Sports
‘We open with the Super Bowl’: The work behind Daytona’s 24-hour endurance race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Nodding out his window in a small, nondescript building inside Daytona International Speedway’s infield, Chris Baynes can smile about it now. But two decades ago, it was a serious matter demanding immediate attention, and it just so happened to be his first day on the job.
Baynes, DIS’ senior director of facility operations, is talking about his first race working the Rolex 24 at Daytona, a twice-around-the-clock endurance race that is one of the signature races on the motorsports calendar. The position he was in then and still holds now is all-encompassing, responsible for ensuring DIS’ infrastructure is fully operational whenever hosting an event, including the fencing and guardrails that surround the 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course.
On this day, a crash had severely damaged a section of guardrail, necessitating lengthy repairs, with Baynes overseeing the project. The damage was so extensive the race needed to be stopped completely, something that doesn’t normally happen during an endurance race. But this was an exception; a decision that fell on Baynes’ shoulders.
“I was sitting in this office, lights out, headset on, and I got a call, and I looked out that window right here,” Baynes said. “There’s a Porsche sitting on top of a guardrail, guardrail is (flapping) in the air and the Porsche is on fire.
“That was my first race being by myself in charge. Probably the most nervous I’ve ever been.”
So it goes when a track hosts any race, but particularly one that requires near-perfect operations for 24-plus hours before a crowd of tens of thousands. Accidents happen, things break, the unthinkable occurs — and it all can happen at any time of the day.
Throughout the just-completed Rolex 24 at Daytona, The Athletic spoke to several key individuals on everything that goes on behind the scenes to ensure a race of this scope goes off, navigating a stressful high-wire act in a coordinated effort while running on little sleep.
DIS is well-versed in hosting big events, and with the Rolex 24 now in its 63rd year, there is no shortage of experience and institutional knowledge. Preparations begin the previous fall, then commence in earnest once the calendar flips to the new year, effectively triggering the countdown to race day. Each department head has a detailed checklist, some over a hundred pages long, which they work through. Certain projects need to begin well in advance, while others can wait until the week of the event.
From the big (ensuring the track, fencing and guardrails are safe and the on-site care centers are properly staffed and equipped) to little facets (making sure every light bulb in every suite, restroom and public area are working efficiently), the idea is nothing is overlooked, a continual process of checking and rechecking.
“It’s a lot,” said Paul Bender, senior director of venue operations. “The grandstands and food service areas kind of sit idle for a few months, so things get shut down and things go to hibernation, so to speak. And we kind of gear things back up in January, so we don’t know what’s going to be broken and what’s not.”
On Bender’s phone, he can access the temperature for nearly every refrigerator and freezer on property used by the hospitality staff. Tthe convenience of technology helps him to know whether something is awry because any breakdown is potentially cataclysmic considering the volume of food that must be prepared.
Stocking these 100-plus combined walk-in refrigerators and freezers plus two “giant” refrigerators and freezers is the responsibility of Ty Bittner, the regional operations manager for Levy, a hospitality company that services DIS. In the weeks and days leading into the Rolex 24 weekend, orders will be placed with Levy, and Bittner is tasked with delivering 25,000 pounds of chicken, 15,000 hot dogs, 5,000 pounds of brisket and 5,000 pounds of short ribs, plus a multitude of other ingredients his 100 chefs on staff require to prepare full, multi-course meals that will be served in suites or grab-and-go food sold at concession stands.
The sun sets over the grandstands at DIS during this weekend’s Rolex 24. The endurance race demands a lot out of race teams — and the track’s staff. (James Gilbert / Getty Images)
And being this is a 24-hour race, coffee is essential. Lots and lots of coffee. Bittner estimates they’ll go through 2,000 gallons of coffee over the entirety of the weekend. (Forty-thousand non-alcoholic beverages will also be ordered.)
“We have a (big) wall with just sheets of paper of who’s getting what, where, and it’s called ‘The Timeline,’” Bittner said. “We know the suite is getting this at this time — you know this person has a nut allergy or doesn’t want gluten but wants this. We coordinate all that. … Everybody has their task. We get up in the morning, have coffees and go over what we’re doing. Here’s our plan, let’s go to it.”
While the challenges facing DIS on the food side aren’t necessarily unique compared to other large-scale sporting events, there is a difference, explains Bittner, who has extensive experience in hospitality working for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings, and MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers.
Many stick-and-ball sports get to ramp up and iron out any kinks before hosting a “big game.” But for the Rolex 24, Bittner notes, DIS doesn’t get the chance to hold an exhibition or regular-season game to prepare for a high-profile event. His staff essentially has to jump into the deep end of the pool.
“When you’ve got 20 to 40 games, hopefully you’ve gotten it right by your first one or two games,” Bittner said. “We don’t have that luxury. We open with the Super Bowl. We have one chance to get it right, so we make sure we get it right.”
Just as those competing on the track must sacrifice sleep, so too do many of DIS’ staff. The most valuable commodity during the Rolex 24 is the chance to grab even a couple of hours of rest.
Having to remain on duty doesn’t apply to general staff or emergency service workers employees, as they’re rotated out in shifts. For many others, however, that’s another story. This is an endurance race for them, too. And it’s not just the 24-hour duration but the time before and afterward, which can mean staying awake for 30-plus hours.
Among the operations staff, radio chatter is constant throughout the race to ensure everyone stays awake and alert. A logistics crew is dispatched at various points to all the firetrucks stationed around the property to swap out batteries, bring coffee and check in.
“You have to make sure they’re hydrated, make sure they’re fed, do radio checks and that kind of stuff,” said Troy Willrick, DIS’ managing director of emergency and event services. “With this race, it’s basically a 32-hour day.”
Those in charge aren’t required to stay awake throughout, it’s just that they admit they can’t entirely pull themselves away and detach due to the constant trepidation that something will happen that requires their immediate attention. Jennifer Young, DIS’ senior director of operations, whose duties include coordinating the master schedule down to the last second, laughs and shakes her head when asked how much sleep she gets.
Sure, she tries to go home and rest, though it’s essentially futile. Typically, she lays in bed, watches the race and monitors her phone.
“We had a windstorm come through (the weekend prior), and we lost a lot of our backstretch banners, so I had a panic moment for our partners,” Young said. “And so this week was a little stressful. I would love to sleep at night, but when you see the wind and you see those large green jumbo banners, I kind of get a little nervous. I’d love to sleep through the night, but I’m constantly worried.”
A sign at DIS has some fun with the 24-hour nature of the race. Keeping fans entertained around the clock is part of the added challenge for organizers. (James Gilbert / Getty Images)
DIS president Frank Kelleher takes it a step further, having accepted that he doesn’t feel comfortable leaving the facility. For the duration of the week leading into the race and through the race weekend itself, he moves into a motorhome located in the infield so he’s constantly accessible.
“We now have an espresso machine in our infield ops (building),” Kelleher said. “We have a soft serve ice cream machine. We’ve got a popcorn machine. I just found a soft pretzel machine that I think I’m going to borrow and bring it into infield ops. This is not a weekend where you’re counting calories, carbs or coffee intake.”
The “zombie effect” is what Bender refers to it as. It’s that time of night when sleep deprivation sets in, something he often encounters in fans trying to stay awake for all 24 hours. It’s common for Bender to wander the concourse during the wee hours and see someone trying to sleep wherever they can find a spot to crash.
“People are just trying to hang on, and they’re looking for any place where they could just somewhat lay their head down, something soft,” Bender said. “I’ll find a couple of those people wandering around just looking for a spot, or I’ll be walking down the concourse and look over and someone is tucked up in a corner with their backpack, just waiting for the sun to come up.”
Concerns extend beyond equipment like an elevator getting stuck, an escalator breaking down or a pipe springing a leak. (Just in case, DIS has a specialized service team stationed on-site on standby for all 24 hours.) There is also Daytona’s fickle weather to contend with that can vacillate between hot during the day to frigid cold at night, not to mention the persistent threat of rain.
Willrick doesn’t go more than a couple of minutes without checking the most up-to-date weather report. Should a storm roll in bringing lightning, or worse, it is his responsibility to put events in motion to stop the race, clear spectator areas and send out advisories instructing everyone to seek shelter.
“I am constantly checking, all day long,” Willrick said. “All day.”
The 2025 edition of the Rolex 24 was highly competitive, culminating with Penske Porsche celebrating a second consecutive victory.
But it wasn’t just Penske celebrating Sunday afternoon. So too were operational folks whose work ensured the venue also successfully completed DIS’ longest race of the year.
“I’m the guy behind the scenes that makes sure that everybody has a good time,” Bender said. “I make sure that escalators are working; I got 47 escalators and 16 elevators and a freight elevator. There’s a lot of moving parts. (Daytona) is nine-tenths of a mile from one end to the other, and 104,000 seats. That’s a big gig. So I take a lot of pride in that.”
GO DEEPER
‘It’s never-ending out there’: Behind the scenes at a 24-hour race with an F1 champ
(Top photo of cars racing under fireworks on Saturday during the Rolex 24 at Daytona: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
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The group stage is the first step toward World Cup glory.
All 48 nations playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been divided into 12 groups (labeled A-L) of four teams.
With the expanded knockout format of 32 teams advancing past the group stage, winning the group has become more important than ever.
After Germany’s dominant 7-1 win over Curaçao, its odds to win Group E have increased from -210 to -320. Getting three points, combined with gaining a +6 goal differential, has put them in an ideal position after matchday 1.
Ivory Coast also made up a ton of ground after its 1-0 win over Ecuador on Sunday, seeing its odds to win Group E climb from +550 to +260.
Additionally, the U.S. men’s national team’s odds to win Group D saw major movement after its 4-1 win over Paraguay.
USA’s group odds continued to spike after Australia’s upset over Türkiye on Saturday night. Because Türkiye originally had the second-best odds to win the group, their loss had a major impact on the outlook of Group D.
The Stars and Stripes are now -210 to win their group.
Not only did USA’s odds jump, but Australia’s odds to win Group D skyrocketed from +1200 to +300 after its win.
The two nations will play next Friday night at Seattle Stadium for sole possession of first in the group.
Let’s check out the latest odds for all 12 groups at FanDuel Sportsbook, as of June 14.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Group A winner
Mexico: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)
South Korea: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total)
Czechia: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
South Africa: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Group B winner
Switzerland: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Canada: +160 (bet $10 to win $26 total)
Bosnia: +440 (bet $10 to win $54 total)
Qatar: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Group C winner
Brazil: -165 (bet $10 to win $16.06 total)
Morocco: +240 (bet $10 to win $34 total)
Scotland: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Haiti: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Group D winner
USA: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)
Australia: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Türkiye: +700 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Paraguay: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Group E winner
Germany: -320 (bet $10 to win $13.13 total)
Ivory Coast: +260 (bet $10 to win $36 total)
Ecuador: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Curaçao: +35000 (bet $10 to win $3,510 total)
Group F winner
Netherlands: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
Japan: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)
Sweden: +370 (bet $10 to win $47 total)
Tunisia: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Group G winner
Belgium: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)
Egypt: +480 (bet $10 to win $58 total)
Iran: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
New Zealand: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)
Group H winner
Spain: -475 (bet $10 to win $12.11 total)
Uruguay: +440 (bet $10 to win $54 total)
Saudi Arabia: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Cape Verde: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total)
Group I winner
France: -230 (bet $10 to win $14.35 total)
Norway: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Senegal: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Iraq: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Group J winner
Argentina: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)
Austria: +380 (bet $10 to win $48 total)
Algeria: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Jordan: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total)
Group K winner
Portugal: -210 (bet $10 to win $14.76 total)
Colombia: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total)
DR Congo: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Uzbekistan: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Group L winner
England: -260 (bet $10 to win $13.85 total)
Croatia: +340 (bet $10 to win $44 total)
Ghana: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Panama: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
CHICAGO — Dodgers left-hander Jack Dreyer rubbed a new baseball between his hands as he walked back to the mound, a sold-out Rate Field coming alive around him.
Fireworks crackled over the center-field scoreboard. Digital pinwheels spun. Dreyer had just surrendered his second home run of the inning, transforming a low-scoring battle into a lopsided White Sox advantage.
The Dodgers’ recent bullpen problems persisted in a 6-4 loss Sunday, overshadowing a bounce-back effort from Emmet Sheehan. The Dodgers tried to come back in the ninth, but fell short.
“We’ve gotten bit by the long ball, obviously in Pittsburgh, and here tonight,” said bench coach Danny Lehmann, filling in Sunday for manager Dave Roberts while he attended his daughter’s college graduation. “But overall, it’s more the strike throwing and just getting ahead of guys and doing what they’re supposed to do.”
The Dodgers dropped the series 2-1, marking their first series loss since May 8-10 against the Braves.
Sheehan was charged with three runs in five-plus innings, a massive turnaround coming off the second-shortest start of his career, only rivaled by a planned one-inning outing at the end of last season.
Against the Angels last week, Sheehan threw 49 pitches and recorded just four outs before being pulled.
On Sunday, he didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning.
“He got strike one and then understood when to leave the zone when he needed to,” catcher Dalton Rushing said. “He did a great job of that. I think a couple of those guys picked up on tendencies, jumped on a pitch. I felt they were good pitches. I thought he did his job today and gave us a chance to win.”
Sheehan’s velocity has been an indicator of how synced up his delivery has been on any given start this season.
On Sunday, his 95.1-mph average fastball velocity was 0.7 mph above his season average, according to Statcast — a promising sign. Results followed.
Sheehan retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, just a hit batter away from perfection. With two outs in the fourth, he gave up a double to Colson Montgomery, on a low line drive up the first-base line, just out of reach of Freddie Freeman as he made a diving attempt.
Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan delivers against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning Sunday.
(Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)
Then against Braden Montgomery, Sheehan worked back from a 2-1 count for an inning-ending strikeout.
Out of Sheehan’s hand, the pitch looked like it was going to cross the plate on the inside corner, about belt high. But as Montgomery started his swing, the firm changeup veered away from his bat at a sharp downward angle.
Montgomery swung over the pitch. A fired-up Sheehan buried his fist in his glove and shouted. With that strikeout, he preserved the Dodgers’ one-run lead.
Freeman provided that run with a solo homer in the first inning. And Sheehan gave the Dodgers plenty of time to extend that lead. In the sixth inning, however, the White Sox finally got to him.
“I definitely felt better early,” Sheehan said. “And then more of the same towards the end. Just pretty frustrating.”
Sheehan’s fastball to Sam Antonacci wasn’t in a bad spot. But in an 0-2 count, he could have put it a little higher or farther inside. Antonacci drove it over the right-field fence.
A single, a stolen base and an RBI double later, Sheehan walked off the mound, the Dodgers trailing 2-1.
Just a few weeks ago, turning the ball over to the Dodgers’ bullpen was a promising move. They were still riding a franchise-record streak of 38 consecutive scoreless innings.
Lately, however, it’s been a rocky ride. The bullpen entered Sunday with a 6.71 ERA since ending that scoreless streak on May 25. Only the Giants and Rockies produced a worse mark over that stretch.
None of the Dodgers’ relievers have been dominant in recent games. Tanner Scott has been credited with three saves but also two losses. Kyle Hurt’s ERA has risen from 0.60 to 4.22. Dreyer, who went 10 straight games without giving up a run before landing on the injured list with left shoulder discomfort, has surrendered five home runs in seven appearances since returning on May 31.
Dreyer gave up three runs and three hits. Then Blake Treinen and Jonathan Hernández held the White Sox the rest of the way.
The Dodgers tacked on three more runs, on a sacrifice fly and an RBI double from Alex Freeland, and a solo homer from Mookie Betts. They stranded runners at the corners in the ninth.
Sports
Former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith’s last act before his death was donating food for the homeless
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Former NFL pass rusher Aldon Smith spent time on what would be the final day of his life donating food to a charity that feeds the homeless.
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Saturday that Smith, who played in 50 games during his six-year career, died at the age of 36. Just hours before he was found unresponsive, Smith unexpectedly dropped off 10 pizzas to CHAM Deliverance Ministry, a San Jose, Calif., charity that feeds the homeless.
Amir Shirazi, a friend of Smith’s who picked up on Saturday to make the surprise delivery, spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle about the charitable donation before sharing the details of finding him unresponsive in his car.
Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers waits between drills at the team’s first training camp practice Thursday afternoon, July 24, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images)
49ERS ANNOUNCE DEATH OF ALDON SMITH AT 36, ONCE THE FASTEST PLAYER TO REACH 30 SACKS IN NFL HISTORY
“He was a very sweet, caring, loving giant,” Shirazi said. “That if you really knew him, you’d know who he truly is.”
After dropping off the pizzas, Shirazi drove them to a grocery store and then back to his home. He explained to the outlet that he quickly ran inside to turn on some lights, and when he returned to the car, Smith was slumped over in his seat.
San Francisco 49ers Aldon Smith runs during practice at the 49ers training facility in Santa Clara, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. (LiPo Ching/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images)
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
“I came out and he was basically dead in my front seat,” Shirazi said. “I’m just in shock.”
While Smith has a history of substance abuse, Shirazi said that he had not seen the former NFL player use drugs on Saturday and had only seen him smoke marijuana occasionally over the years. He said he believed that Smith’s death was a “natural death.”
“My impression was that this is a young man that wanted to help the homeless, which was great,” Scott Wagers, the co-founder of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, told the outlet. “When the 49ers and people like that want to help the community, that’s everything.”
Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers suits up for the team’s first training camp practice Thursday afternoon, July 24, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) (Photo by Karl Mondon/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images) ((Photo by Karl Mondon/MediaNews Group/Mercury News via Getty Images))
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Smith was drafted seventh overall in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Missouri, and made an immediate impact as a rookie, picking up 14.0 sacks and forcing two fumbles in 16 games. The next year he set a 49ers’ franchise record with 19.5 sacks and was named a First-Team All-Pro while leading the team to Super Bowl XLVII.
Smith reached 30 career sacks in just 27 games, making him the fastest player in NFL history to do so, breaking a record previously held by Hall of Famer Reggie White.
In 2013, Smith voluntarily entered rehab and missed five games. In 2014, he served a nine-game suspension for violations of the NFL’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
In 2015, the 49ers released Smith in August following his third DUI arrest before he was signed weeks later by the Oakland Raiders.
Smith remained indefinitely suspended from the NFL for four full seasons while dealing with legal and personal troubles. He made a return in 2020 and played a full season with the Dallas Cowboys, starting in all 16 games.
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