24 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The cars stood out, identical but for their individual pastel colors. The names were emblazoned on the doors—Unser, Fittipaldi, Earnhardt— each one a legend. But most of all, there was the idea. “People still ask the question: Could this guy beat that guy in equal cars?” says Ray Evernham, the Hall of Fame NASCAR crew chief. “Who wouldn’t want to see that?” The International Race of Champions—IROC—did not always live up to its lofty billing, but over its three-decade span, the series attempted to answer motorsports’ nagging mystery. IROC began in 1974, launched by a team including Roger Penske, with top drivers from what is now IndyCar, NASCAR, Formula 1 and sports car racing going head to head. Such was the appeal of the series that it spawned a production car in the 1980s, the IROC Z—an optional performance package offered on the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 at the time. But by the time the series ran its course in 2006, it had long since faded into a largely NASCAR sideshow. Now IROC is back, revived as a vintage racing class. Some 27 original cars, coaxed out of collections and restored to period-correct racing trim, will take part in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion—one of two firsts. The series never visited WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during its run. And examples of every generation of cars used by IROC have never before gathered at the same location. Evernham and venture capitalist Rob Kauffman acquired the rights to the brand in 2024 and started hunting down the old cars. He says it was not difficult to attract drivers, particularly to Laguna Seca. “I told them I’d drive whatever they wanted me to,” says NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin. “The whole thing is going to be fantastic.” Martin will be joined on track by a lineup of racing royalty. Stock car greats Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte and Ken Schrader, 1985 Indianapolis 500 winner Danny Sullivan, Jensen Button and Zak Brown from Formula 1 and Scott Pruett, who won the 24 Hours of Daytona five times, will be in the field, among others. Martin, who claimed five IROC titles in his storied career, had not suited up since his retirement. But last year, when Evernham tried out the IROC reunion idea at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut, Martin was back in a race car. “Once you strap in and the engine fires up, it’s really eerie,” he says. “It feels like those 13 years evaporated.” But the 40-time NASCAR race winner admits that he has switched off his competitive impulse. Driving at Laguna Seca will be for fun. Besides, like Gordon and a few others, he has never raced at the iconic track. “I’ve watched it on television,” Martin says with a chuckle. “But I’m staying at a Holiday Inn Express, so I should be alright.” Evernham notes that some of the cars gathered at Laguna Seca share the spotlight with the drivers. Zak Brown’s 1978 Chevrolet Camaro was used for publicity away from the track. So in addition to the likes of Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip, Hollywood’s Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman took turns behind its wheel. As for his own 1995 Dodge Avenger, the wily crew chief who guided Gordon to three championships, found a driver with knowledge of the Corkscrew. “I’m bringing in a ringer—Bruce Canepa,” Evernham reports. The former sports car driver is currently vice president of Friends of Laguna Seca, the nonprofit organization responsible for operating the circuit. Evernham has no plans to revive IROC as a competitive series, calling the proposition a “different financial and political conversation.” Top racing teams have little interest in risking ROC and Roll The International Race of Champions returns in vintage form, with big names behind the wheel. By Dave Faries Car Week 2025 Former NASCAR star Bill Elliott—“Awesome Bill”—returns to the seat of the 1985 Camaro this weekend. This Dodge Avenger, owned by Ray Evernham, began life as a Camaro and then was reskinned as a Dodge Daytona. It was showcased last year at Lime Rock Park. “That car has had quite a life,” Evernham says. Formula 1 champion James Hunt piloted the 1975 Chevrolet Camaro. The American marque replaced Porsche after one season and remained the IROC car through the 1980s. COURTESY OF IROC COURTESY OF IROC COURTESY OF IROC roll continued on page 26
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