IROC XXV - 2001

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 XXV - 2001

The 25th anniversary season was bitter sweet due to the loss of seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion, Dale Earnhardt. Race 1 at Daytona International Speedway resulted in NASCAR driver, Dale Jarrett getting his first series victory, narrowly beating out his Winston Cup teammate, Ricky Rudd. Jarrett’s victory ceremony came in the wake of an on-track incident between the four-time, reigning IROC champion, Earnhardt and open-wheel ace, Eddie Cheever, Jr. When battling for the lead with two laps to go, Earnhardt and Cheever, Jr. made contact exiting the tri-oval resulting in Earnhardt taking a harrowing ride through the grass, regaining control and continuing on to a 7th place finish in his final IROC race.

Race 2 continued on the high-banks at Talladega Superspeedway where NASCAR Winston Cup champion, Bobby Labonte repeated his 2000 victory, dedicating the win to Dale Earnhardt. Open-wheel drivers, Kenny Brack and Buddy Lazier made the transition to stock cars look easy finishing second and third respectively.

Race 3 at Michigan International Speedway produced another first time series winner with a dominating run by Tony Stewart. Strong finishes abounded in the open-wheel ranks with Al Unser Jr., substituting for the injured Scott Goodyear, finishing second, followed by Kenny Brack and Eddie Cheever, Jr., third and fourth respectively.

It was a close points battle among the top six, with the possibility of winning the 25th anniversary championship stretching back to eighth position. The final run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was evenly split among open-wheel drivers and stock car drivers. Bobby Labonte held a one-point lead over Kenny Brack, with Eddie Cheever, Jr. and Tony Stewart only five-points behind. Per the rules, the field was inverted by points, setting up a necessary run from the rear to the front by those contending for the championship, and once up front, contending with everyone for a coveted victory at Indy.

Bobby Labonte and NASCAR teammate, Tony Stewart, battled ferociously in the last stages of the race. Stewart was able to maintain second place after making contact with the wall coming off turn-four with four laps remaining. Labonte went on to secure the championship by winning the race with Brack finishing third behind Stewart. Labonte became the first driver to win at the Brickyard in two different series, having won the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in 2000.

The Labonte’s, Terry and Bobby, joined the Unser’s, Bobby and Al, as brothers who have won IROC series championships. (from IROC Website)

Final Points
IROC 25 Champion Bobby Labonte
Position	Driver/Residence/Sanction	Points	Money Earned
1	Bobby Labonte/Trinity, NC - NASCAR	68	$250,000
2	Tony Stewart/Rushville, IN - NASCAR	58	$125,000
3	Kenny Brack/Dublin, OH - CART	57	$  80,000
4	Eddie Cheever, Jr./Orlando, FL - Indy Racing League	47	$ 72,000
5	Dale Jarrett/Hichory, NC - NASCAR	47	$  70,000
6	Ricky Rudd/Cornelius, NC - NASCAR	45	$  65,000
7	Scott Goodyear/Carmel, IN - Indy Racing League	42	$  62,000
8	Jeff Burton/Huntersville, NC - NASCAR	32	$  61,000
9	Buddy Lazier/Vail, CO - /Indy Racing League	31	$  60,000
10	Jeff Green/Davidson, NC - NASCAR	28	$  60,000
11	Mark Dismore/Greenfield, IN - /Indy Racing League	25	$  60,000

 

Race One

February 16, 2001

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

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

 

Finish	Start	Car	Name/Color	Laps	Status
1	7	7	Dale Jarrett/Blue	40	Running
2	10	10	Ricky Rudd/Gold	40	Running
3	2	2	Eddie Cheever, Jr./Silver	40	Running
4	5	5	Kenny Brack/Yellow	40	Running
5	11	11	Bobby Labonte/Violet	40	Running
6	4	4	Scott Goodyear/Aqua	40	Running
7	1	1	Dale Earnhardt/Green	40	Running
8	6	6	Mark Dismore/Lime	36	Running
9	9	9	Tony Stewart/White	35	Running
10	3	3	Jeff Burton/Rose	26	Accident
11	8	8	Buddy Lazier/Red	26	Accident
12	12	12	Jeff Green/Black	9	Engine

Race Three

June 9, 2001

Michigan International Speedway

Brooklyn, Michigan

Two-mile superspeedway, 50 laps, 100 miles.

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	11	Tony Stewart/Evans Orange	50	Running
2	9	Al Unser Jr. - Scott Goodyear/White	50	Running
3	3	Kenny Brack/Violet	50	Running
4	5	Eddie Cheever Jr./Silver	50	Running
5	1	Bobby Labonte/Yellow	50	Running
6	6	Buddy Lazier/Dark Blue	50	Running
7	10	Jeff Burton/Lime	50	Running
8	4	Dale Jarrett - Dave Marcis/Red	50	Running
9	8	Jeff Green/Medium Blue	50	Running
10	2	Ricky Rudd/Black	50	Running
11	7	Mark Dismore/Rose	49	Running

Time of Race: 37min 28sec.

Average Speed: 160.142 MPH

Margin of Victory: 2.875 sec

Caution Flags: 0

Lead Changes: 1 among 2 drivers

Lap Leaders: Cheever 1-2, Stewart 3-50

Race Four

August 4, 2001

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis, IN

2.5-mile oval, 40 laps, 100 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	1	Bobby Labonte/Black	40	Running
2	4	Tony Stewart/Silver	40	Running
3	2	Kenny Brack/Orange	40	Running
4	6	Dale Jarrett/Aqua	40	Running
5	7	Al Unser Jr./ Scott Goodyear/White	40	Running
6	5	Ricky Rudd/Medium Blue	40	Running
7	3	Eddie Cheever Jr./Dark Blue	40	Running
8	10	Jeff Green/Rose	40	Running
9	11	Mark Dismore/Lime	39	Running
10	9	Jeff Burton/Creme	19	Accident
11	8	Buddy Lazier/Violet	19	Accident

Time of Race: 38min 39sec

Average Speed: 155.239 mph

Margin of Victory: .324

Caution Flags: 2

Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers

Lap Leaders: 1-19 Burton, 20-25 Labonte, 26-33 Stewart, 34-40 Labonte