CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Remember the old IROC Series, where the best drivers from various disciplines raced one another in equally prepared cars? It ran for 30 seasons before Tony Stewart won its final championship and the series quietly went away.
Now Stewart and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham have teamed with a group of heavyweights to bring an all-star circuit back in 2021. The Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) plans a six-race, short-track series to air in prime time on CBS in a Saturday night summer spectacular.
SRX envisions fields of 12 drivers competing on famed short tracks across the country in cars prepared by Evernham, the architect of Jeff Gordon’s early career and a noted car designer. Stewart plans to be one of the participants and already has a wish list of drivers he’ll pursue, and he’ll likely offer up Eldora Speedway, his short track in Ohio, as one of the venues.
The idea was driven by Evernham, eager to see a series that featured cars that don’t rely on aerodynamics and reward mechanical grip and driver skill. The three-time championship-winning crew chief and former team owner was able to talk up the vision to a heavyweight group of supporters that includes former NASCAR executive George Pyne, who also was president of IMG Sports before founding Bruin Sports Capital, as well as Sandy Montag, chairman of talent representation firm The Montag Group.
Stewart signed on, and the vision was sold to CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus.
“With the backing from legends in the racing industry, the quality of the drivers and competition, and the atmosphere that short tracks will help to create, the Superstar Racing Experience is a great addition to our live summer sports programming that racing fans will embrace,” McManus said of the Monday unveil of SRX.
It’s an invigorating venture for both Evernham and Stewart, who have essentially been given a blank sheet of paper to create the type of racing they think will entice fans.
As Evernham told The Associated Press, he’s looking to build a full-body car that relies on existing safety advances, fits within a budget and “is a car that the racing public can relate to as well.” He’s had talks with at least one tire maker and is seeking manufacturer support.
“We envision a hybrid of all different series — we don’t see it looking like a crazy dune buggy-ish type of car,” Evernham told the AP. “To me, it’s got to be a really cool-looking car that also puts it back in the driver’s hands, mechanically-wise, and allows it to be more affected by the pedals.”
Evernham doesn’t expect speeds to exceed 150 mph on half-mile tracks, and he listed Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, Eldora, Knoxville Raceway in Iowa and Terre Haute Action Track in Indiana as possible venues. Evernham would also like a road course and a modified oval on the track.
“You know, drivers retiring and being out of the sport so young, and we think there are guys who still want to race, still can race, but just don’t want to run 200 mph,” Evernham said.
Evernham’s dream list includes Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Tracy and short-track racers and up-and-comers who have proved their skills but can’t get a break.
Stewart will be the main recruiter and plans to begin selling the series soon. He wants to lock in drivers before they commit to other things next summer and work through conflicts that would prohibit their participation. Without a manufacturer currently onboard, SRX hopes to avoid branding loyalties that would eliminate a driver from racing in the series.
“I always liked the IROC Series back in the day, and even before I was old enough to be a professional race car driver, I looked at that as the cream of the crop,” Stewart told the AP. “When I got invited to run IROC, it was a huge honor. You were part of an elite group of drivers that got the opportunity to race each other. I always took that really seriously.
“When the series went away, I think it left a big hole. It didn’t need to be filled then, but we have an opening now that gives an opportunity for guys like myself and a lot of the guys who will be invited who can still drive race cars, still have the ability, still want to race, to come back. Hopefully they will feel the way I did, like it’s a cool opportunity to take seriously and be looked up to as the best out there.”
SRX is planning for 90-minute races without pit stops — but a “halftime” for adjustments — in a 2-hour television window. Evernham believes drivers will arrive and draw for both their car and crew chief — which Evernham hopes comes from a pool of noted industry veterans. A short practice is planned, and Evernham’s team will be responsible for building and maintaining the cars.
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