The first major event on the American motorsports calendar takes place when GRAND-AM Road Racing rings in the New Year with the "Roar Before the Rolex 24," a three-day test featuring a star-studded lineup at Daytona International Speedway. Many of the stars entered in the season-opening 49th running of Rolex 24 At Daytona - set for Jan. 29-30 - tested from Jan. 7 to 9.

Jeff Segal got a bit of a jolt when he came to Daytona to begin defending the Rolex Series GT championship he captured with Emil Assentato in the SpeedSource No. 69 FXDD Mazda RX-8. "We had a tough time after we unloaded," Segal said. "We were outclassed vs. some of our GT competitors. We've been working to improve our car since then. Our laps times are not what we'd like. We're improving slowly but surely, and that's the best we can do right now."

John Edwards and Adam Christodoulou, who co-drove for SpeedSource in 2009, will join Sylvain Tremblay and Jonathan Bomarito in the No. 70 Mazdaspeed Mazda RX-8, looking to give the team its third Rolex 24 GT victory in four years.

Actor/racer Patrick Dempsey unveiled a bright yellow Visit Florida on his No. 40 Mazda RX-8. Dempsey is looking to make his fourth Rolex 24 start, co-driving with Joe Foster, Charles Espenlaub and Tom Long. Dempsey himself put in his longest spell behind the wheel of a Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8 GT at the test since last April's event at Virginia International Raceway. "It was fantastic," Dempsey said. "We did a full fuel load to see how far we could run. We did the entire session, my best session so far, which was a great way to end it and get ready for the 24 hours. I had a personal best lap."

The No. 41 Team Seattle/Global Diving team also ended the three-day practice weekend on a high-note, posting a Dempsey Racing test-best lap in Sunday's morning session.

Practice and qualifying for the 2011 Rolex 24 will be held Thursday and Friday, January 27 - 28, with the day-long race scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 29.