The IROC racing series is now defunct. It was a great diversion during the 30 years that it held races and crowned a champion. The IROC series featured between 6 and 12 drivers from different racing disciplines. The first six seasons the champion came from the open wheeled ranks. Mark Donahue was the first champ with AJ Foyt winning two championships, and Al and Bobby Unser, and Mario Andretti making up the first six champions.
The next 24 seasons of IROC only had two championships won by an open wheeled driver. That would be Al Unser Jr. both times. With his last series championship coming in 1988. After that it was all NASCAR drivers for the next 18 years. With Mark Martin winning a record five titles, and his 13 race wins is also an IROC record.
What happened? Open wheel snobs will tell you that they have the best drivers in the world. Yet stock car drivers won the last 18 IROC titles in a row. Is that why they cancelled the series, the open wheel guys didn't want anymore? They didn't even want to try and compete against NASCAR's best?
You can say that the cars had fenders, and that the open wheel jockeys were at a disadvantage, racing stock cars. Well, that's how you prove that you're the best in the world. You come into NASCAR's back yard like Foyt, Andretti, and the Unsers did, and you prove that you're better than they are. It's all a moot point now, as the IROC series is no more.
Which brings me to the point of this post---It's about F-N time, Han. Let's pretend that we are starting the IROC series back up this weekend at Mid-Ohio in conjunction with an IRL event. The other three events will be companion events, two with NASCAR Sprint Cup races and one more with an IRL race. The other fantasy IROC races will be, Bristol on Aug 23, Detroit's Belle Isle Park on Aug 31, and the finale at Talladega on Oct 5.
Here's where you, the knowledgeable reader, come in. We need 12 drivers to fill our lineup. Let's just stick to American racing series. I mean this is below the dignity of the F1 drivers anyway, right? So, I'll start with my 12. Add, or subtract your own choices. Please give your reasons, and, "so-and-so is my favorite driver", is not much of a reason.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.- He alone will get us national coverage, lol. Take out Dario Franchitti, he can't handle a stock car in Nascar who's to say he won't just take out people in IROC? lol.
btw- IROC ought to of switched each week between open wheel cars and stock cars so that the open-wheelers couldn't complain about a disadvantage. I'd like to see Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart in an open wheel car... lol.
Yeah, I don't know much about NASCAR, but I'm trying. I thought I'd throw the Enumclaw, Wa native in there. It's about 20 or so miles away from West Seattle. Thats my only reason for Kahne right now.....LOL.
I tell you what though. I was in the Air Force stationed in Vegas. And all I ever heard was, "Kyle Busch this and Kurt Busch that". It got old fast.
I do like Tony Stewart though. He reminds me of Joe Pesci's character from "Casino"....LOL. In a little tough guy way.
Last edited by WestSeattle on July 15th at 10:32 PM.
3fan....I will let Michael and Marco in, only if Mario comes along also. That would be cool, three generations on the track. And you know he can still drive better than Marco or Michael.
I was letting Martin in because he has so many IROC wins and titles.
tyler is right. Gordon has to be in. He's gotta be in anyone's top five drivers list.
Well written my friend. I actually stopped watching after the late eighties and early nineties. I believe they were using the Camaro's and the Daytona's back then.
It was fun to watch for a number of years and then for some reason I lost interest.
You have to have name recognition and star power to make IROC work. Therefore, I agree with the previous posts that Dale Jr. has to be added, and along the same lines you need Danica Patrick. I would also add at least one driver from the ALMS and Rally America series. My 12 would be:
NASCAR - Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Dale Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya (representing Champ Car, F1, and NASCAR), and Ron Hornaday (I love the Craftsman Truck Series and he is the current champion);
IRL - Scott Dixon and Danica Patrick;
Grand Am/Rolex - Scott Pruett;
ALMS - Patrick Long (fast, aggressive, young, and American);
Rally America - Travis Pastrana (awesome talent and may bring in the X-Games generation).
If you wanted to balance the field with 6 NASCAR drivers and 6 from other series, you could subtract Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon, and add another young IRL driver like Graham Rahal or Ryan Briscoe.
Last edited by JumpingPig on July 16th at 7:45 AM.
I'd take Franchitti and Hornish out (polecats) and put in Castroneves and either Hunter-Rhea (sp?) or Rahal.
Actually, I'd put Foyt in one uh tham thangs 'n let him smack a couple uh those young #$*@'s up the side uh thare haids.
I remember a "senior circuit" about a decade ago where old timers like Rutherford, Bobby Unser, Al Unser, some of the old NASCAR guys, Gurney, and others drove some incredible supercar like vehicles around - - was GREAT, as they didn't seem to mind trashing those supercars. I'm guessing we never saw that series again due to the severe financial losses incurred.
charrit...thanks. I'm trying to hang in there until football starts.
Six fig...how you livin' bro? I remember tha ABC would tape delay IROC for months. It was difficult to keep up with. Jags could be anywhere from 8-8, to 12-4.
HFLori...I considered Kenseth and Kurt Busch because they were recent Cup champs, but they just haven't done enough lately to get a spot. If Matt gets a couple more votes, he's in.
Dave...I had Dario in as the defending IRL champ, same with Johnson being the Cup champ. Put AJ in the TV booth. He couldn't fit (physically) in either style of car. Robby would be exciting.
I remember that 'Legends' series. They were in Jaguars. Don't recall who won, but the greatest NASCAR driver ever, David Pearson, finished 2nd. They tore those Jags up. They had two backup cars, and I believe they ran out of cars.
Hanahan - I included Dale Jr. and Danica because marketing always played a role in driver selection for IROC; however, I'm not really a Dale Jr. or Danica fan. Without the Q factor, I would gladly replace them with Tony Kanaan (from your list, or Dario if you wanted the current champion), Graham Rahal (who got a win in his first IRL race at St. Petersburg), and/or Donnie Shatz from the World of Outlaws to give the dirt guys proper representation.
Last edited by JumpingPig on July 16th at 8:42 AM.
Hmph ... Kenseth is one of the smartest drivers there is. And, most importantly, he IS a champion. Isn't that what the I(wanna)ROC series was about. IRO CHAMPIONS?
I know, I know ... after this year, I guess we'll probably be calling Rowdy champion, but still! lol
I would take out Edwards,Rowdy and Martin and add Jr, Danica and Helio. I want some star power! Jr racing his dad was some of the best IROC racing around.
Lori...Kurt Busch has won the championship more recently than Matt. Matt is a little too boring for IROC. He'd probably win the title like Martin did, though.
There should be a wild card car....that a fan drives. Pick it out of a bucket of ticket stubs. Section blah blah blah Row 35 Seat 5...YOU will drive the Fan Car in today's race!!!
Now it's like driving on the Interstate, not only do you have to put up with g00fs who CAN drive you have to deal with ones who have no clue what they're doing. How's that for testin some skills??? LMAO
Course now that I think about it....that sounds like the top 20 vs the bottom 23 in any NASCAR race.....
Last edited by Sweetkena on July 16th at 10:29 AM.
Your venues would be awesome for an IROC series! Yes,I like it a lot. The open-wheelers did become snobs, but none of them could hold the talent candle to AJ, the Unsers or Mario. So,also a great point there.
Drivers are good. I'll take Hornish out and put in either Boris or Ron Fellows. Maybe pull one other NASCAR guy out for Castroneves.
JEFF GORDON IS DA BEST DRIVER, BAR NONE. THEN FOLLOWED BY RICHARD PETTY, THEN DALE EARHHART, THEN THE REST OF THE #### PACK. I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU THAT THE THREE BEST DRIVERS ARE GORDON, PETTY, AND EARNHART, U CAN ARGUE DA ORDER ALL U WANT. WHEN GORDON'S CAREER IS FINISHED, HE SHOULD BE #2 ALL-TIME IN WINS, LMAO, ABOUT 100 WINS BEHIND PETTY... HAHAHHA. PETTY STARTED NASCAR'S FANBASE, EARNHART POPULARIZED IT, THEN GORDON TOOK IT TO A NEW LEVEL INTO DA MAINSTREAM...
hanahan
The only reason I can think that you've placed Franchitti in amongst the mix. Is because of your desire to see more of Ashley Judd. Which to my mind more of her and less of the likes of Spears , Lohan and other of that ilk'd be great.You've got to remember that Franchitti is infact Scottish and not an American.
But I digress as I can forgive you for that.
In no discerning order my own personal favorites are Johnson, Gordon and Stewart.
kena...Brilliant! I can think of one right away, and she could probably compete with them. At least until she gets all loose while waving at Tony and Sliced Bread Joey. lol
L Fly...zup, playah. I have a couple of questions for you...Did you go to the Steveo school of writing? And, how come we never see you and kellyscott in the same room, at the same time?
al...you nailed me on that. That's a good enough reason, right? A few of the drivers on my list are foreign born...Kannan, Rojas, and Wheldon. They just race in an American series. It's International, baby. Just like the pancake place.
Marco and Danica both have one win a piece. No way, either one should be allowed in an IROC series yet. At least the argument could be made for Jr. that he was a 2 time champ in a lower tier series and has enough Cup wins.
hanahan
Don't get me wrong anytime one can get a view of Ashley Judd. Then there's nothing wrong in that. As for IRL I just can't get into it at present. Despite the furore over Danica and the fact that both IRL and CART have remerged to form a unified body to represent Open Wheel racing here in North America.
The races are competitive enough but there still seems to be something lacking in the personalities of the drivers. Other Patrick who always seems to be having a hissy fit over practically anything. I can't think of one driver who'll actually have me on the edge of my seat saying ...."Wow how the hell did he do that " ?
NASCAR on the other hand I'm slowly coming attuned to but I still can't for the life of me sit through a whole race for anywhere between 3 to 4 1/2 hours if not more.
The guys deliver but when a race becomes predetermined by cautions it does leave a lot to be desired.
More of Ashley and Denise Milani at least doing a live interview at a NASCAR race.
It'd liven things up a great deal don't you think ?
Sure, neither one have the resume to be in IROC, but I'd bet that if someone could guarantee that Danica would be in it, the series would start up again. Somehow they would find sponsors and TV networks falling all over themselves to get it done.
al...That is a great thing about the IRL, the races are over in under 3 hours. Way under, sometimes. NASCAR needs to have a lot of it's races cut back to 3 hours or less.
I do think if they fielded a car that is not over 20 years old it might get back some of its appeal. The one that they were using is an old Mopar that hasn't been produced since the mid 80s. Perhaps a representation of the new pony cars on the road today might spark some interest.
JPig...I doubt her on track winnings pay many bills. She's in the IROC series, though. She and Jr have both won the same amount of races in the last 2 years.
Marco would be embarassed by the old man schooling him on the track.
photo...I think they were racing Pontiacs during the last couple of seasons. Even though Pontiac had discontinued that car (I think), and wasn't supporting IROC any longer.
The pic in the blog of Hornish's car, I can't tell what it is, but that has to be from '05 or '06.
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