Four-Time Winner Also Has Longest Active Consecutive Start Streak at 23 Years
By Holly Cain
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This winter, six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon was officially knighted in his native New Zealand, but he’s been Rolex 24 At Daytona royalty for decades.
Sir Scott Dixon, 45, returns to the weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway (Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET start, NBC, Peacock, IMSA YouTube) for his race-leading 23rd consecutive start, competing for his fourth overall victory (previous overall wins in 2006, 2015 and 2020 with a GT Le Mans class win in 2018).
It’s been quite an offseason for the perpetually unpretentious champion Dixon, who demurely smiles talking about it all – clearly humbled by the great royal honor he’s received in the months leading up to the Rolex 24, his annual opening race of the season for the past two decades-plus.
“For me what I was most excited about was the recognition for motor racing and especially in New Zealand, but also around the world,” Dixon said. “A lot of times it gets overshadowed. And for me, also importantly, it was about the people who helped me.
“I think when you look at knighthoods, it’s not necessarily about the performance that you do, it’s about community outreach and how the people in the country perceive you. That’s almost way more rewarding than any of the other accolades and it makes you want to do more too. That was the other exciting part.”
It’s a nice segway into the Rolex 24, where Dixon has had favored status for as long as he has raced – perpetually favored to win. This year is no different. He’ll co-drive with a trio of former Rolex winners: Colin Braun, Tom Blomqvist and AJ Allmendinger in the No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06.
On Thursday morning Dixon’s teammate Blomqvist led the final practice before time trials. In qualifying later Thursday afternoon, Blomqvist qualified the No. 60 car fifth on the 60-car grid and will move up to fourth following a post-qualifying technical infraction assessed to the unofficial pole winner. It showed speed in all the recent Roar Before the Rolex 24 practice sessions and with that driver lineup it is absolutely considered a contender come race time.
“I love this race; I love endurance racing,” Dixon said emphatically.
And it was love at first sight.
He vividly recalls his first IMSA start in 1999 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta co-driving a Ferrari 333 SP Le Mans Prototype (LMP) with his longtime manager, racer Stefan Johansson and Jim Matthews. They finished well off the podium that day, but the sports car seed was planted for the then 19-year-old Dixon.
He would go on to earn the first of his 59 victories in the IndyCar Series in 2001 and claim the first of his six series championships in 2003, ultimately making his Rolex 24 debut the following January, 2004. Perhaps it’s fitting he’s in the No. 60 IMSA car in the year when he could win his 60th IndyCar race.
Two seasons later and 20 years ago, he won his first Rolex 24 At Daytona – the 2006 edition co-driving with a pair of his great friends, Ganassi teammates Casey Mears and the late Dan Wheldon.
And even in the decades since, even with a pair of Rolex watches added to that total, Dixon concedes that 2006 race will be among the most special victories of any kind in his highly-decorated career.
“The first here, I think, always,” Dixon said, quick to answer which win he cherishes most. “It was with Casey [Mears] and Dan Wheldon and a really fun era. The Target car was really special. Of course I loved the later ones (2015, pictured right) with Kyle Larson and TK (Tony Kanaan) too.
“Our car was always fun,” he added with a grin. “Even if our car didn’t win, we had the most fun for sure. Every memory for me here has been fun.”
His work in the race has inspired many. There are 10 IndyCar Series drivers confirmed for 2026 – including four Indy 500 winners – competing just this year in the Rolex 24.
“I am super lucky to be his teammate not only in IMSA, but also INDYCAR for the last five seasons,” said reigning IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou, who is Dixon’s teammate at Chip Ganassi Racing and this weekend, driving the polesitting No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 in the Rolex 24.
“I’ve been trying to learn as much as possible from Scott. He’s one of these drivers that’s unique in that he’s able to make any race car work and he’s able to prepare those cars in such detail. And then when he drives, it’s just amazing to see, especially for me as a fellow driver.
“So, obviously lots of respect. I think what is more impressive, and even difficult to do, is not only that he’s done 23 consecutive Rolex 24 races, but at the pace that he’s done it and at the best level. He’s always at the top! So to be able to do that for 23 seasons is incredibly impressive and I’m sure with Scott there is more to come.”
It’s indicative of the universal respect for both Dixon’s tenure and success.
“I’ve always looked up to him, so the fact I’m able to race against him now is like a dream come true for me,’’ said Vasser Sullivan Racing’s Kyle Kirkwood, a driver for Andretti Global in IndyCar who competes against Dixon there and is making his sixth career Rolex 24 start. Kirkwood’s a Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) driver in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3.
“Twenty-three consecutive starts here, wow, that’s incredible. That just shows how much the guy loves racing and there’s a reason why he is where he is now and still doing things like that, because he absolutely loves it and he’s still so good at it.”
Despite all his legendary and massive success on track, the knighthood – the Knight Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit – Dixon has consistently been equally regarded for the generosity away from the track – his work with children’s charities, his willingness to help make the world a better place in ways big and small.
His footprint on motorsports continues this weekend in Daytona Beach, where competitors and fans have already been saluting him for decades.