INTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS

IROC INTRODUCTION: To some, it is auto racing's All-Star Game. To others, it is the sport's version of The Masters. Either way, the most essential element holds true. The International Race of Champions is open only to the world's best race drivers. No one else need apply.

The premise, conceived in 1973, is amazingly simple yet effective: Take 12 of the world's top drivers, from different types of racing, put them in identically prepared IROC race cars, give them a set of rules which virtually eliminates the variables usually associated with racing (no pit strategy, no qualifying, no driver set-up of the cars, etc.) and wave a green flag at them.

Nearly 130 of the sport's finest have competed for the bragging rights of beating out the “best of the best” during IROC's 30 years.

The list of IROC champions speaks for itself:  Mark Donohue, Bobby Unser, A. J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Harry Gant, Al Unser Jr., Geoff Bodine, Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd, Davey Allison, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick. Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth.

YOUNGEST DRIVER TO BE INVITED: Al Unser Jr. was first Invited to compete in the International Race of Champions in 1986, and to date is the youngest driver to receive an invitation.

YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN AN IROC RACE: In only his second IROC race, on June 7, 1986 at the famed Mid-Ohio road course, Al Unser Jr. bested the field and won his first IROC race at 24-years, 49-days-old, and is to date, the youngest driver to win in IROC.

YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN THE IROC CHAMPIONSHIP: Al Unser Jr., at 24-years, 112-days-old in IROC 10 at Watkins Glen on August 9, 1986. Unser Jr. took the championship in style by winning the race, giving him two race wins and a championship in his first year of IROC competition.

15-CAREER IROC INVITATIONS: Second only to the late Dale Earnhardt, with 17-career invitations, Al Unser Jr. made the grade of eligibility in his own discipline of racing to be invited to compete in the International Race of Champions 15-times, of which, 13 were consecutive years.

11- IROC RACE WINS: Al Unser Jr.’s record of 11 IROC race wins stood atop the all-time list, tied with the late Dale Earnhardt and Mark Martin until Martin broke the tie in 2005 adding two more wins to his IROC career stats. The closest to the trio is Cale Yarborough with five IROC race victories.

RECORD ROAD COURSE WINS: Al Unser Jr. holds the IROC record with four road course victories. His seven other IROC triumphs came on a variety of ovals including Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway.