Started as a Spinoff of IROC, Tony Stewart’s SRX Racing Could Prove Detrimental to Ray Evernham’s 2024 Series Revival

Recently, Ray Evernham, a bigwig in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and Rob Kauffman, a former NASCAR team co-owner, stirred up the racing world. They’ve set up IROC Holdings LLC and snagged the IROC brand. In 2024, they’re kicking off with one race and then planning to explore more possibilities. But here’s the million-dollar question: could this IROC comeback pose a challenge to Tony Stewart’s SRX series, or is it actually the other way around?

Reviving IROC for more than just a one-off could mean it’s stepping into the ring with Tony Stewart’s Superstar Racing Experience, or SRX. Stewart, an IROC alum himself, was the driving force behind SRX, which hit the track in 2021 as the closest thing to IROC. But let’s not forget, SRX has been raking in success left and right. Overcoming SRX’s success might be a tall order for IROC. Plus, with a bunch of legendary drivers already burning rubber in SRX, what’s the incentive for them to join a similar series? It’s a head-scratcher, for sure.

Can IROC make a comeback with Tony Stewart’s SRX in the picture?

Back in 2020, when SRX was just a concept, it was envisioned as a modern twist on the International Race of Champions (IROC). Spearheaded by Ray Evernham and Tony Stewart, SRX was all about drivers racing on short tracks across America on Saturday nights, live on CBS. However, IROC’s inability to make a comeback was primarily due to sponsorship struggles in 2007 and 2008. And now, when even NASCAR is feeling the pinch of sponsorship woes, what are the odds of sponsors jumping aboard a new racing series?

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Besides, if IROC plans to re-enter the scene and go head-to-head with SRX, it’ll need a serious makeover. Fans might want to see a mix of races on oval and road courses in stock cars, then tackle the same tracks in open-wheel cars, with a dirt race thrown in for good measure. The essence of IROC was to pit drivers from different backgrounds against each other, but it tended to favor stock car drivers. The series should challenge drivers to step outside their comfort zones.

In contrast to IROC’s hesitance to evolve in its final days, SRX has shown it’s not afraid to adapt. Just four days after its successful debut at Stafford Speedway in Connecticut, SRX, led by Stewart, Evernham, George Pyne, and Sandy Montag, tweaked the format in response to fan feedback. They shortened the two 15-minute heats to 12 minutes each for the race in Knoxville, Iowa.

SRX also revamped its main event, reducing it from 100 to 50 laps, with a twist: all laps must be green-flag. This move ensures races end on a high, with unlimited green-flag finishes. SRX’s charm also lies in its success on short tracks. Since the introduction of next-gen cars, NASCAR Cup Series races on short tracks have lost some of their spark, making SRX a favorite for short-track enthusiasts.

We’ll have to wait for more info from officials about the tracks, drivers, and other specifics before we can fully gauge how IROC’s return might play out against the backdrop of SRX’s success.

Scouting the ideal drivers and tracks for IROC’s success

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From its inception in 1973 until its curtain call in 2006, IROC dazzled the racing world. With about four races annually, often alongside events by NASCAR and what’s now IndyCar, it brought together racing elites. If IROC is to hit the ground running again, who and where should be in the mix for it to really shine?

Which tracks and 12 racers could turn IROC into a showstopper? The most straightforward bet would be to pick the top three from the standings in NASCAR Cup, F1, and IndyCar. Add in the champions of major events like Le Mans and Rolex 24 from IMSA/WEC, the top dog from V8 Supercars, and throw in a couple of wild cards – one as a backup in case of injuries.

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As for tracks, imagine the thrill at Daytona, Indianapolis, Barber Motorsports Park (paired with Indy Lights), Watkins Glen (alongside IMSA), Gateway (during an IndyCar weekend), Road Atlanta (during Petit Le Mans weekend), plus Charlotte Roval and Oval.

Stepping away from the rankings, from NASCAR alone, names like Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex Jr, and Kyle Busch are must-haves. So, who would you draft for the revved-up IROC 2.0?