Johnson again will drive Rolex 24 endurance race

Jimmie Johnson will get a head start on the competition in 2010, driving for Bob Stallings' race team in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series' season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan. 30-31.

Johnson, who clinched a record fourth consecutive Cup Series championship in 2009, has competed in five of the past six Rolex 24 races. In addition to the second-place finish with GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in 2008, Johnson also was part of 2005's second-place Howard/Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford team.

Johnson

Johnson made his first Rolex 24 start with the same team a year earlier and then returned in 2007 for not only the Rolex 24 but also that summer's Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona with Riley Motorsports.

"I've really enjoyed running with Bob and the GAINSCO team the past couple of years," Johnson said. "Anyone who knows Bob knows that he's very passionate about racing, and it shows in his team and his ability to bring out the best in everyone. Jon [Fogarty] and Alex [Gurney] are two of the best [drivers] and I really enjoyed being teammates with them and Jimmy Vasser in the last two Rolex 24 hour events.

"Bob does a great job of keeping the team at the top, especially when you consider the competition from teams like Ganassi and some others. They are a threat each week and that says a lot about the team that Bob has put together."

Johnson, Gurney and Fogarty all led the 2008 Rolex 24 and joined Vasser in keeping the No. 99 in contention for the overall win throughout the race. Although Johnson brings a great deal of publicity and media attention to the GAINSCO team, the biggest benefit of having him back each year is his proven ability to win races and championships.

"We view Jimmie as a member of our team and we look forward to winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona together," Stallings said. "Jimmie is a terrific race car driver and has been a quick study driving the Red Dragon. He is very focused and highly competitive in every way imaginable. He is a champion and shares our strong desire to win the 24."

Live coverage of the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona begins on SPEED at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 30 and lasts until 10 p.m. Coverage resumes at 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 31 and will run to the finish at 4 p.m. ET.