Remember how pumped we all were when the International Race of Champions (IROC) made its comeback? Well, technically it did! Yes, not in its original form but we’ll have to make do with this one. NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham and former NASCAR Cup Series team owner Rob Kauffman teamed up to form IROC Holdings LLC and officially brought back the iconic brand. They kicked things off this past July at Lime Rock Park.

The event also featured a ‘60-minute SpeedTour All-Star Race,’ bringing together the biggest names from Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, and IMSA. For those of you who might not remember, IROC was an annual race series from 1973 to 2006 that pitted the best drivers from all over motorsport against each other. The Lime Rock event brought back some veteran IROC stars and even opened up the chance for anyone with an IROC car to get involved. Guess who’s bringing his car to the next event? None other than F1’s Zak Brown!

What IROC car does Zak Brown own?

Zak Brown, the head of McLaren Racing, isn’t just about pushing limits on the track. And while he’s already on cloud nine winning the 2024 F1 constructors championship after Lando Norris won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he’s also a huge motorsports fan and has a serious passion for IROC’s history.

So, when the opportunity came up to own a piece of IROC history, he didn’t hesitate. And now, he’s showing off his latest acquisition—a car that has some serious racing pedigree: the famous yellow #15 Generation 2 Camaro that raced at Riverside in 1977.

Why’s this car such a big deal? Well, this is the same car that Cale Yarborough drove to victory at Riverside in 1977, beating the likes of A.J. Foyt and Jody Scheckter. It was one of Cale’s five IROC wins, and it’s also been driven by other NASCAR legends like Darrell Waltrip.

Plus, it has a movie star connection—Paul Newman used it for his “A Lap Around Riverside” feature on ABC Sports back in the day. Zak Brown’s super excited to bring it to the next IROC event at Laguna Seca in 2025. He posted about it on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “So pumped that they’re bringing back the iconic IROC series. I recently acquired this Cale Yarborough/Darrell Waltrip IROC car that won at Riverside, the racetrack I grew up going to. Can’t wait to get it out on the track at the Monterey Historics!” Here take a look:

The car was also on display at Lime Rock Park earlier this year, where it was listed as owned by Ray Evernham, which makes sense since Brown probably bought it from him. Over the years, the #15 Camaro has been part of some pretty epic moments, and now it’s back in the spotlight.

This car has been raced by 31 different drivers, including Rusty Wallace, and even boasts an impressive record with wins by Yarborough and Waltrip, plus a top-four finish with F1 champion Alan Jones. Fans are already buzzing about seeing it in action again!

The next IROC event is at Laguna Seca

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Get ready because the next IROC event is going to be something special. Set for August 13-16, 2025, the event will take place at Laguna Seca, one of the most iconic tracks in California. It will feature the “Unser Family Cup” exhibition race, along with a stunning display of authentic IROC cars. The lineup will include past IROC competitors from NASCAR, Formula 1, IMSA, INDYCAR, and Trans-Am—though we’re still waiting to hear exactly which drivers will be there.

This will be a major milestone for Laguna Seca, too. While IROC never raced there during its original run, the track has deep ties to motorsports history, hosting events since 1957. It’s a special venue for both auto and motorcycle racing. And to make it even more exciting, the event will take place during Formula 1’s 75th anniversary—so the timing couldn’t be better.

Back in the day, IROC did make a few stops in California, including races at California Speedway (now Auto Club Speedway) in Fontana. It’ll be the first time Laguna Seca hosts an IROC race, and fans are already counting down the days.

So, what do you think? Are you excited for the IROC series to make its grand return in 2025? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.