon took another shot at the Rolex 24 after finishing third on his endurance racing debut in 2005.
The fairy tale result for Gordon with WTR, which also saw team veteran Angelelli hang up his helmet on a high note, will stand as a transition point for the team on its return to Daytona in January.
Taylor's son Ricky recently
moved to Acura Team Penske as teammate to Helio Castroneves and Graham Rahal, and with Angelelli and Gordon out of the frame, WTR will have at least two and possibly three seats to fill for IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opener in Florida.
Ryan Hunter-Reay, who drove for WTR at Petit Le Mans, is rumored to be the team's endurance driver next year, which would take one seat out of the discussion. The team is also working to identify Ricky's full-time replacement, and a number of drivers are said to be under consideration. Although WTR normally utilizes three drivers for Daytona, and made an exception with the addition of Gordon, it's unclear whether the factory Cadillac program would seek a fourth driver for the Jan. 25-28 event.