LPGA Major champion and Rolex Testimonee will help the twice-around-the-clock race swing into action with the most famous words in motorsports
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Daytona International Speedway announced today that Rolex Testimonee and LPGA star Lexi Thompson will serve as the honorary grand marshal for the Rolex 24 on Saturday, Jan. 24. Thompson has 11 career victories on tour, including a major win at the 2014 Chevron Championship. She will kick off the festivities by saying the most famous words in motorsports ahead of the 64th running of the Rolex 24.
“Lexi Thompson’s journey from a rising star on the circuit to a certified LPGA Tour champion has inspired young athletes around the world,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “Her successes on the LPGA Tour make her the perfect pick for the Rolex 24 as she, like this iconic and demanding race, exemplifies values of excellence, determination and resilience on a global stage.”
From an early age, Thompson showcased incredible skill on the course. At only 12-years-old, she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, making her the youngest athlete to ever do so at that time. From there, she went on to win the 2008 United States Girls’ Junior Championships. As a result, she was named Golfweek’s No. 1 Women’s Amateur and Girls Junior Amateur.
In 2010, Thompson turned professional at 15-years-old, and just three weeks later tied for 10th at what was her fourth Women’s U.S. Open appearance. At her next event, the Evian Masters (now The Amundi Evian Championship), she tied for second place in only her second professional event. The same year she joined an accomplished list of athletes in the Rolex family of Testimoniees including LPGA and PGA Tour stars Annika Sörenstam and Jack Nicklaus.
From 2013 to 2022, Thompson was consistently ranked amongst the world’s leading female golfers, reaching as high as No. 4 in the LPGA Tour rankings in both 2015 and 2017. She claimed victories in eight straight seasons from 2013 to 2019, including two wins in 2017 at the Kingsmill Championship and Indy Women in Tech Championship.
The Florida-native is an international icon in women’s golf as for over a decade she has shown tremendous power and confidence off the tee. Having represented the United States of America at seven Solheim Cups and two Olympic games, Thompson dazzled audiences with one of the longest average driving distances in LPGA Tour history.
Guests can experience 24 hours of intense on-track battles during the historic Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, starting on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 1:40 p.m. ET and continuing through the wave of the checkered flag on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Fans can get up close and personal to the cars, teams and drivers as admission includes garage access for all four days of IMSA action. Tickets are available for the 2026 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.