IROC XIX - 1995

The International Race of Champions was an auto racing competition, featuring identically-prepared stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics, in an effort to make the race purely a test of driver ability. It was run with a small field of invited drivers (6-12) from all the major racing series including NASCAR, SCCA, FIA and USAC. Over the years CART and the IRL drivers, among others also participated.   IROC - (1974-2006) Main Page IROC - (1974-2006) Champions

IROC XIX - 1995

The series started and ended with the focus on two of IROC's all-time top competitors, Dale Earnhardt and Al Unser Jr. In the opener, at Daytona, Unser Jr. led on the last lap when he and Earnhardt made contact going into turn three, putting the Indianapolis 500 winner into the wall and the NASCAR Winston Cup champion into victory lane. In round two, at Darlington, Mark Martin dominated to finish first for the second consecutive year. Talladega's race three produced one of the wildest and best finishes in history, with Earnhardt winning by a half-car length over Steve Kinser as the drivers went nearly five-wide in the tri-oval heading to the checkered flag. Earnhardt held a 10-point advantage over Martin going into the finale at Michigan -- and needed it -- as he was eliminated in a second-lap, multi-car tangle. He could only watch on a garage-area TV monitor as nearest rivals Martin and Scott Pruett were unable to move to the front, as Unser Jr. (who missed the middle two races due to non-IROC injuries) scored his record ninth series triumph. Earnhardt took the title by just four points over Martin, and thus joined A. J. Foyt and Unser Jr. as the only two-time IROC title-holders. Dodge, IROC's car of choice since 1990, concluded its participation with the series. (from IROC Website)

Final Points
IROC 19 Champion Dale Earnhardt
Position	Driver/Residence/Sanction	Points	Money Earned
1	Dale Earnhardt/Mooresville, NC/NASCAR	61	$225,000
2	Mark Martin/Daytona Beach, FL/NASCAR	57	100,000
3	Scott Pruett/Granite Bay, CA/INDY CAR	53	60,000
4	Jeff Gordon/Huntersville, NC/NASCAR	51	50,000
5	Tom Kendall/Manhatten Beach, CA/SCCA	49	45,000
6	Ken Schrader/Concord, NC/NASCAR	45	40,000
7	Al Unser Jr./Albuquerque, NM/INDY CAR	42	40,000
8	Steve Kinser/Bloomington, IN/WoO	42	40,000
9	Rusty Wallace/Concord, NC/NASCAR	32	40,000
10	Ricky Rudd/Mooresville,NC/NASCAR	28	40,000
11	Hurley Haywood/Ponte Vedra, FL/IMSA	22	40,000
12	Steve Millen/Costa Mesa, CA/IMSA	20	40,000
	* Tie-breaker, higher finishing position in last race.

 

Race One

February 17, 1995

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

2.5-mile high-banked oval, 40 laps, 100 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	2	Dale Earnhardt	40	Running
2	5	Scott Pruett	40	Running
3	8	Ken Schrader	40	Running
4	1	Ricky Rudd	40	Running
5	6	Rusty Wallace	40	Running
6	10	Tom Kendall	40	Running
7	11	Steve Kinser	40	Running
8	7	Mark Martin	40	Running
9	4	Steve Millen	40	Running
10	3	Al Unser Jr.	39	Accident
11	12	Jeff Gordon	28	Transmission
12	9	Hurley Haywood	24	Accident

 

Race Three

April 29, 1995

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega, Alabama

2.66-mile superspeedway, 38 laps, 101.08 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	10	Dale Earnhardt	38	Running
2	5	Steve Kinser	38	Running
3	11	Mark Martin	38	Running
4	9	Scott Pruett	38	Running
5	7	Jeff Gordon	38	Running
6	6	Tom Kendall	38	Running
7	8	Ken Schrader	38	Running
8	4	Ricky Rudd	38	Running
9	3	Rusty Wallace	38	Running
10	1	Steve Millen	38	Running
11	2	Hurley Haywood	38	Running
12	DNS	Al Unser Jr.	DNS	(injured)

 

Time of Race: 32 minutes, 21 seconds

Average Speed: 187.474 MPH

Margin of Victory: .1/2 car length

Caution Flags: None

Lead Changes: 13 among 6 drivers

Lap Leaders: Earnhardt led five times for 17 laps; Gordon led three times for 10 laps; Schrader led once for 5 laps; Rudd led twice for 3 laps; Wallace led once for 2 laps; Pruett led once for 1 lap.

 

Race Four

July 29, 1995

Michigan International Speedway

Brooklyn, Michigan

Two-mile superspeedway, 50 laps, 100 miles.

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	1	Al Unser Jr.	50	Running
2	5	Tom Kendall	50	Running
3	7	Jeff Gordon	50	Running
4	9	Scott Pruett	50	Running
5	10	Mark Martin	50	Running
6	6	Steve Kinser	50	Running
7	3	Rusty Wallace	50	Running
8	8	Ken Schrader	50	Running
9	2	Hurley Haywood	50	Running
10	4	Ricky Rudd	49	Running
11	11	Dale Earnhardt	7	Mechanical
12	DNS	Steve Millen	0	Did Not Start

 

Time of Race: 35 minutes, 58 seconds

Average Speed: 166.764 MPH

Margin of Victory: .112 seconds

Caution Flags: 1 (Pruett, Kendall, Gordon, Earnhardt accident after lap 1. Laps do not count.)

Lap Leaders: Unser Jr., 1-7; Wallace, 8-14; Gordon, 15-19; Wallace, 20-30; Kendall, 31-37; Unser Jr., 38-50.