Sports

Ready to Roar in ’24: Behold the Roar Before the Rolex 24 Entry List

Published

3 years ago

January 11, 2024

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The wait is over! It’s time to take the wraps off the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. Action begins next week with the annual Roar Before the Rolex 24 three-day test session at Daytona International Speedway that includes qualifying to set the starting grid for the 62nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 27-28.

A jam-packed field is on the entry list for the Roar, which runs Jan. 19-21 on the 3.56-mile road course that encompasses nearly the entire famous oval plus the challenging infield section. The WeatherTech Championship qualifying session for all four classes concludes the weekend’s on-track activities and will stream live at 1:55 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 21 on IMSA.com/TVLive.

As usual, there are a multitude of fascinating storylines heading into the Roar, the Rolex 24 and the season in general. Here are some to keep an eye on in the weeks and months ahead:

Acura Shoots for Fourth Straight Overall Win: Acura is riding a three-year overall win streak into this year’s Rolex 24. Wayne Taylor Racing delivered the victory in 2021 with the Acura ARX-05 in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class. Meyer Shank Racing followed it with the DPi triumph in an ARX-05 in 2022 before the team repeated the overall victory in the first race for the Acura ARX-06 last year in the debut of the modern Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti fields both Acura entries in 2024 but will face stiff competition from BMW, Cadillac and Porsche. Can another manufacturer steal the glory?

Blomqvist Chases Rolex 24 Three-Peat: Tom Blomqvist will go for his third straight overall win at the Rolex 24 this year, which would tie him with Helio Castroneves for the record. Blomqvist won in 2022 and ’23 in a Meyer Shank Racing Acura but has joined the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R team for the endurance races this season. Castroneves was also part of the Meyer Shank winners in ’22 and ’23, with the first of his three straight overall wins coming with Wayne Taylor Racing in 2021.

Familiar Faces in New Places: Besides Blomqvist joining the Whelen team, a number of veteran drivers will be wheeling new machinery at the Roar and Rolex 24. After a successful stint at Corvette Racing, Jordan Taylor returns to the family team where he will co-drive the No. 40 WTRAndretti Acura in GTP. Dane Cameron raced last year for Porsche Penske Motorsport in the FIA World Endurance Championship but will run full-time in the team’s No. 7 Porsche 963 in the WeatherTech Championship this season. Alexander Sims shared the GTP championship with Pipo Derani with the Whelen Cadillac team in 2023, but Sims will be in a Corvette Racing with Pratt Miller Motorsports Corvette in the GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class this season.

Colin Braun was Blomqvist’s teammate at Meyer Shank in ’23 but will race a Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) with CrowdStrike Racing by APR in ’24. Ben Keating won the LMP2 title last season with PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports but has joined United Autosports in LMP2 for 2024. His teammate at PR1, Paul-Loup Chatin, is now in the new AO Racing LMP2. Oliver Jarvis joins Pfaff Motorsports with its new McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in GTD PRO. Corey Lewis is part of the driver lineup for Proton Competition with its customer Ford Mustang GT3 program in GTD. And the entire Paul Miller Racing team, including full-season drivers Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow, have moved to the GTD PRO class after dominating GTD a season ago.

Stars Come out for Rolex 24: A constellation of racing stars from other disciplines have aligned with teams for the Roar and Rolex 24. Past Formula 1 champ Jenson Button will be in a WTRAndretti GTP. Multi-time F1 race winner Felipe Massa is set in LMP2 with Riley. The IndyCar Series is highly represented with Scott Dixon and Alex Palou (Cadillac Racing), Marcus Ericsson and Colton Herta (WTRAndretti) and Josef Newgarden (Penske) in GTP, Scott McLaughlin (Tower Motorsports) and Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist (United) in LMP2. The GTD PRO class includes Alexander Rossi (Pfaff) alongside former IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe, while the GTD ranks include Romain Grosjean (Iron Lynx) and Devlin DeFrancesco (Forte Racing).

Four Classes, Not Five: With demand high across the board, the WeatherTech Championship no longer includes the Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) class, allowing additional entries in the remaining four classes at the Rolex 24 and throughout the season. The entry list includes a total of 59 cars following the withdrawal earlier this week of the previously named No. 91 Kellymoss with Riley entry.

GTP – Year Two: The hybrid-electrified top prototype Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class lived up to the hype when it debuted in 2023. Parity reigned, with six teams and all four manufacturers in contention for the championship heading into the season finale. Now, with a full year of development under their belts, what will the second year of the platform look like? The Roar and the Rolex 24 will provide an early barometer.

Practice Makes Perfect: Five WeatherTech test sessions are scheduled for all Roar entrants on Jan. 19-20, with a short sixth session for GTP cars only on Jan. 21, just ahead of qualifying. In addition to the WeatherTech Championship, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge will use the weekend for testing and the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge will embark on its second season with a pair of 45-minute races.

WeatherTech Championship Track Records – Daytona International Speedway

GTP: Tom Blomqvist, Acura ARX-06, 1:34.031 / 136.295 mph, January 2023

LMP2: Paul-Loup Chatin, ORECA LMP2, 1:35.532 / 134.154 mph, January 2022

GTD PRO: Laurens Vanthoor, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 1:45.087 / 121.956 mph, January 2022

GTD: Marcos Gomes, Ferrari 488 GT3, 1:44.541 / 122.587 mph, January 2019

Related Topics:racing Roar Before the Rolex 24

Up Next

Caymus Vineyards Named Official Wine of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA

Don't Miss

USFL and XFL rebrand as the United Football League (“the UFL”)

Click to comment

Sports

Marta Makes History as Orlando Pride Defeat Kansas City Current 3-0

Published

2 weeks ago

July 11, 2026

FNN SPORTS

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Pride extended their home dominance Friday night, defeating the Kansas City Current 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium behind a historic performance from Marta, another goal from Barbra Banda, and a standout effort from goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse.

The victory improves Orlando to 6-6-2 (20 points), while Kansas City falls to 8-6-0 (24 points). The win marks the Pride’s fourth consecutive home victory and hands the Current its first loss in its last five visits to Orlando.

Scoreless First Half Sets Stage for Offensive Explosion

Both clubs created scoring opportunities during an evenly contested first half, but neither side was able to break through before halftime.

Orlando’s defense withstood constant pressure from Kansas City, setting the stage for a dominant second-half performance.

Marta Becomes First Pride Player to Reach 50 Goals

The Pride wasted little time after the break.

Just four minutes into the second half, Marta collected a pass from Jacquie Ovalle before curling a spectacular left-footed shot from outside the penalty area into the back of the net.

The goal gave Orlando a 1-0 lead and marked a historic milestone for the club.

Marta became the first player in Orlando Pride history to score 50 goals across all competitions.

Ovalle recorded her team-leading third assist of the season on the play.

Anderson Doubles Orlando’s Lead

The Pride struck again in the 57th minute.

Midfielder Ally Lemos delivered a perfectly placed corner kick that defender Hannah Anderson headed into the net for a 2-0 advantage.

The goal was Anderson’s second of the season, while Lemos earned her second assist of the 2026 campaign.

Barbra Banda Adds League-Leading 12th Goal

Substitute Barbra Banda put the match out of reach in the 85th minute.

After Kansas City’s goalkeeper misplayed a clearance outside the penalty area, Banda capitalized by calmly finishing into an open net.

The goal was Banda’s NWSL-leading 12th goal of the season and the first she has scored as a substitute in her professional career.

Moorhouse Records Milestone Appearance

Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse anchored Orlando’s defense with a season-high nine saves, preserving the club’s fifth clean sheet of the season.

Friday’s match also marked Moorhouse’s 100th appearance across all competitions for the Pride, making her just the fifth player in club history to reach the milestone.

Orlando’s five shutouts rank third in the National Women’s Soccer League this season.

Seb Hines Praises Complete Team Performance

Head coach Seb Hines credited his team’s disciplined approach and collective effort.

“Really pleased with the result. I think it was quite even in the first half. We had some half-chances, and we tried to stop their key players from having a big influence on the game. I thought the players implemented the game plan very well.”

Hines continued:

“We had some really outstanding performances. It was a really big collective effort from everyone. It was nice to get some goals and a clean sheet at the end of it.”

Match Highlights

49′ — Orlando 1, Kansas City 0: Marta (assist: Jacquie Ovalle)
57′ — Orlando 2, Kansas City 0: Hannah Anderson (assist: Ally Lemos)
85′ — Orlando 3, Kansas City 0: Barbra Banda (unassisted)

Match Notes

Marta scored her second goal of the 2026 season and 50th career goal for the Pride.
Banda extended her league lead with 12 goals this season.
Orlando earned its fifth clean sheet, tied for the third-most in the NWSL.
Hannah Anderson scored her second career NWSL goal, both coming this season.
Ally Lemos recorded her second assist of the year.
Jacquie Ovalle collected her team-leading third assist.
Zara Chavoshi made her first start of the 2026 season.
Anna Moorhouse made her 100th appearance for Orlando.
Orlando has now scored in seven consecutive home league matches.
The Pride have scored five goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second half this season, the second-most in the NWSL.

By the Numbers

Final Score

Orlando Pride 3
Kansas City Current 0

Attendance: 8,058

Team Statistics

Category	Orlando	Kansas City
Possession	45%	55%
Shots	11	20
Shots on Goal	5	9
Saves	9	2
Corners	1	4
Fouls	5	3

Heineken Star of the Match: Marta

Up Next

The Pride remain at Inter&Co Stadium on Wednesday, July 15, when they host Boston Legacy FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the match streaming on NWSL+.

Sports

Miami Heat Acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis Jr. in Blockbuster Trade with Bucks

Published

2 weeks ago

July 6, 2026

FNN SPORTS

MIAMI (FNN SPORTS) — The Miami Heat have acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster trade that reshapes the franchise’s championship aspirations.

In exchange, Miami sent Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakučionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware to Milwaukee, along with first-round draft picks in 2026, 2031 and 2033, a 2030 first-round pick swap, and a 2033 second-round pick.

Pat Riley: ‘One of the Great Trades in HEAT History’

HEAT President Pat Riley called the acquisition one of the most significant moves in franchise history.

“The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in HEAT history,” Riley said. “In my opinion, Giannis is one of the top five players in the league, and Bobby is one of the best power forwards. The difficult part is trading Tyler, Kasparas, Jaime and Kel’el, who have given so much to this organization. We wish them nothing but the best. We also thank the Arison family for their continued commitment to pursuing another championship.”

Antetokounmpo Brings MVP Pedigree to Miami

Antetokounmpo arrives in Miami as one of the NBA’s most accomplished players.

His résumé includes:

2021 NBA Champion
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player (2019, 2020)
2021 NBA Finals MVP
2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
10-time NBA All-Star
Seven All-NBA First Team selections
Member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team

Last season, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting a career-best 62.4% from the field. He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 25 points while shooting better than 60% from the field in three consecutive seasons.

He also enters Miami as the Milwaukee Bucks’ all-time franchise leader in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, field goals, free throws, triple-doubles, minutes played and games played.

Antetokounmpo will wear No. 34 with the Heat.

Portis Adds Championship Experience

Portis, an NBA champion with Milwaukee, averaged 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 67 games last season while shooting 48.8% from the field and 45.6% from three-point range.

The 11-year veteran has established himself as one of the league’s top reserve forwards, recording a Bucks franchise-record 61 double-doubles off the bench. He also received the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work in mentorship and community outreach.

Portis will wear No. 95 in Miami.

Heat Part Ways with Core Players

The trade ends the Miami careers of several key contributors.

Herro, selected 13th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, spent seven seasons with the Heat, earning 2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors and a 2024 NBA All-Star selection. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 394 regular-season games.

Jaquez Jr., a 2023 first-round pick, averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists over three seasons with Miami.

Jakučionis, selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, averaged 6.2 points during his rookie season.

Ware, the 15th overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over two seasons.

Championship Expectations Rise

The acquisition of Antetokounmpo gives the Heat one of the NBA’s premier superstars and significantly strengthens Miami’s pursuit of another NBA championship. The addition of Portis further bolsters the team’s frontcourt with championship experience, scoring and rebounding.

Sports

Argentina Survives Cape Verde Scare, Wins 3-2 in Extra Time to Advance at FIFA World Cup 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

July 6, 2026

Willie David

Leo Messi. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

MIAMI (FNN SPORTS) — Argentina avoided what could have been one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, surviving a major scare from Cabo Verde with a 3-2 extra-time victory Friday in the Round of 32.

Leo Messi. Photo by Harry Castiblanco / Florida National News

Argentina Survives Despite Lackluster Performance

The defending World Cup champions delivered an uneven and uninspiring performance, appearing too comfortable after taking a 1-0 first-half lead on a goal by Lionel Messi.

But Argentina’s complacency proved costly as Cabo Verde, one of the tournament’s Cinderella stories, continued to press and eventually found an equalizer through Deroy Duarte.

Messi Goal Not Enough to Settle Match

Messi gave Argentina the early advantage, but the team failed to build on the lead or control the match with authority. Argentina’s attack lacked urgency for long stretches, allowing Cabo Verde to grow in confidence and push the match into extra time.

Extra-Time Drama

Argentina regained the lead in the 93rd minute when center back Lisandro Martínez scored to make it 2-1. Cabo Verde answered 11 minutes later with a stunning equalizer from Sidny Cabral, who curled a spectacular shot past Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez from the corner of the box.

The dramatic strike may stand as one of the best goals of the tournament.

Argentina Advances to Face Egypt

Argentina finally escaped when Cristian Romero headed a corner kick that glanced off a Cabo Verde player and into the net, giving Argentina the narrow win.

With the victory, Argentina advances to face Egypt on Tuesday in Atlanta.