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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Before the Rolex 24 trophy hoisting, the hugs, handshakes and high-fives Sunday afternoon, Jeff Gordon and his Wayne Taylor Racing teammates paused to — at last — take a big breath. A HUGE breath of the freshest of air. Victory.
It was an unbelievably tense and emotional final hour of a 24-hour race with 27-year-old Ricky Taylor prevailing in a gritty bump-and-run for the lead with less than 10 minutes remaining. It was a winning move every bit reminiscent of his co-driver Gordon’s NASCAR world.
“At the end of the day you have to go for it, so I went for it,” Taylor said.
The friends and crew members crowded into the Taylor team’s pit stall alongside the famed Daytona International Speedway were mostly silent for the final hour of the race — all but for the controlled variation of fist pumps and quiet cheers as they watched Taylor triumph in that must-take, dramatic final pass for the lead following more than 23-3/4 hours of perhaps the most all-around competitive and best-attended Rolex ever.
It was indicative of this event. An Alegra Motorsports Porsche won the GTD class by less than a second (0.293 seconds). And NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi Racing‘s Ford GT won a super competitive GT LeMans class by 2.9 seconds — remarkably eight class cars finishing nose-to-tail on the same lap.
As the white flag waved to signal the final lap of the race, people in the Taylor team pit box looked around smiling and quite obviously trying to contain the emotion. And then finally, as Ricky Taylor drove across the start/finish line, you could distinguish Gordon’s cheers among the emotional celebration.
He is the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion to take overall victory in this iconic event and only the fourth driver (joining A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jamie McMurray) to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24.
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Team owner Wayne Taylor — who last won here as a driver in 2005 — ran out to his son, who slowed the car on pit road. He opened the door and leaned in for an embrace, then Wayne climbed onto the side of the race car. Youngest son Jordan Taylor, 25, who also drove the car, took position on the other side of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi as Ricky triumphantly drove the family to Daytona’s Victory Lane.
Gordon, along with the team’s veteran driver Max Angelelli — who was making his final race start — walked down pit road to meet them, receiving all the accolades deserved after such an impressive victory.
“This is unbelievable, I haven’t been this emotional for a win and an experience like this for a very long time,” a smiling and effusive Gordon said, amid the cheering and congratulations. “The reason is because I know what this means to this team, Wayne (Taylor), these kids (Ricky and Jordan), Max. Oh my gosh. This is amazing. Daytona has always been special, but this one sent me over the top. I’m just blown away right now.
“It’s unbelievable that it came down to that. What a battle, what a race. Cadillac, I’m so impressed with this race car. It’s not just beautiful, it’s strong.”
WATCH: Junior talks about his Rolex 24 experience, Gordon, more
Twice in the previous three years, Taylor’s team has finished runner-up in this grueling Daytona Speedweeks opener. It has been heartbreaking and yet, also so extremely motivating to the Taylor family.
As the five men joined together late Sunday to speak about the race, they alternately sported wide smiles and conceded earlier tears.
This was the hugest of triumphs among years of determined efforts. And they were so grateful to share the special day with Gordon, who joked about racing in the rain Saturday night, but repeatedly spoke about the great respect he has gained for the young Taylors’ racing talent.
“I’ve built enough of a bond with this group, I’d love to see them get other opportunities out there,” Gordon said. “They have the personality and the talent.
“All I’ve been thinking about is how can I get them to some ovals in a bigger, heavier car.”
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Gordon even suggested that the winning experience may motivate him to do the race again next year.
“I felt more prepared and it was an even better experience than 2007 so who knows, maybe there’s a chance of another one,” Gordon said. “I want to contribute and add and help this team win. These are the real winners. But I did my part and I’m proud of that.”
Every time the Taylor brothers and their father spoke of the winning moments, they talked about how much more special it was because Gordon was with them.
As the team gathered on the starting grid in the minutes before the race, Gordon and the Taylors revealed temporary tattoos of a Rolex watch — extra motivation that had worn off by the checkered flag.
Only to be replaced by the real thing, capping off a race weekend that Gordon, his teammates and sports car fandom will remember for a very, very long time.