IROC XXIII - 1999

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 XXIII - 1999

The 1999 IROC Series will be remembered as one of the most successful and dramatic seasons in the series' history. Dale Earnhardt, in his 15th IROC appearance, utulized the 1999 IROC Series to put himself back in winning form. At the IROC opener at Daytona International Speedway, on the last lap, Earnhardt came off the fourth turn on a mission. With Bobby Labonte in tow, and plenty of momentum, Earnhardt wobbled leader Mark Martin up a groove, swooping low to take the victory. Race Two and Earnhardt made it two-for-two at the Talladega Speedway. Wallace, expectedly, was looking to protect the bottom when suddenly Earnhardt pointed his car up the tri-oval, successfully passing Wallace for the win. Race Three at Michigan Speedway resulted in a storybook ending with Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. furiously battling down to the checkered flag with father beating son by .007 second (shortest margin of victory in IROC history). Dale Earnhardt was three-for-three, and wanted to be first to sweep the series. Following the successful 1998 inaugural IROC at Indy, the series would again crown its champion at the Brickyard. The point standings indicated Dale Earnhardt and reigning four-time IROC champion Mark Martin were the only contenders for the championship with Earnhardt a healthy 20 points lead. Mark Martin would have only one option: come from 10th starting position, win the race, and lead the most laps (for bonus points) in order to take the championship. To counter that, Earnhardt would have to finishat least eighth to secure the championship by one point. Incredibly Mark Martin carved through the pack and was leading by lap nine, he never looked back. As for Earnhardt, he finished eighth and won the 1999 IROC championship by one point. (from IROC Website)

Final Points
IROC 23 Champion Dale Earnhardt
Position	Driver/Residence/Sanction	Points	Money Earned
1	Dale Earnhardt/Mooresville, NC/NASCAR	75	$225,000
2	Mark Martin/Daytona Beach, FL/NASCAR	74	100,000
3	Bobby Labonte/Trinity, NC/NASCAR	53	60,000
4	Rusty Wallace/Lake Norman, NC/NASCAR	50	50,000
5	Jeff Gordon/Charlotte, NC/NASCAR	49	45,000
6	Kenny Brack/Karlstad, Sweden/Indy Racing League	34	40,000
7	Eddie Cheever Jr./Orlando, FL/Indy Racing League	31	40,000
8	Dale Jarrett/Hickory, NC/NASCAR	30	40,000
9	Dale Earnhardt Jr./Concord, NC/NASCAR	29	40,000
10	Adrian Fernandez/Paradise Valley, AZ/CART	28	40,000
11	Jeff Burton/Huntersville, NC/NASCAR	26	40,000
12	Greg Moore/Maple Ridge, B.C. CANADA/CART	25	40,000

 

Race One

February 12, 1999

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

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

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	6	Dale Earnhardt	40	Running
2	2	Bobby Labonte	40	Running
3	12	Mark Martin	40	Running
4	7	Kenny Brack	40	Running
5	10	Greg Moore	40	Running
6	11	Jeff Gordon	40	Running
7	3	Adrian Fernandez	40	Running
8	1	Dale Jarrett	40	Running
9	8	Rusty Wallace	8	Accident
10	4	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	8	Accident
11	5	Eddie Cheever Jr.	8	Accident
12	9	Jeff Burton	8	Accident

 

Race Three

June 11, 1999

Michigan International Speedway

Brooklyn, Michigan

Two-mile superspeedway, 50 laps, 100 miles.

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	12	Dale Earnhardt	50	Running
2	2	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	50	Running
3	9	Rusty Wallace	50	Running
4	10	Bobby Labonte	50	Running
5	11	Mark Martin	50	Running
6	1	Jeff Burton	50	Running
7	8	Jeff Gordon	50	Running
8	7	Kenny Brack	50	Running
9	4	Greg Moore	50	Running
10	6	Adrian Fernandez	50	Running
11	5	Dale Jarrett	50	Running
12	3	Eddie Cheever Jr.	48	Running

 

Time of Race: 36 minutes, 59 seconds

Average Speed: 162.235 MPH

Margin of Victory: 0.007 second

Caution Flags: None

Lead Changes: 4 among 4 drivers

Lap Leaders: Burton, 1-6; Earnhardt Jr., 7; Martin, 8-26; Earnhardt, 27-50.

 

Race Four

August 6, 1999

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis, IN

2.5-mile oval, 40 laps, 100 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	10	Mark Martin	40	Running
2	7	Jeff Gordon	40	Running
3	1	Eddie Cheever Jr.	40	Running
4	8	Bobby Labonte	40	Running
5	9	Rusty Wallace	40	Running
6	3	Dale Jarrett	40	Running
7	2	Jeff Burton	40	Running
8	11	Dale Earnhardt	40	Running
9	4	* Dave Marcis	40	Running
10	6	Kenny Brack	40	Running
11	12	** Dale Earnhardt Jr.	40	Running
12	5	Greg Moore	2	Accident
	* Dave Marcis substituted for Adrian Fernandez who was injured earlier in the day during a CART practice session in Detroit.
	** Dale Earnhardt Jr. was to start sixth but elected to start 12th due to lack of sufficient experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

Time of Race: 38 minutes, 52 seconds

Average Speed: 154.374 MPH

Margin of Victory: 0.395 second

Caution Flags: 1 for 4 laps

Lead Changes: 2 among 3 drivers

Lap Leaders: Cheever Jr., 1-4; Labonte, 5-8; Martin, 9-40.