But this year, he decided to drive.
“Just to take advantage of the lower fuel cost,” said the team manager for Riley Motorsports, who spent about $1,500 instead this year on travel costs. “It’s a pretty big savings.”
Jones is one of several team managers, sponsors and fans at the Rolex 24 noticing a difference in their pocketbooks thanks to lower gas prices. An average gallon of regular unleaded in Daytona Beach fell to $2.08 Friday, about $1.30 cheaper than a year ago, according to AAA auto club.
The Rolex 24, which roars around the road course at Daytona International Speedway Saturday and Sunday, kicks off Speedweeks — the yearly racing series that culminates with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 22.
The races are why Grace Akers and her husband come down from Maryland every winter. The couple, who rent a house in New Smyrna Beach, said the trip cost less this year so they’ll be able to splurge a bit more during their vacation.
“Last year, it cost us $200 just in gas to get down,” Akers said. “I would say we spent half of that this year.”
And it’s not just fans who are enjoying a bigger budget. Al Deane, chief technology officer for TI Automotive and a sponsor for Riley Motorsports, said the decision to transport a display car from Detroit, Michigan, to Daytona Beach was based on cheaper gas.
“The price to be able to ship a car down here is directly related to the price of diesel. So if prices are down, it’s going to cost less (to ship),” he said, adding that he’ll reinvest his savings, about $1,000, in the team. “It’ll allow us to do something a little extra here like take the drivers and crew out for dinner.”
That extra night out, tourism officials here say, contributes to the local economy.
A 2013 study, the latest available, showed that Speedweeks has an average base economic impact on Volusia County of about $90 million. Rolex 24 visitors tend to spend more on food and drinks than any other Speedweeks attendees, according to Mid-Florida Marketing Research, which conducts tourism studies for the area.
Evelyn Fine, president of the Daytona Beach-based research company, said low gas prices have already made an impact and ripple effect on the local tourism industry.
“We’re primarily a drive market, so it has absolutely helped,” she said, noting that the improving economy also plays a large role. “Gas is part of it but not the whole thing.”
However, fuel for racecars remains the same as last year, Jones said, who paid $11.50 a gallon for the VP brand. All Rolex racecars are required to use VP fuel expect for Mazda, which uses diesel.
“The race fuel is so refined that cost doesn’t really go up and down like regular gasoline,” he said. “But what we have saved on are oil consumables that we use inside the car.”
Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said last year’s Rolex 24 race brought in record attendance and a number of indicators, like lower gas prices, are pointing to another strong turnout this year.
“When you have people traveling to your event, anything that helps them travel easier, we like,” he said.
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