Several legendary NASCAR personalities have been confirmed to compete in the IROC race group during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on August 13-16.
Among them include Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, and Ken Schrader. Those drivers, who are all well-known for their careers in NASCAR, will join Danny Sullivan and Scott Pruett to compete in the race group.
Ray Evernham, the co-owner of IROC and the former crew chief for Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports between 1993 and 1999, is eager to reunite the vehicles with many of their original drivers at the legendary road course.
“I think this is the first time several of these drivers, including Jeff Gordon, have raced at Laguna Seca, and to do so during the renowned Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is something I know that they will enjoy,” said Evernham. “I’m also excited to give fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with our drivers and the incredible group of IROC cars that will be on display.”
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and Bruce Canepa, Friends of Laguna Seca Vice President, may have a slight advantage over the field, considering their experience at the racetrack.
Brown recently acquired the 1977 Chevrolet IROC Camaro that was originally driven by Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Alan Jones, Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, James Brolin, and Paul Newman. Canepa will be piloting a Dodge Avenger formerly driven by Dale Earnhardt, George Follmer, Emerson Fittipaldi, Richard Petty, and several other motorsports icons.
“I’m so pumped that they’re bringing back the iconic IROC series when we used to be able to answer the question of who was the best of the best! Can’t wait to get it out on the track,” Brown announced on social media.
Jeff Gordon is a four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion who scored 93 victories and 477 top-10 finishes at NASCAR’s top level while competing for Hendrick Motorsports. After a career spanning more than three decades, Gordon now serves as the Vice Chairman for Hendrick Motorsports, the winningest team in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Mark Martin is a five-time champion of the IROC Series, whose career in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series spanned more than three decades, and included 40 victories and 453 top-10 finishes. Among his achievements are the 1989 Richard Petty Driver of the Year, and being an inductee into the 2015 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame. Martin is the winningest driver in IROC history.
Bobby Labonte is set to get back behind the wheel of an IROC entry to defend his 2001 IROC Series championship. The 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion managed to score 21 victories throughout his career and still competes part-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.
Bill Elliott is the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, and one of NASCAR’s most popular drivers — much like his son, Chase Elliott. Throughout his career of nearly four decades, Elliott scored 44 wins, 320 top-10 results, and 55 poles. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2007.
Ken Schrader, despite a successful career in NASCAR’s National Series, is more well-known for his driving diversity, having competed in as many as 100 races annually, including championships in the USAC and Copper Series. In 2023, Schrader became the oldest winner of a NASCAR-sanctioned series, after winning the NASCAR Canada Series event at Ohsweken Speedway.
In addition to this star-studded list of NASCAR competitors, accomplished road racer Scott Pruett, and NTT IndyCar Series legend Danny Sullivan will also compete. Al Unser, Jr. will also join the event to represent the Unser family as the honorary pace car driver.
The IROC race compound will be inside the paddock so that fans can enjoy a walk-through history under one tent and talk to owners and drivers in an open and friendly environment. “We want to engage with fans and make their visit one to remember,” Evernham added. “There will be autograph sessions, panel discussions, and special merchandise available.”
The IROC race group is one of 14 groups to be featured at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which is dedicated to celebrating the authentic and historic racecars from the past.
