IROC IX - 1985

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 IX - 1985

For the first time in IROC history, the series champion was determined in a tiebreaker after the last race, with Harry Gant winning over Darrell Waltrip. In Race 1, it was Waltrip who came out on top, in one of the wildest finishes in racing history. Waltrip started 11th and was running fourth exiting the last turn when Tom Sneva touched the rear of Cale Yarborough's car, knocking Yarborough into leader A. J. Foyt. Those three, along with Bobby Rahal, spun, clearing a path for Waltrip to the checkered flag. In Race 2 at Mid-Ohio, Mario Andretti led from the pole until Rahal bumped him in a passing attempt less than two laps from the finish. Andretti spun off course, and Rahal went on to win at his "home" track. Race 3 at Talladega was rained out. Gant came into the last race at Michigan ninth in the point totals but led the most laps and retook the lead from Terry Labonte on the last lap to gain the victory. Waltrip finished fourth and both he and Gant had scored 45 points. Under IROC rules, Gant was declared champion because he finished higher in the final race. (from IROC Website)

Final Points
IROC 9 Champion Harry Gant
Position	Driver/Residence/Sanction	Points	Money Earned
1	* Harry Gant/Taylorsville, NC/NASCAR	45	$158,200
2	Darrell Waltrip/Franklin, TN/NASCAR	45	80,400
3	Bobby Rahal/Dublin, OH/CART	40	55,100
4	Tom Sneva/Paradise Valley, AZ/CART	32	43,000
5	* Terry Labonte/Archdale, NC/NASCAR	31	39,300
6	Derek Bell/England/FISA	31	30,000
7	John Watson/N. Ireland/FISA	30	29,000
8	Cale Yarborough/Sardis, SC/NASCAR	29	27,400
9	A. J. Foyt/Houston, TX/CART	28	29,500
10	Jochen Mass/St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France/FISA	27	23,000
11	# Mario Andretti/Nazareth, PA/CART	25	26,700
12	Tom Gloy/Lafayette, CA/SCCA	13	20,000
* Tiebreaker, higher finish in final race # Injured, did not compete in final race

 

Race One

February 15, 1985

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

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

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	11	Darrell Waltrip	40	Running
2	6	Tom Sneva	40	Running
3	9	A. J. Foyt	40	Running
4	4	Derek Bell	40	Running
5	12	Harry Gant	40	Running
6	7	Cale Yarborough	40	Running
7	8	Jochen Mass	40	Running
8	1	John Watson	40	Running
9	3	Bobby Rahal	39	Accident
10	5	Terry Labonte	39	Running
11	10	Tom Gloy	15	Accident
12	2	Mario Andretti	5	Mechanical

 

Race Three

July 27, 1985

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega, Alabama

2.66-mile high-banked oval, 38 laps, 101.08 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
Race cancelled due to all-day rain.

 

Race Four

August 10, 1985

Michigan International Speedway

Brooklyn, Michigan

Two-mile high-banked oval, 50 laps, 100 miles

 

Finish	Start	Driver	Laps	Status
1	8	Harry Gant	50	Running
2	10	Terry Labonte	50	Running
3	9	Cale Yarborough	50	Running
4	1	Darrell Waltrip	50	Running
5	2	Bobby Rahal	50	Running
6	6	Derek Bell	50	Running
7	3	Tom Sneva	50	Running
8	7	Jochen Mass	50	Running
9	4	John Watson	50	Running
10	11	Tom Gloy	49	Running
11	5	A. J. Foyt	27	Mechanical
12	DNS	Mario Andretti	0	Didn't start

 

Time of Race: 39 minutes, 9 seconds

Average Speed: 153.257 MPH

Margin of Victory: 4 feet

Lead Changes: 8 among 3 drivers

Lap Leaders: Waltrip, 1-4; Labonte, 5-9; Gant, 10-29; Labonte, 30-35; Gant, 36-43; Labonte, 44; Gant, 45-48; Labonte, 49; Gant, 50