Tony Stewart, Ray Evernham recreate IROC as SRX All-Stars

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Remember the old IROC Series, where the best drivers from various disciplines raced each other in equally prepared cars? It ran for 30 seasons before Tony Stewart won its final championship in 2006 and the series quietly went away.

Now Stewart, along with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham, has teamed with a group of heavyweights to bring an all-star circuit back in 2021. The Superstar Racing Experience plans a six-race, short-track series to air in prime time on CBS in a Saturday night summer spectacular.

SRX envisions fields of 12 drivers competing on famed short tracks across the country in cars prepared by Evernham, the architect of Jeff Gordon’s early career and a noted car designer. Stewart plans to be one of the participants and already has a wish list of drivers he’ll pursue, and he’ll likely offer up Eldora Speedway, his short track in Ohio, as one of the venues.

The idea was driven by Evernham, eager to see a series that featured cars that don’t rely on aerodynamics and reward mechanical grip and driver skill. The threetime championship winning crew chief and former team owner was able to talk the vision up to a group of supporters that includes former NASCAR executive George Pyne, who also was President of IMG Sports before founding Bruin Sports Capital, as well as Sandy Montag, chairman of talent representation firm The Montag Group.

Stewart signed on and the vision was sold to CBS Sports chairman

Sean McManus.

“With the backing from legends in the racing industry, the quality of the drivers and competition, and the atmosphere that short tracks will help to create, the Superstar Racing Experience is a great addition to our live summer sports programming,” McManus said of the Monday unveil of SRX.

It’s an invigorating venture for Evernham and Stewart, who have essentially been given a blank sheet of paper to create the type of racing they think will entice fans. Evernham said he’s looking to build a full-body car that relies on existing safety advances and fits within a budget.

Evernham doesn’t expect speeds to exceed 150 mph on halfmile tracks, and he listed Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, New Smyrna Speedway in Florida, Eldora, Knoxville Raceway in Iowa and Terre Haute Action Track in Indiana as possible venues. Evernham would also like a road course and a modified oval on the schedule. “You know, drivers retiring and being out of the sport so young, we think there are guys who still want to race, still can race, but just don’t want to run 200 mph,” Evernham said.

Evernham’s dream list includes Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jimmie Johnson, Gordon, Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Tracy and short-track racers and up-and-comers who have proven their skills but can’t get a break.

SRX is planning for 90-minute races without pit stops — but a “halftime” for adjustments — in a 2-hour television window.

ASSOCIATED PRESS 2006 Tony Stewart, who won the final IROC race in 2006, plans to be one of the participants in the revived series in 2021 and already has a wish list of drivers he’ll pursue. He’ll likely offer up Eldora Speedway, his short track in Ohio, as one of the venues.