Which once, truly featured a host of International
Drivers…
Ran across an article in Car & Driver
Magazine via my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone service. As try saying
that fast five time, Undelay!
The article was by CD’s Elana Scherr, and
begins with Her querying Pretty boy Floyd’, aka Jeff Gordon, who’d just
finished fourth in that year’s Monterey Motorsports Reunion’s IROC class, about
who were the best drivers in the world? With Gordon replying “That Argument
will never be Solved”. As rightfully, how can one compare thee Pinnacle ‘O Motorsports,
nee Formula 1 vs. NASCAR? Whilst IndyCar as typical, is overlooked…
Hmm, how come
nobody ever mentions how RASSCAR is imitating CART? Going for the diversity of
multiple racing venues, i.e.; Short Tracks, Super Speedways, Road Courses and
Gasp, Street Circuits, Just Sayin’
How
IROC tried to find the Best Drivers in the World
Since until stumbling upon this August 31st
article, I was totally unaware that the just concluded Monterey Motorsports
Reunion had featured a staggering 24 car IROC field.
The International Race Of Champions (IROC) was
created by Les Richter, whom was the longtime manager of Riverside
International Raceway. Worked for NASCAR and International Speedway Corp. (ISC)
Along with playing in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, wearing the number 48.
Plus El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske and Mike Phelps. With the format of drivers
from around the world, and different racing disciplines competing aboard
identically prepared racecars.
The first year’s champion was appropriately
Mark Donohue, who’s “Day Job” was driving for Penske. With IROC I commencing on
October 27, 1973 in California. Which hosted the first three rounds over the
weekend of October 27-28.
Donohue led Peter Revson, (F1) Bobby Unser,
David Pearson, George Follmer, A.J. Foyt, Emerson Fittipaldi, (F1) Denny Hulme,
(F1) Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Gordon Johncock and Roger McCluskey in the
standings.
“Captain Nice”, (Donohue) won the inaugural
title based on prize money won over the four races. Three held at Riverside
International Raceway. With the finale held on Valentines Day upon the Daytona
International Speedway’s infield road course.
Donohue won $54,000 in the only year that IROC
was contested solely on road courses. Along with the solitary season that
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR’s were used. With a total of three drivers representing
Formula 1, including two World Champions.
Year two, 1974-75 saw for F1 drivers competing,
i.e.; Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Graham Hill and Jody Scheckter.
As a total of seven eventual F1 World Champions
would participated over the first seven years thru 1980. With the
aforementioned Fittipaldi, Hulme, Hill and Scheckter. Being joined by James
Hunt, Mario Andretti and Alan Jones.
After a three year hiatus, IROC VIII began its
running of a single year format in 1984. Beginning on June 16th at Michigan
International Speedway. (MIS) Followed By Burke Lakefront Airport, (July 7th)
Talladega Super Speedway. (July 28th) And then returned to MIS (Michigan) for
the finale on August 11th.
As all four rounds served as “Undercard”, i.e.;
support races held on Saturday. Preceding their respective racing series, i.e.;
NASCAR and IndyCar. And were televised on CBS, before shifting to ABC/ESPN in
1987 for the remainder of competition.
Yet the tide had shifted in 1984. Being the
first time the series hosted zero Formula 1 drivers. With Derek Bell and Jacky
Ickx both representing World Sports Prototype Championship. Whilst EMMO’
(Fittipaldi) had become a CART/PPG IndyCar World Series driver instead.
As the field was comprised of five NASCAR
Winston Cup drivers and five CART/IndyCar drivers, plus the two aforementioned Sports
Car drivers for that year’s field of twelve participants. With NASCAR’s Cale
Yarborough winning the Championship.
And although it lacked any Foreign drivers, the
1989 running of IROC XIII was certainly a Who’s Who of drivers! Featuring ‘Ol
superTex’, nee A.J. Foyt and The King, aka Richard Petty leading the way. With
Petty being joined by fellow Roundy round’ drivers ‘Ol Ironhead, thee Intimidator,
(Dale Earnhardt) eventual IROC XIII Champion Terry Labonte, rusty Wallace and “Awesome
Bill from Dawsonville”. (Elliot)
Foyt led the IndyCar ranks, joined by Rick
Mears, ( ‘lil al (Unser Jr and ‘Ol
Hollywood, aka Danny Sullivan.
Scott Pruet represented IMSA Camel GTO. Whilst
Hurley Haywood from SCCA Pro Racing Trans Am and Geoff Brabham from IMSA Camel
GTP rounded out the Tintops’ ranks.
As I’ll confess that I only perused the first
16 running’s of IROC for my compilation of Foreign drivers, most notably
curious about Formula 1 participants. Which as of the 1992 IROC XVI, I believe
that Martin BillyBob’ Brundle was the last Foreign competitor, also the last
Formula 1 driver to contest what once was truly International…
I believe that Folklore claims it was ‘Ol
Ironhead’, aka thee Intimidator’, ergo Dale Earnhardt whom gave Brundle the
moniker of Billybob’ after Brundle won at Burke Lakefront Airport? Although I
don’t know the exact christening of His nickname, since perhaps it came upon
Brundle’s first IROC Oval experience at Talladega Super Speedway?
As Brundle finished third overall in 1990,
behind only Earnhardt and Vice Champion ‘lil Al’, aka Al Unser Jr. Whilst I
believe that only Brundle and EMMO’, nee Emerson Fittipaldi were the only two
Foreign drivers to win a round of IROC. With Fittipaldi winning the second
round of IROC II at Riverside on October 26, 1974.
Guessing I last watched IROC during the mid to
late 1980’s, before it became totally RASSCAR’ Centric! For which the series
rightly garnered criticism for, especially the last ten years of competition!
With the final IROC championship featuring seven NASCAR drivers…
Mark Martin won a series leading five titles,
including a Hat trick between 196-98. With Dale Earnhardt winning three times,
while Al Unser Jr, and A.J. Foyt won twice. With Unser Jr being the last no
NASCAR IROC Champion in 1988.
The Unser’s, ergo Big Al and son ‘lil Al appear
to be the only Father-Son duo who raced together between 1986-91. Along with
being the first of two Father-Son duo’s to win IROC Championships. The other
being Bobby and Davey Allison.
Whilst Terry and Bobby Labonte appear to be the
only brothers to win the Championship, which spans from 1973-74 to 2006.
As you could argue that the short lived Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) series between 2021-23 tried to rekindle the majic of IROC. While I suppose its only logical that Ray Evernham heads today’s Historics IROC series, which hopes to race a few times each year…
