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.

1. Tony Stewart

2. Jimmy Johnson

3. Scott Dixon

4. Kyle Busch

5. Carl Edwards

6. Tony Kannan

7. Jeff Gordon

8. Dan Wheldon

9. Mark Martin

10. Dario Franchitti

11. Scott Pruett/MemoRojas

12. Sam Hornish