IROC racing is SORT OF back this weekend | MARK MARTIN returns | IROC Racing Series history

The iconic IROC Racing Series returns this weekend to Lime Rock Park! Legendary names return to the track including Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Ron Hornaday, Danny Sullivan and more for an exhibition race as Hailie Deegan enters a new ride. Today we take a look at the history of the IROC series and the drivers who made the series famous and the weekend's events!
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#iroc #nascar, limerockpark
Credits: IROC Facebook, Ray Evernham, IROC Racing Series

[@lewiskemp5893]

As a Dale Sr fan I loved Mark and wore his shirt too lol I love Mark Martin and would love to see him run anything today

[@joshmeister4449]

Mark Martin is THE undeniable GOAT of Iroc, period, stop. No one was better than Mark in the Iroc cars.

[@keithlowe1982]

He never was a CHAMPION in any series. So, HOW does he get into a series called "International Race of CHAMPIONS" ? Granted, he was (at the time) the winningest driver in the NASCAR Bush {'Xfinity' now} Series.

[@351wmustanggt]

@@keithlowe1982 He is a 4 time ASA champion.

[@WickstarRunner]

I was only able to go on Friday for Practice and Qualifying, but such a phenomenal event at Lime Rock Park. Over 20 IROC cars across almost every generation, Mark Martin back in a car, Al Unser Jr and Geoff Bodine present, PLUS the massive amount of talent on site for the Superstars All Star Race. It was incredible. Hope Evernham is able to use this as the start of something special. Props to the staff at Lime Rock Park, very well run event!

[@thatracingshow]

That is great to hear! I believe it would be such a cool thing for fans across the country to get to witness this at various tracks, so I hope it builds from here!

[@user-kn5wz5gu3t]

Pure history. pass to ray thanks for coming to ct.thanks for this share.

[@thatracingshow]

Thanks for commenting!

[@robertthurman9866]

I liked both pavement and dirt races in SRX. I hope they continue this.

[@thatracingshow]

It would be good to see it come back in some form although Skip Barber now owns the assets.

[@alkennedy1124]

I’m loving this, ray will be the best lead man for this IROC is a good thing, brings me to ask ray bring this to Willow springs road race track, or to the oval speedway at Willow springs California. Thanks BigAl California.

[@DavidB7474]

I’ve been an iroc fan since I high school. Almost bought an 1987 iroc Camaro but insurance and 18 year olds don’t mix. My 1974 Camaro led me to the find history of the IROC series. I was looking through old 70’s hot rod magazines, when libraries still had books like that. Came across the iroc series. There have been many cars to carry the name Porsche, Chevy dodge, Trans Am. The cars like the iroc Camaro was named after the series, not the other way around.

[@djplayskeys]

Same. My local Chevy dealer had a rare convertible one in midnight blue. Gorgeous car, but insurance and a sticker price of $18k left it a dream to drool over.

[@DavidB7474]

@@djplayskeys yeah the one I saw was white 1987 model, no t-top, grey interior, auto, power everything and the optional 350. Stickered at $18k, bit the sales guy would have gone to $16k. I test drove a 305 auto, t-top model. Demo model with 1500 miles it was $10,400. The insurance was $250 a month. I didn’t get it. I was a broke 18 year old with my 74 Camaro with a decent 350. Would have been nice but that payment for 4 or 5 years at $500 a month would have sucked.

[@tigerphid9677]

I was at Lime Rock on July 20. Where else do you get to mingle with Mark Martin, Al Unser Jr., Danny Sullivan, Geoff Bodine, Bobby LaBonte, Boris Said, Ken Schrader and other legends, and see the historic IROC cars up close. It was great fun. Mark Martin seemed to be the star of the show. He spent a lot of time posing for pictures, signing autographs, and being really nice to his fans. He is a little guy, probably 5 foot 7. That must have been a weight advantage for him as a driver. They must have had to put him in a booster seat so that he could see over the steering wheel...

[@thatracingshow]

That is great! Thanks for sharing that! Mark is on the shorter side but such a damn good guy!

[@thomasvanhoesen9599]

I'm there now watching the all star qualifying.

[@thatracingshow]

That is awesome! A great list of drivers in that race! Thanks for sharing!

[@robbnutter4665]

As someone who was at the first IROC race, I feel compelled to say that it was won by oval specialists later on as the series switched to ovals exclusively. Even the cars became more friendly to stock car drivers, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out this weekend.

[@thatracingshow]

It was certainly in Cup drivers favor with both the cars and the tracks during those years!

[@rodneyhankins6417]

I love when my company ABC TV cover the IROC series.

[@troyskiles6030]

Great video, thanks. Keep following IROC, it may make a come back.

[@thatracingshow]

Thanks, I'll definitely be keeping my eyes on the future withl what possibilities Ray has planned!

[@lewiskemp5893]

I'm so Happy Ray is doing this

[@toddclark332]

My favorite

[@chuckzechman1497]

I'm driving to Lime Rock tomorrow from Eastern PA. Only about a 4 1/2 hour drive. I was able to see three races at Watkins Glen in the late 80's and 91, and one at Nazareth in 89. Excited to be heading to Lime Rock and looking forward to see what Ray and Company have in the works for future events and maybe even a new IROC series. That would be awesome! Safe travels to all who are making the trek to Northeastern Connecticut and God Bless!

[@thatracingshow]

This is great and what I was hoping to see in the comments! Enjoy the weekend of racing and have a safe trip yourself! And also if you think to about it, would really enjoy a follow up comment following the race weekend to let us know what you thought of it all!

[@G8rquest]

Chuck, I know Leon Zechman, makes great scrapple. Hope you had a great trip.

[@chuckzechman1497]

@@thatracingshow I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with IROC at Lime Rock. Combined with the All Star TA race, it had tons of drivers to see both on and off track. Seeing the original cars on the iconic Lime Rock track was a treat and the weather was perfect. I had the privilege of having a media pass with Area Auto Racing News. AARN is mostly a dirt track and short track asphalt newspaper, but they published 4 of my photos. I'm hopeful Ray is able to run more programs next year. Of course it would be awesome if they started up a new IROC series with current cars and drivers. We can hope and pray. Thanks for the reply.

[@MisterGravelrama]

I remember Davey Allison that year. He was my guy. I thought he was going to be one of the best ever. RIP to what could have been a legendary career cut short.

[@thatracingshow]

History books would have looked a lot different had he been able to finish his career. That's for sure!

[@Heath.Racing128]

Keep the good content coming man.

[@thatracingshow]

Absolutely! Thanks for the continued support!

[@DavidB7474]

The series ran the Porsche in 1973. The 1974 Camaro was the first Chevy model they used for the series. At 2:29 in the video the number 7 car is a 1974 model. The #7 car was removed after the first season. The flat rear window identifies the 74 model, it’s the first year of the big bumper cars, but kept the flat window from the 1973 Camaro. Most of the cars we see have the window that carry’s around to the side. The larger rear window changed in 1975. There are many magazine articles and web pics showing the 1974 Camaro in the races.

[@thatracingshow]

Damnit man, I didn't even catch that I said 1979 knowing it was 1974! Thanks for pointing that out! You are 100% correct! I get so caught up in editing in the photos and video that I never caught that lol. I never watched it after upload and saw your message earlier and was sitting here having a beer and thought...did I describe something wrong? After watching again, you nailed it lol!

[@DavidB7474]

@@thatracingshow I only know from what I have read about the history. I was born in 69 had to learn about iroc in the 80’s when that beautiful iroc came out in the 80’s. I had a 74 Camaro at the time. I wanted a newer one bad. No worries we are only human. I’ve watched the stapleton42 videos about Ray Evernham. Hope the race is on tomorrow. I’ve heard it’s on MAVtv Saturday the 20th around 12. I can’t find any live stuff for today. I hope we get some videos from today and the race tomorrow.

[@indyme2]

Ray Rocks!

[@thatracingshow]

Absolutely!

[@justsmitty1709]

I've always wondered how many more Cup wins Martin would have had if he had been in a bow tie his whole career 😊

[@buckeyefangirl1976]

Yay. About time.

[@MGlass-xg9no]

Also the Dodge Daytona 😎

[@shannon3n8]

Is this going to be televised or streamed live somewhere?! I've seen 6 IROC races - Daytona, Talladega, Cleveland, and Michigan in the Earnhardt/Martin domination era. Used to be fun to go to Speedweeks in February at Daytona and pretty much live at the track every day - there was always some sort of practice session, qualifying race, parade, pole day or other ontrack activity to keep you (and your money) occupied. ❤🖤🏁🖤❤

[@thatracingshow]

TV broadcast live on MAVTV and the SpeedTour TV KZbin Channel!

[@michaelski9899]

With all the great drivers you had to bring the value down by mentioning Deegan!

[@thatracingshow]

lol, well she is running the Challenge race and not IROC. The info came through as I was recording the end segment and since I was talking about the weekend I had to add the new entry news.

[@stubby2822]

If Hailie Deegan can draw just 1 more fan to the races that's an increase in value for the track and local economy. People need to stop all the hate and simply start thinking.

[@shadowlord5574]

She has no business in an IROC car

[@stubby2822]

@@shadowlord5574 Ah ok. You must be one of the race officials or maybe your id is one of Ray Evernham's shadow id's?

[@stubby2822]

Hailie Deegan is listed as being paired in a Ford Mustang. The car qualified 5th. Don't know who qualified it. Must be a Ford thing because Schrader is paired in a Camaro. That car qualified 17th.

[@thatracingshow]

I had originally heard that her and Schrader were sharing a ride but I guess that changed when a couple more cars entered. Should be a good race!

[@vintageLEGOcollector]

Where can i watch all events online?

[@thatracingshow]

Supposed to be showing on the link below tomorrow around noon from what I know! m.youtube.com/@SpeedTourTV/videos

[@JosephRodriguezPhotography]

Is it even going be live on tv/online like SRX was on tv ?

[@thatracingshow]

The All Star Speed Tour race is live on MavTV at 12:30. Don't believe the IROC exhibition race will be but hopefully they show some footage.

[@Rickk69er]

Ya i sat ther watching live and they never showed Iroc

[@thatracingshow]

The broadcast wasn't what I was hoping for. I was at a family event and watching the feed on my phone and found the online broadcast almost annoying.

[@stubby2822]

Hailie Deegan may draw a few more fans to the race. I hope so. It would help the track and the local economy.

[@thatracingshow]

With her and Ken Schrader teaming up I'm sure it will! Almost like a Team SRX out there in the race!

[@mikegleeson349]

Will the races be televised? On what channels?

[@thatracingshow]

TV broadcast live on MAVTV and the SpeedTour TV KZbin Channel!

[@stephendemellojr9049]

U forgot bill Elliott

[@thatracingshow]

That list was just those who won the title. Bill certainly won his share of races though! So many greats who won in this series. Why I'm so glad Ray brought it back to relive the history!

[@shannon3n8]

Ugh, as if anyone could forget Ahsum Beeoh from Dawsunveeoh. Believe me, I've tried.

[@joevalicenti2722]

IROC is NOT back.... it's just Ray showing off his collection of vintage IROC cars in a rolling exhibition. Or are they saying that the Speed Tour All Star Race is IROC now???? Not making any sense so far.........

[@jackhoffmann8646]

At end they only raced ovals it sucked

[@toddbrown6841]

What's wrong with ovals?

[@williamdawson7102]

Race 3 of 4 in '06 was run at the Daytona infield course at night. The cars even had headlights installed.

[@jackhoffmann8646]

@@toddbrown6841 nothing but a race of champions should have both equally.

[@thatracingshow]

Completely get that. They did take I believe 14 years off from road courses until 2006. It was kind of ironic they went back to the Daytona road course for the final year for the first time since it's beginning.

[@stellingbanjodude]

@@williamdawson7102that was an awesome race

[@johnmiller4553]

WHY IS HAILEY DEEGAN GONA RACE IROC ?? SHE IS BY FAR NOT A CHAMPION AN BARELY A WINNER. THEY JUST RUINED IROC🙄🙄🙄

[@thatracingshow]

She will be running the All Star race which is a different series. Not saying that now that she is there she won't end up in a car though but I haven't heard anything about that.

[@glennlambert1605]

What do you think NASCAR is now?...IROC was the template used to create the next gen cars. The series nothing but recycled IROC. They've basically eliminated engineering and technical innovation in NASCAR.

[@FishNFoolLures]

I thjought this was a race of Champions??? What the hell is Hailey Deegan doing in it??? She has never won any championship in any stockcar series

[@thatracingshow]

Deegan is racing the All Star Challenge race. A different field and cars from IROC.

[@CarolinaKid93]

Oh my, another Deegan hater. Other names mentioned that weren't IROC Champions or such, and BAM! Hating on Hallie, but not on Bodine or Mears. Ought to bust on Schrader for even sharing a ride with her. They're doomed...

[@stubby2822]

Hailie Deegan is not racing in the IROC cars. You must not be a race fan if you're just here to hate on a person and have no clue as to what you are saying.