Speedweeks 2012 is now underway, with the 50th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
But unlike the NASCAR racing fans will see next month, this weekend is about racing around the clock.
Joie Chitwood, the president of Daytona International Speedway, is a big race fan, but even he admits this weekend is a challenge.
"You can be the biggest hard-core race fan there is, I'm not sure anyone can sit down and watch 24 straight hours of a race," said Chitwood.
And he's right. Eric Carlon has been coming to this race for 18 years.
The race fan from Winter Park said watching the race is nice, but he and his friends come for the party in the infield where they're camping in tents.
Carlon said it's a little more crowded this year than in years past, which he attributes to this being the 50th anniversary of the race.
"It's meeting everybody around us and everything. It just turns into a big party," said Carlon.
The track also has a lot of alternative entertainment that goes on into the night. There's a chili cook-off, karaoke contest and two concerts in the infield.
They've also brought in a giant Ferris wheel and go-karts for those looking for something different. Plus, many of the car manufacturers have hospitality tents set up so the party can go on into the night.
Chitwood is happy at the crowds, but he's also ecstatic about the weather for the weekend.
He tells News 13 it's a nice way to start Speedweeks and moving forward to the Daytona 500 in four weeks.
"If we can get a good event here, that gives us the momentum and energy," said Chitwood.
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