It’s a shame to see the IROC series drying up. Without a series sponsor, the 2007 International Race of Champions didn’t even get started.
Crown Royal has backed out of the Series, and basically left the all-star races empty handed.
The IROC Series is a quick 4-race season for a championship, and $1 million dollars cash. The all-star lineup comes from the best drivers from all different forms of racing, and puts them all in identical cars and set-ups. The series itself contributes all the cars, and doesn’t allow any adjustments before, or during any race. It is made to be a true test of the driver’s skills, put against the best of all the racing series.
No doubt, it is an expensive series to run. Not only are they forced to work around the 36 race NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule, they are forced to compete with NASCAR economics. Sponsors are speeding to NASCAR right now with their drastically expanded team field for the 2007 season, and an all around better ####-for-your-buck, for any 4-race advertising package. IROC is out of luck, money, and time.
It didn’t seem like it was that long ago that I heard Tony Stewart was in talks with IROC Officials to bring a race to his own track in Eldora. Now, after what was supposed to be the 2007 IROC Series season opener has come and gone, I don’t see any chance of them having a season at all.
Has anyone heard anything about the IROC series finding a sponsor?
I think the series floundered running old Trans Am bodies to the point that no one cared. Now the 24 Hours of Daytona is THE All-Star race. Maybe IROC could become the new Busch Qualifying Scool. Maybe Crown Royal would sponsor it.
What do you think about a qualifying school similar to the PGA that gurantees any driver outside the top 35 in Nextel Cup Driver Points during the previous season that finishes in the top 35 at the school a start in each Busch race? The school could include 4 races in January. I would suggest Daytona, Homestead, The St. Petersburg street course and Lakeland. Hell, tie the Miami race into the Orange Bowl and the St. Pete race in with the Capital One bowl. Let St. Pete go first, then Homestead. Do the Lakeland race third and finish at Daytona as a part of Speedweeks.
Last edited by 14Falcons on March 6th at 11:25 PM.
14Falcons - I think you are on to something. I could see a PGA like playoff for NASCAR. It's a great idea.
But I would also like to see the IROC series be revamped into an all-out, all-star, all-track type championship. Make them run sprints on a dirt track, race a road course with open wheel, an oval with a stock car, maybe even a drag race playoff in funny cars. (Yeah, that wouldn't cost very much money.)
All in all, the IROC Series is sitting red flag. I'm with you, blame it on the Trans Am.
i for one won't miss the IROC series, i really don't think it served the purpose of finding a true champion among those competitors. I would like to see an American version of that Race of Champions that Johnson was supposed to do in France, with Pastrana. Maybe even bring that event to the USA.
Siddhartha ..As they say 'all good things must come to an end'. With the IROC series it had its day in the shade and it's now fallen by the wayside. If there was a real interest in the series then it would've continued but as you've said the sponsors dropped out. And as much as NASCAR has had continued success. We're now seeing that its reached its full growth potential here in N. America. That's why they're now looking further afield for new areas. We've seen the interest created by the signing Juan Pablo Montoya. But that's encumbent upon him being succcessful in the series itself in order to get the interests of the Hispanic market growing and wrapping themselves around the sport.
It may or may not happen in the long run ! We'll just have to wait and see !
Yep it is a sad ending.. Probably because it did not have the TV coverage such as NASCAR or Busch and the cars really did not relate to what is driven on the roads today. Perhaps if they ran Vipers, the new sporty Pontiac, or the Ford GT40 there might be a better interest from the fans or the sponsors.
Storkjrc - Yeah, I hear ya. I know some of my close friends have that attitude towards the series, as far as crowning a true champion. But they do all agree that they fallow the series, even if it is not a good measuring stick of driver skill. I know I fallow the series, and was looking forward to it this year. It's a shame.
MeanD - It hasn't really gotten much press. Even trying to research it on the internet, and you won't get much more then I have written here. I know that Jayski has been covering it, but other then that I have not heard much more then a peep.
I know that Stewart loves the series. I have probably learned the most about it through him.
Tophatal - I think the lack of interest maybe had to do with their tv deal. When you can only find the races covered on Speed, your not really getting into any new markets. The Speed channel is for the die-hard fan. The new fans don't use it as an outlet to learn more about racing.
It is an interesting debate about Montoya. One that has been going around my camp for the last 6 months. His Busch Series win last weekend was perfect for NASCAR. Too perfect for the conspiracy theorists amoungst NASCAR fans. Either way, it has NASCAR grinning from ear to ear.
I am not sure anyone from the head office cares about the punt Pruett had to take to get it done. As for the average fan, not too mention the Spanish market, they are probably saying, 'Pruett who?'
Someone has to lose...., as long as it's not NASCAR.
Photogr - I had not read your comment before I started repling, but I think we are on the same page with the tv coverage. When you can find the Cup, and Busch Series on basic cable, most other races go unnoticed.
And I hear you about the make of the cars. But again that is sponsor money. Tell Dodge, Ford, or whomever to throw their money in the bucket. At this point, I don't think the IROC series cares what car they are driving.
Let it be a Volkswagen as far as they are concerned.
Siddhartha .........NASCAR will never lose out ! For besides the NBA and NFL it's perhaps the best marketed sport on tv. The only qualm I do have about them is that they seem to be neglecting their most ardent fans as they chase after the corporate dollar. It's the fans that've put them in the position that they're now in. And as they've reached the height of their maturity level with regard to the fan base here and on tv they've sought to seek new fan furhter afield. Not that there's anything wrong in that but I do believe that it's detrimental to the sport where they're now jackin up the general admission prices for the major events on the circuit. That if anything will start to drive the fans away from the sport in large droves !
Tophatal - I agree with the ticket prices. They are out of this world, and absolutely uncalled for. They are really hurting the sport from gaining new fans. Not to mention bringing a family to a race. The younger generation doesn't have much of a chance of getting into it.
Siddhartha .....Things aren't going to change as they're already looking futher afield for their next round of fans. Why else do you think that Montoya would be so willing be accepted into he ranks of NASCAR ? It's to appeal to not only the Hispanic fans here in the US but to those immediately South of the border and the rest of Latin America. To NASCAR it makes good business sense but at the same time the most arent of fans are beginning to be ignored as they go chasing after the almighty dollar. They're now beholding to the corporate bigwigs , sponsors and most of all to the networks. Because if they can't deliver on the product the networks will definately pull the plug. We're begninning to see this happen already as the sport has reached its maturity level in terms of an audience for some of the events.
First of all, great name, Siddhartha. That novel by Hermann Hesse is one of my all-time favorite books. It would be very sad if IROC were to disappear from the racing landscape altogether. A revamped IROC with a new title sponsor would be great to see.
If IROC is going to crown "the world's best driver", then let's take it global. Hold the races during the offseason, and have a couple on European road course. Maybe IROC should even consider getting the F1 guys involved. Then it would truly be an International Race of Champions.
Tophatal - Yes, it's the same debate that goes round and round in circles. I hear it at least 200 times per season, and have been hearing it for over 20 years. I agree. But just as much as I agree every year. NASCAR will be fine. They know what they are doing.
The Return of Manrub - Thanks alot. The name does come from the book, and you are the very first person to get that in over a year that I have been on this site. It is one of my favorite books also. I have not read it in awhile, but the impression it left on me will last a lifetime.
To bring in some F-1 drivers would be great. I don't think they would lower themselves to anything close to stock car racing though. But you do make a point that I think we all agree on. And that is the cars need to change. Get it away from stock cars and we may see a true IROC series that everyone will enjoy.
I just checked their website there is still no mention of a sponsor. I think the IROC series should lobby NASCAR to be their sponsor. After all at least half of the drivers that are invited to the series are Cup drivers. And after all who has all the money right now? The France Family and NASCAR.
Tsfanpc - Hmmm, NASCAR sponsoring another league. Very interesting. I would like to see it. Of course, that is what alot of the drivers were complaining about. That the IROC was just another stock car race, and not anything to do with the best drivers of all series.
But I like your style here. NASCAR should open themselves to sposorship themselves.
You can't stop, or I will pass you. If you slow down, I will outlast you. But when your down, you won't find me laughing. Just one question, I might ask ya. And it might sound like a disaster. But can you make this thing go faster?
