Submitted by NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog
In one day the reunification of the IRL and Champ Car happens and the IROC Series officially closes its doors forever.
Talk about turning the racing world on its ear. I know, the rumours of the IRL and Champ Car getting together have been strongest since the split of CART 12 years ago, and the demise of the IROC series has been written on the wall for a while but to have both announcements on one day? Ironic.
Speaking about ironic, NASCAR’s Champion-less (4 time Maid of Honour) Mark Martin holds the record for the most IROC championships and over-all race wins with 5 and 13 respectively.
It was announced today that the IROC series will liquidate all if its assets including tools, equipment, race cars and memorabilia in a two-day public auction on March 7th and 8th at IROC headquarters in Tinton Falls, NJ.
For the complete IROC story, with good driver quotes, go here.
IROC Champions include: Mark Donohue 1974; Bobby Unser 1975; A.J. Foyt 1976 & ‘77; Al Unser 1978; Mario Andretti 1979; Bobby Allison 1980; (Dormant 1981-1983); Cale Yarborough 1984; Harry Gant 1985; Al Unser Jr. 1986 & ‘88; Geoff Bodine 1987; Terry 
Labonte 1989; Dale Earnhardt 1990, ‘95, ‘99, 2000; Rusty Wallace 1991; Ricky Rudd 1992; Davey Allison 1993; Mark Martin 1994, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, 2005; Bobby Labonte 2001; Kevin Harvick 2002; Kurt Busch 2003; Matt Kenseth 2004; Tony Stewart 2006 (The last official Champion).
Now the whole IRL/Champ Car thing isn’t as official as the IROC announcement today as it would appear that the official ‘official’ announcement of the open-wheeled Indy car reunification will take place sometime this week with some speculating as early as Wednesday.
“We’re close, it would be hard to see this not happening,” said IRL spokesman Fred Nation in Indianapolis.
Champ Car spokesman David Higdon said, “As long as everyone is still talking, there’s hope.”
With comments such as these being released to the media today it is looking like this whole reuniting deal is closer to being a reality than ever before.
Let’s hope.
What a sad and happy day in the world of North American auto racing.
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