Sometimes, It’s Worth It…

Friday night. January 27. 3AM. The night before The Rolex 24 at Daytona.

By Friday night… I really mean Saturday morning. The days have all blended together, and I’m in my usual “pre-Daytona” delirium. It’s so frustrating to be up at this hour because in three and a half hours, I’ll have to be up… and I’m not going to bed until Sunday night. God bless you Pit Bull Energy drink, Lo-Carb Monster, Rockstar Lemonade, and of course all combined with God’s Greatest Gift… S’more Pop Tarts.

Daytona. F- it.

See, here’s the thing. Every year, around this time, I swear I will absolutely not be up this late next year. Anyone who’s ever worked The Rolex 24 at Daytona knows that the race is 24 hours long, but the work day is more like 38 hours. You get up at 6:30 the morning of the race, and you don’t return to your hotel until closer to 9 or 10 the next night. If you only sleep for a couple hours the night before the race, you’re setting yourself up for disaster.

Yet, there’s a remarkable difference this year. I’m up on my own inspiration.