Rolex 24 Hour 18: Pruett ahead down the stretch

Scott Pruett No. 01 car

Scott Pruett and Jon Fogarty played a game of cat and mouse early Sunday morning as the two traded the lead back and forth in hour 18 of the Rolex 24 At Daytona from historic Daytona International Speedway.

At the end of the 18th hour and with only six hours remaining in the 46th edition of the round-the-clock classic, defending Rolex 24 At Daytona Champion Scott Pruett in the No. 01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates Lexus / Riley held on to the lead by the slimmest of margins.

Jon Fogarty in the No. 99 GAINSCO / Bob Stallings Racing Pontiac / Riley put his car in second place before being relieved by Jimmy Vasser at the 7:25 a.m. mark as the sun tried to peek through the early chilly overcast skis over the 3.56-mile, 12-turn road course.

Ian James in the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford / Riley sat in third place after 519 laps.

Sportscar legend Hurley Haywood wheeled the No. 59 Brumos Racing Porsche / Riley into fourth place before being relieved by Joao Barbosa. Joey Hand in the No. 23 Alex Job Racing Porsche / Crawford and Johnny O’Connell in the No. 91 Bob Stallings / Riley-Matthews Pontiac / Riley rounded out the top six places in the event, all Daytona Prototypes.

Raphael Matos in the No. 70 SpeedSource Mazda RX-8 (13th overall), led the GT Class.