Ray Evernham's IROC Racecar Collection: Driven By The Most Legendary Names In Racing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.พ. 2023
- You may know Ray Evernham as Jeff Gordon's crew chief, the guy who brought Dodge back to NASCAR, or the AmeriCarna TV show guy, but before all that he worked for the IROC series back in the early 80's. Today Ray operates Big Iron Garage where they restore and maintain some of the most iconic race cars ever made, some of which Ray owns himself. Of his extensive collection are a handful of IROC cars from over the years. Second gen Camaros, Dodge Avenger, and Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am. Ray gives us a spark notes overview of the series history along with the evolution of the cars they were using while going through his collection. Maybe we haven't seen the last of IROC racing?
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Man would I love to own an IROC Firebird someday. The sound those cars made is my absolute favorite. If IROC did come back I selfishly hope they would run X pipes. Would you?
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Thanks for the great video Mitchell and Logan.
X2
Yeah buddy 96 Firebird would be sweet to have. But that 86 Camaro IROC Z had a special somethin somethin! 😎👍
How cool would it be to make one!
Buy a sticker for your car.
IROC coming back would be incredible. I think it would be infinitely more interesting to watch than current Nascar races.
Tony Stewart already has brought it back with his racing series. Identical cars being raced on short tracks.
*FACTS!*
Current NASCAR is IROC.
Race them C8's...
Tony Stewart's new racing series is very close to iroc exact same cars prepped by one shop all the cars are and every car is identical except paint scheme and mostly all of the drivers was same drivers for that season to compete for points in iroc except two or three cars for guest drivers just like Tony Stewart's series where one car I open for a guest driver that is that home tracks champion or chosen driver very similar except iroc was Camaro and his are tube chassis cars
Ray is a legend. A wealth of racing knowledge and history. What a fantastic video! I remember watching IROC in the 80’s when I was 10 years old. Even at that age I loved the idea of pitting all these world famous drivers against each other to see who was best.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I honestly believe if not for Ray, that Jeff Gordon would not have never been signed away from Ford and Bill Davis by Rick Hendrick!
I remember watching the IROC races on ABC's Wide World of sports. They were so much fun. Would love to see a form of that series come back.
I could listen to Ray talk for hours. You are lucky to get to meet and talk to him. He is an absolute legend. Thank you for bringing all of us along with you.
I miss IROC! Loved just the raw competition the raw racing and the respect the drivers had for each other. How cool would it be to see Larson, Castroneves, and Lewis Hamilton battle it out
I just think the world of Ray Evernham! He is an awesome guy, and like ya'll, he is dedicated to preserving Nascar history. Thank you guys for all the hard work and time you put into these videos and this channel.
Couldn't agree more! Thank you Tim
Iroc yes yes yes
You've got to have the most in-depth NASCAR documentary series ever. Killing it guys.
Ray, definitely bring back the IROC Series. It's a driver's race. Always a good show for fans and a chance to see driver's from different types of racing battle it out.
That man is a wealth of knowledge. An IROC series would be great. Especially if they ran at some of the tracks that are no longer in the NASCAR series.
You just keep upping your game when it comes to nascar history and all the different legends you've been able to have in the channel.
Thanks man!
Bring IROC back Ray!!! Some of my favorite memories are getting to see Dale run on Saturday at Michigan. We couldn’t afford to go to the Cup race so we went to the Busch race and when the IROC guys were there it was the coolest thing I’d ever seen in all of my 10 or 15 years on Earth!! What a treat it would be to see that sort of thing again.
Hell yes I want to see IROC come back! I loved watching those races... I always wondered why that series ended. Ray is the perfect guy to bring back IROC. Someone needs to fund Ray so he can make this happen.
Would love to see IROC back. Still re-watch a lot of the old races here in YT.
Me too
I would love to see IROC come back I have so many great memories of watching the races in person as well as on TV. And I think Ray and Tony are doing an awesome job with the SRX series.
I would love to see IROC come back, I used to love watching those races as a kid. I thought it was so cool seeing drivers from the different types of racing series racing against each other... I even purchased a brand new 1988 IROC Z because I loved the series and the look of the cars.
IROC was the most fun I’ve had watching racing outside of NASCAR. It would be so freaking cool to have it back, Mark Martin may even want to get involved 😎
He should be the grand marshal of the first race if it happens
Bring back IRoc!!! Also, I love that you bring us this history. Keep it up!
Thanks man!!
@@Stapleton42 Bring back Can-Am while your at it.
Enjoyed the great content. I would love to bring it back. I would bring a Series like that into the SRVA, Speed Weekend and Vintage Racing.. TOTALLY AVOID NASCAR and The France Family. But they do own and or/ control The Ovals. Final Thought Getting Racing Champions of the present would need big bucks as prizes to motivate big name racers. As well they are contracted. May be legend type drivers. ?? Catch 22 NASCAR has THE MONEY AND MEDIA EXPOSURE. How many of their fans know Top Champion Divers from LeMans , Prototypes, Trans Am , GT3 Endurance Racing , World Rally ?
Love this one, love Ray and what he does to preserve racing history. He followed my old instagram account after he seen a photo of my great uncle’s restored dirt modified from the 70’s. He just so meticulous and intelligent, one of those personalities I could listen to for hours on end.
He's the historian that NASCAR has been lacking for some time.
I always loved IROC, A bunch of the best drivers in the world racing each other. I remember the Indycar guys racing guys like Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon and it truly showed who the best drivers were in equal stuff. It was fun to watch and it was something cool to watch on television. Now with contracts and manufacturers and stuff, it would be nice to see a version of IROC come back. You can see Ray light up when he talks about it.
Would love to see iroc come back. Also loved hearing Ray talk about the history of the cars. I didn’t know a lot of that and it is so interesting to me.
Rays career is very inspiring to me! I love what he’s doing with conservation!
I'd love to see the IROC series back. I remember watching IROC races on TV back in the day (3rd Gen Camaro bodies) and seeing guys from the different types of racing come together and race against each other was so cool to me. So a big hell yeah to bringing it back. Thanks to Ray for opening up his collection of IROC cars to be filmed too.
I started watching NASCAR in the mid-90s. As a small kid I loved itoc just for those cool colors on those funny-looking cars. Fast-forward 20 years later and I bought my own WS6. Every time I drive that car I feel like an iroc champion.
Also, Iroc brought something new to the game. Your favorite driver who may have never won a championship in their respective series could win a Iroc championship which almost had more prestige. I was a ricky rudd fan and though he never won a cup title he was the Iroc champion which is pretty awesome.
Iroc was so much fun to watch. It would be great to see it make a comeback.
I would absolutely love to see IROC come back! As a 55 yo I watched it religiously as a kid and teenager and it was my favorite racing org.
Still keeps amazing me the Nascar legends you are able to visit with etc. IROC was fantastic! It would be great to bring it back.
HECK YES I WOULD like to see IROC come back! I can't believe you got to go hang out with Ray! I would be fan boying out so bad!!! Congrats guys! Be on the download before you know it! We believe in what you are doing! These stories need to be documented and kept alive, thank you so much for being the care takers of Nascar history! Hope your having a great day!
Thanks Joe!
Ray not only thinks outside the box, but the circle, the triangle so on and so forth. Heck yeah bring back IROC! Too cool 😎🤟
I loved watching Iroc as a kid. I would love to see them be able to pull this off, and bring the series back to life again. I think building their own cars without a manufacturer would help some of the team owners be less up tight about letting their drivers race in the series.
I remember when Ray raced his modified here in the Northeast. A close family friend (George “Moose” Hewitt) raced against Ray. Ray is one of the best at finding ways to improve his program. I loved watching IROC races.
Hell yes, IROC was my favorite TV racing series growing up and i love SRX. So im sure it would be a big deal for alot of people if it was brought back.
Mad respect for Ray Evernham (as well as y'all) if he was able to bring back IROC racing I would be bat shit crazy happy, the IROC series was my absolute favorite and you can definitely do more videos on it and it won't break my heart, love what y'all do so keep doing what you do.
***Bring Back The ICTITTIES shirts***
Mitchell and Logan, you have done it again, another great behind the scenes of one of the greatest minds in racing. Great job you two.
Thanks again!
Ray has always been an awesome nice guy! I met and talked to him many many times over the years! I saw him at Watkins Glen right after it came out about Dodge and said how cool I thought it was. I was working with a Busch north team at the time and after their practice he came over to our pit and took me over to cup side to see everything! Then in 07 my wife and I were on vacation in Charlotte and drove by his shop near the track and he was coming out and I said hi and he remembered me! This was really cool to see this! Thanks again
Growing up going to every Michigan race, the IROC series was a staple before every cup race. I’d love to see it come back.
Thanks Ray for having us in! Yes lets have another IRC Series!!!
Honestly i want it back again seeing a taste of the action on iracing where drivers like ron capps and travis pastrana would go head to head with Bobby Labonte or Juan Pablo Montoya was awsome and provided amazing action proving capps can do more than go straight and bobby still had it in him and to see it fully realized would be amazing
I would LOVE to see IROC come back! Believe this, if IROC does come back, I would not only be there to watch it live, but I would watch the TV coverage as well as buy the DVD! Please do it in Daytona or Homestead International Raceway Mr. Evernham.
IROC ruled my weekend back in its day. I and my friends would really love to see the series return!
YES YES YES Bring back IROC - in the early days of "tv racing" this was the best series at that time. With the technology of today and Ray's knowledge the new series will be awesome. Keep doing this kind of work, the next generation NEEDS TO KNOW the roots of where some cars came from and why all of this needs to be told and preserved.
Thank you and Logan for being the true historical ambassadors for NASCAR. Ive been with you since roughly 30k and your channel is top notch man pat yourself on the back!
Thanks man!! You’re a real G
Oh HELL YEAH I would love to see someone bring IROC back!!!!
Bro! We (Family) love the videos, the history you are sharing and putting to video for everyone is awesome! So BIG THANKS to you and your Lady for putting in all this work to share with all of us. 🇺🇸🤠👍🏼
Thanks Adam 💪🏻
@@Stapleton42 by the way, HELL YEAH I would LOVE to see IROC come back!
I vote yes on an IROC type series. Maybe daddy big bucks, R.P. would also be interested ? I was fortunate enough to live near Riverside around 69/71. My brother and I witnessed two races there. I couldn't believe how fast those guys flung those giant at the time stock cars around there, turned corners 7 & 8 into a straightaway and who could forget Richard Petty's famous quote, " I lost it in turn nine." We said that for years afterword's when someone wrecked. Great channel guys. Keep it up.
Oh man, I would love to see IROC come back. As a mid-80's baby, I grew up loving to watch those races. And my favorite thing about the SRX series is how it's sort of templated off the IROC series
Great video! IROC was the best racing in my opinion, it was always exciting and it was all about the driver. This is what makes the SRX series so good. Bring Back the IROC series Ray ! Great job on the video!
Thank you Robert!
Thank you for doing this Ray is very innovative person the SRX series is a continuation all the IROC series everyone needs to understand why the esrx is out there it is showing people taking really have good racing thank you for doing this
Loved the Iroc Series, Back in the day ( 80's & 90's ) when i went to Daytona every Feb, We always made sure we saw the Iroc Race, Yes bring it Back !!!
First off thank you Mitchell for bringing this content your passion for the history of Motorsports really shows and is what keeps me watching your videos! Second absolutely bring back some form of the IROC series.
Another example of excellence of the historical value of auto racing! I always loved IROC, the only sports car I ever owned was a 1986 IROC Z . So yes I would love to see the IROC SERIES again. Thanks for sharing what you do with us!
Wow, this was a great video! My favorite driver of all time dominated IROC. This was cool to hear the history.
While I was watching this I was thinking about SRX. I had no idea Ray was involved.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IROC AGAIN!!!
Absolutely we’d love to see IROC come back. I think it would be an eye opener for NASCAR as well. It would attract more manufacturers, and bring back racing where it’s 95% driver and not dependent on what the driver is sitting in.
Was tied up the last 24 hours or so but here I am, better late than never! Love all this NASCAR history that you guys manage to find, and the tech aspect is also great. Thank you & Logan for your continued hard work with all this information you share with us all, know that you're appreciated bigtime! Right there with you guys, always there one way or another!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
It'd be totally badass to see IROC come back!
Thanks Mark!
Wish it came back as motorsport is at its healthiest when we embrace other series. NASCAR respecting F1, F1 respecting NHRA and NHRA respecting off-road short course trucks and keeps going on. IROC was the definition of creating a community of motorsport passion.
Yes bring back IROC! I always enjoyed watching those guys look up and see The Intimator in their rearview & say, "ohhhh sh-t , here comes Dale"🤣 And Mark Martin was too far behind right? Maaaan I miss those races🥰
I miss seeing the iroc series was a sad time to see the last race of iroc. I would be nice too see the iroc series come back. I really appreciate and enjoy the srx series the last two years.
At Dover many years ago, when he owned his Dodge team, I had the pleasure of walking beside him and some of his crew through the parking lot after the race. I hadn't even realized it was him at first. Once I realized it was him, I commented to him, "Why don't you take a helicopter out. He joked back to me, drivers get to fly, the crew has to thumb it back. Cool guy!
Its sooooo cool to me that these absolute LEGENDS are not only willing but HAPPY to have you there documenting the History of the Sport.
Bet you never thought as a kid that this would ACTUALLY happen
Incredible
Nope I never anticipated this when I was younger
Would love to see IROC come back. Seeing what Ray could do with it would be just about as exciting as being able to watch it again.
You guys have hit it out of the park again! Love to see IROC back again, and I think Ray is the right person for it. Thanks again Mitchell and Logan.
In the summer of '96 I went to my first and only Iroc race at Michigan International Speedway. Pretty cool. I'd love to see the series come back!
Ray is a genius. It's not hard to understand why Jeff Gordon was so dominant. Throw unlimited funds at Ray and stand back. It must have been awesome to spend some time with him.
I'd love to see Iroc come back. I was in my mid teens watching them run daytona. Seeing Jr & Sr run the firebirds is my best memory of Iroc. Just learn from what nascar has done to lose viewers. If done right Ray could make it awesome
Would love to see the IROC series return!
Growing up IROC was always my favorite. Getting to see the best from all different forms of racing was a hoot.
I would love to see IROC make a comeback. Those were some awesome races to watch. I think the old IROC only had 4 rounds or races, I’d like the new version to see at least 8 or 10 races a year or season, 4 wasn’t enough in my opinion.
IROC was one of the coolest things for me growing up. I remember watching Wind Tunnel and hearing about the likes of Wayne Taylor and Max Angelelli dominating Grand-Am or Sam Hornish Jr dominating IndyCar then a few weeks later seeing them compete against the best NASCAR drivers like Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, and Mark Martin. Just the diversity of drivers really turned me on to watching every race I could, seemed like the best of the best were really there to duke it out. Loved the final year with the road course at Daytona included. If it was to come back, I really hope they take what they learned from SRX and turn it into a series that can run at Daytona, Long Beach, Knoxville, and COTA. If you can get the dates right, bring in the likes of Verstappen, Newgarden, Logano, and Brad Sweet to run.
Also I see that Porsche Jeff Gordon ran at Indy last year in the shop! Maybe a few more races for Jeff this year?
Ray’s knowledge and memory recall is amazing and a true joy to see and hear.Thank you Ray for preserving these treasures.Well done sir.
Thanks Richard!
I'd love to see an iroc comeback! Thanks again Mitchell for your spotlight on this stuff.
YES WE NEED A DAM IROC SERIES
I always loved the IROC series and would love to see it again. I think trying it as an open wheeled modified would be pretty cool. Road coarse, dirt, and asphalt ovals would fit that type of car well.
I would love to go to an IROC race. I always dreamed of going to one when I was a kid. If IROC ever came back, I would make sure it would be my 2 year old son's first race for sure
Another great history lesson. I'd love to drive any of those IROC cars. Ray is a great guy and appreciates the history of the series and cars. I owned an 88 Dodge Daytona back then so I liked them. Also when I was racing my vintage Corvair Ray was usually at the same track like Road Atlanta running his Ghost Machine. He liked the Corvairs and would often stop by and talk with us.
Once again thank y'all for the awesome content and a big thank you to Ray and bring back IROC I grew up watching the series
I would watch IROC as it is based on equality of the cars. The drivers driving ability is the show.
Around late 1974 I was at Northlake Porsche-Audi in Tucker, GA, having my Porsche serviced and they had purchased several of the 911 RSR racers used in the 1st IROC series. I was looking over the light blue 911 RSR in the back lot when my salesman told me it had a cracked head or block and could be bought for $8000. New 911s were about $10,000 - 11,000+ so $8,000 for one that wouldn't run and wasn't street legal was out of the question. Ray said in the video those RSR racers sell for $2,500,000 - 3,500,000 now when you can find one. I wish my crystal ball had been working that day so I could've known the future! I've enjoyed both seasons of the SRX series and a return of IROC with drivers from around the world would be fun to watch again. Great video, Mitch, as usual.
Wow that is wild... we are glad you're here Dennis!
ABSOLUTELY!! An IROC return would be incredible. Glad I found this channel.
Awesome seeing these cars & I definitely would be tuned in & hyped as hell if IROC came back or even like a new SRX that's ran on super speedways only 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼💯💯💯
I would love to see IROC come back.
I would love to see IROC come back. Hell I still watch vintage IROC races here on TH-cam from time to time.
I miss IROC ,they was always my favorite races. They was always a toss up to who was going to win. Bringing it back would be so awesome!
I`d love to see IROC come back.
I was a big fan of the IROC series when I was a kid bringing the top drivers from the different series and racing together was great I always was looking for the next race it would be great if it was brought back
Definition of intelligent and humble = Ray Evernham. I think Jeff Gordon would have double digit championship's if he and Ray stayed together...they were the A Team of NASCAR back in the day. Great content btw !!
ray is such a joy to listen to, his passion transpires through the screen. Keeping racing history alive, keep doing what you do and keep bringing guys with this kind of contagious passion.
We agree. Thanks man 💪🏻
Yes bring back iroc, awesome racing. Great video Mitchell, Logan 🏁
Thanks man!
Really cool, I had no idea those Dodge front ends were grafted onto old Camaros.
The entire body was switched on the chassis not just the front end
100% Bring it back!
I'd be more stoked to watch IROC than any of the weekend's racing.
Iam 62yrs old I really appreciate you making these videos so younger people can see what great cars and drivers we had the pleasure of watching back in the day awesome video 👍👍🏁🏁🏁
Hell yes I'd like to see IROC come back! I mean we're getting there with SRX, but an IROC series needs to hit different tracks than SRX, like Daytona, COTA, Charlotte, Watkins Glen, Sonoma, Indianapolis...to draw the big names from overseas. Wouldn't it be awesome to see a Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, or Max Verstappen wheel around Watkins Glen with the likes of Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Boris Said, Helio Castroneves, and Tony Kanaan? Gah!
That would be so cool 2 bring back the IROC series
Yes these tour videos are awesome love them I can watch these allday and night, YES PLEASE BRING IROC BACK FULL TIME IT WOULD BE AWESOME I CAN GUARANTEE IT WOULD MAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BRING IT BACK!!!
I watched an IROC race at MIS back in the 90's before.
Yet another great and interesting interview. Nice work.
Said it once say it again you never cease to amaze me. the iroc series was phenomenal you had nascar an an open wheel drivers an even international drivers mixed in it was never dull or boring racing an ya be great if it did make a comeback.. an the collection of iroc cars ray evernham has is really cool to see .. thank you mr
evernham for showing
You know, I was really much of a race fan when IROC ran. But, I am now, and YES. A new IROC series would be amazing. The time is right. IROC in 2024!
This is going to be awesome 👍
Please bring IROC back!!!!!
It would be really cool to have IROC come back!! Thanks for getting with Ray and sharing this.
I would love to IROC come back and I would go to the race. It was awesome to see that series run with drivers from all over the world compete. BRING IROC BACK, YEAH BABY!!!😊
No question about it, I really enjoyed IROC the same as I do SRX