IMSA: Schroeder ready for Rolex 24 return

Dorsey Schroeder stepped out of the cockpit and into the commentary booth (at far right, with FOX colleagues Bob Varsha and Calvin Fish, LEFT) after a long and illustrious driving career, and after a 12-year hiatus, he'll trade in his microphone for a Daytona Prototype at next month’s Rolex 24.

“Of all the things I thought I’d be doing at 61 years old, this is about the coolest thing I can think of,” Schroder told RACER. “I’m teaming up with Byron DeFoor, Brian Johnson, Jim Pace, and all the Highway to Help guys in their Riley-BMW, and it will be my first time back at Daytona in 12 years. It’s all the 50-or-older guys.

“Brian’s on tour with AC/DC again, and I’m stepping in on short notice. It feels great to be back, though. Man, some of the kids racing in the series today were in diapers the last time I raced at the 24…”

The 1989 SCCA Trans-Am champ served as a steady fountain of insight and humor during sports car broadcasts for SPEED and FOX until they parted ways during the offseason, and with his schedule now open during TUDOR United SportsCar Championship events, Schroeder hopes to do more than the Rolex 24 this year.

“I know Byron wants to run the four [Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup] races, and I’d love to be there if I can help, and I’m also interested in racing for any other teams that can use a good Silver-rated veteran like me,” he said.

“I retired after the 2002 season, but I’ve never stopped driving. I run a vintage racing series and do a lot of racing there in some pretty crazy cars – prototypes and GTs – that make today’s cars look slow. Compared to the Audi R8 I drove for Champion Racing, or even the Riley & Scott Mk III (RIGHT) I drove at my last time at Daytona, the Daytona Prototypes aren’t…let’s just say they have some catching up to do on the radar.”

With GT class wins at the Rolex 24, 12 Hours of Sebring, and decades of experience racing and teaching to offer – he was Juan Pablo Montoya’s instructor when the future Indy 500 winner came to America – Schroeder is confident he has plenty to offer TUDOR Championship teams. If his former Trans-Am and IMSA GTO rival Scott Pruett, who turns 55 in March, is an indicator of what Schroder can produce, he could be busy this year.

“That’s what I’m hoping for,” Schroeder confirmed. “I’m as hungry as ever, and yeah, I didn’t expect to have this chance to go back to driving, but since it’s here, I’ve really been fired up to get back into racing on a regular basis. I’m training – lots of cycling and getting myself in racing shape, and the racer’s mindset never really leaves you. Here I am, 61, and getting my gear together, by travel handled, and everything like normal to start the season off at Daytona. It’s a great feeling, and I’m ready to keep going.”​