How to watch the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 2023 IMSA season on NBC Sports

By Jan 28, 2023, 5:30 AM EST
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NBC Sports’ TV coverage schedule of the Rolex 24 and the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season will kick off Jan. 28-29 at Daytona International Speedway.

The 61st annual Rolex 24 at Daytona will be streamed across the NBC Sports App, NBCSports.com and Peacock, which will have coverage of the event from flag to flag.

Broadcast coverage of the race coverage will begin Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC and move to USA Network from 2:30-8 p.m. and then will be exclusively on Peacock and IMSA.TV from 8-10 p.m. Coverage will return to USA Network from 10 p.m. to midnight and then move to Peacock/IMSA.TV until 6 a.m.

From 6 a.m. until noon on Sunday, Jan. 29, Rolex 24 coverage will be available on USA Network. The conclusion of the Rolex 24 will run from noon through 2 p.m. on NBC.

INFORMATION FOR THE 61ST ROLEX 24: Schedules, start times, entry lists

NBC Sports will present more than 80 hours of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023 across NBC, Peacock and USA Network. The Rolex 24 at Daytona will mark the beginning of 12 hours of NBC broadcast coverage over the season, matching the 2022 total that was the most since NBC Sports took over rights to the sports car series in 2018.

In addition to the Rolex 24 at Daytona, races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (May 14), Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (July 9) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Sep. 17) also will be featured on NBC.

Peacock will feature live flag-to-flag streaming broadcasts of all IMSA races, including exclusive coverage for parts of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Twelve Hours of Sebring, Six Hours of The Glen and Petit Le Mans endurance races.

Peacock also will have exclusive live coverage of IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Lamborghini Super Trofeo races in 2023.

USA Network will present more than 35 hours of live WeatherTech Championship coverage throughout the year. CNBC will air encore presentations of all Michelin Pilot Challenge, VP Racing SportsCar Challenge and Lamborghini Super Trofeo races.

“We’re looking forward to showcasing the exciting, competitive racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023 and starting the engines in just a few short weeks with the iconic Rolex 24 At Daytona,” Matthew Grassie, director, programming and rights management, NBC Sports, said in a release. “IMSA fans won’t miss a minute of the action throughout the season with the return of comprehensive live race coverage on Peacock and extensive coverage on NBC and USA Network.”

“IMSA is embarking on a new era in 2023 with the introduction of our flagship Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, featuring the highest-technology and most sustainable race cars competing in North America,” IMSA president John Doonan said. “With NBC network coverage for the launch of this new platform combined with flag-to-flag availability on Peacock and many hours of programming on USA Network and CNBC, IMSA is poised to experience a substantial boost in interest and popularity beginning next season.”

Here is NBC Sports’ 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule:

Date Race Circuit Platform Time (ET)
Sun., Jan. 22 Roar Before the Rolex 24 (qualifying) Daytona International Speedway Peacock 1:25 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 28- Sun., Jan. 29 Rolex 24 At Daytona Daytona International Speedway NBC, Peacock, USA Network 1:30 p.m.
Sat., March 18 Twelve Hours of Sebring Sebring International Raceway Peacock, USA Network 10 a.m.
Sat., April 15 Grand Prix of Long Beach Long Beach Street Circuit Peacock, USA Network 5 p.m.
Sun., May 14 Laguna Seca WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca NBC, Peacock 3 p.m.
Sun., June 25 Six Hours of The Glen Watkins Glen International Peacock, USA Network 10:30 a.m.
Sun., July 9 SportsCar Grand Prix Canadian Tire Motorsport Park NBC, Peacock Noon
Sat., July 22 Northeast Grand Prix Lime Rock Park Peacock, USA Network Noon
Sun., Aug. 6 SportsCar Weekend Road America Peacock, USA Network 11 a.m.
Sun., Aug. 27 GT Challenge at VIR VIRginia International Raceway Peacock, USA Network 2 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 17 Battle on the Bricks Indianapolis Motor Speedway NBC, Peacock 1 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 14 Petit Le Mans Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Peacock, USA Network Noon

 

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

By Mar 24, 2023, 7:11 PM EDT
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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

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