DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ben Sloss quickly realized he had found a special companion when he met a woman who shared his passion for cars and racing, and who even agreed to a late-night first date. They embarked on an adventure to capture the beauty of a snowstorm in Yosemite National Park, all for a photography outing. Now, 15 years into their marriage, he and his wife, Christine, are set to take on one of their most significant challenges yet: competing as teammates in the Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona International Speedway.

This race marks the highest level of competition the couple has ever participated in, and they are not alone. The support race for this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona sees many families racing together, with seven different families driving in the same car, and an additional family participating in separate vehicles.

“The dynamics of our relationship have always been balanced because we both have the same interests,” Ben shared. “We find ourselves excited about sports cars and racing, and this mutual enthusiasm brought us together.” The Slosses will race the No. 15 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo as a Bronze Cup entry in the touring class.

Several other family teams are also competing:

1. Roland and Austin Krainz are racing the No. 27 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO alongside a third driver, Stevan McAleer. While Austin and McAleer will participate in the full season, Roland serves as the endurance driver during four-hour races.
2. Another father-son duo, Eddie and Eduardo Gou, will share the No. 55 Gou Racing CUPRA Leon VZ.
3. The Rockwell family, consisting of father and son Alex and Eric, along with Christina Lam, will race the No. 10 Rockwell Autosport Development Audi RS3 LMS TCR after having participated in several events over the years.
4. Dean and Sam Baker are sharing the No. 52 Baker Racing Audi RS3 LMS TCR, partnered with James Vance for the Daytona race; the Bakers aim to participate in more races throughout 2024.
5. The Tomlinsons, Ron and Megan, will be racing the No. 37 Precision Racing LA Audi RS3 LMS TCR, marking their debut in this championship series for 2025.
6. Larry and Riley Pegram, a father-daughter pair, will drive the No. 72 Pegram Racing Hyundai Veloster N TCR after previously completing the last three races of the 2024 season.
7. Brothers Matt and Hugh Plumb are also racing for the same team, splitting their time behind the wheel of the two No. 46 Team TGM Aston Martin AMR GT4 Evo cars.

In a twist, Larry Pegram, a seasoned motorcycle racer, found his daughters showing little interest in racing until Riley turned 16. She, who previously played on the boys’ varsity soccer team, decided she wanted to try her hand at racing. Starting off with go-karts, they worked their way up the racing ranks and are now ready to make their IMSA debut. At 20, Riley aspires to be a professional race car driver and aims to reach IMSA’s top WeatherTech Series, supported wholeheartedly by her father, who is thrilled to race alongside her.

Their Michelin Pilot schedule encompasses ten races this season, but they remain active in various lower-tier racing series throughout the year. Similarly, the Sloss couple balances their racing endeavours with Ben’s demanding role as a Google executive. Christine played a pivotal role in their advancement in racing after meeting driver coach Mike Peters, who has helped them enhance their skills on the track.

During recent recreational trips to Daytona, Ben juggled his work obligations while training, with Christine managing most of the logistics. She’s even taken the lead on creative elements like helmet and fire suit designs, famously opting for a unique two-piece driving suit to reflect her sense of style.

Christine’s determination to participate in the Michelin Pilot Challenge was sparked during a race viewing last year. Inspired by what she saw, she researched the series and visited an Aston Martin dealership to ensure the fit was right, thus initiating their journey into the competition. “We watched the race and thought, ‘This could be us driving,’” she recounted. “So here we are, taking that leap.”