MOORESVILLE, N.C. — IROC could make a significant return to the motorsports landscape this year.
IROC Holdings LLC, a joint venture company created by NASCAR Hall of Fame member Ray Evernham and former NASCAR Cup Series team owner Rob Kauffman, announced Monday the the company’s formation and the acquisition of the rights to the IROC brand.
Known as IROC (International Race of Champions), a series of races was held annually from 1973 to 2006.
IROC brought together the greatest drivers from all forms of motorsport to compete against each other in iconic cars on historic tracks. NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Tony Stewart won the last IROC championship in 2006.
According to a release on social media, IROC Holdings plans to bring the historic brand back to life.
According to the press release, “IROC Holdings has been formed to house the business operations with the intent to have an IROC race in 2024 with historic IROC race cars while exploring future opportunities.”
Evernham was a longtime crew chief for IROC, which was headed by Jay Signore and based in Evernham’s native New Jersey. He eventually left the company to work as a NASCAR crew chief for numerous teams including Hendrick Motorsports. Evernham later owned his own Cup Series team.
Retired from NASCAR for several years, Evernham was co-founder of the Superstar Racing Experience alongside Stewart in 2020. The series was created to be a rebirth of IROC with some of motorsports’ best competing in equal race cars.
SRX has been holding six-race seasons since 2021.
Prior to the second season of SRX racing in 2022, Evernham revealed on social media that he no longer had “an active role” with the series. Don Hawk has served as the CEO of the series since.
Kauffman, a successful businessman was co-owner of Michael Waltrip Motorsports and operates RK Motors.
The company will be based in Mooresville, N.C.