Revamping IROC

The idea of taking the best drivers from different series and disciplines is not new; the International Race of Champions, IROC, series ran from 1973 to 2007. The series took up to 12 drivers put them in identically prepared cars, and let them battle it out! Unfortunately IROC went out of business in 2007, auctioning off all of its cars, equipment and memorabilia.

However I have always fancied the idea of the best drivers in identical cars racing for top honours! Here is my idea of IROC for 2011... AROC...

Firstly you need a name! IROC ceased to be "International" a long time ago. As the series would be based in America, and as there is very little chance of getting the F1 World Champion, or the WRC Champion to take part, (and there is the now annual ROC for that) we can assume the "I" should be replaced with an "A"... "American Race of Champions".

Next you need venues! A good balance of ovals, road courses, dirt tracks and drag strips should cover all American disciplines...

TRACKS

Ovals

  Daytona – NASCAR event (oval)

  Darlington – NASCAR event (oval)

  Richmond – IRL event (oval)

Road Courses
  Road America – IRL event (road course)

  Watkins Glen – NASCAR event (road course)

  Laguna Seca – IRL event (road course)

Drag Strips
  Sonoma (Infineon) – NASCAR event (drag strip)

  Pomona – NHRA event (drag strip)

  Gainsville – NHRA event (drag strip) 

Dirt Tracks
  Eldora - Prelude to the Dream event (dirt track)
  The Dirt Track at Charlotte- World of Outlaws / NASCAR event (dirt track)
  The Dirt Track at Las Vegas - World of Outlaws / NASCAR event (dirt track)

The races could be held at established events, adding a new element to the Saturday schedules?! The oval and road course races could be split between NASCAR and IndyCar events. The drag races could be held at two NHRA events, and at the Infineon (Sonoma) NASCAR race, but on the drag strip! The dirt track races could be held at either World of Outlaw events or at NASCAR events (in the evening), and as an addition to Tony Stewarts "Prelude to a Dream" event. This would guarantee a fan base and TV.

Then you need drivers! Fourteen of the best drivers in the country...

DRIVERS

NASCAR –
  Sprint Cup – 1^st in points
  Daytona 500 winner / 2^nd in points if same
IndyCar –
  1^st in points
  Indy 500 winner / 2^nd in points if same
Sports cars –

  Grand Am – 1^st in points

  Daytona 24hrs winner / 2^nd in points if same
World of Outlaws –

  1^st in points

  2^nd in points

USAC Silver Crown –

  1^st in points

  2^nd in points

SCCA Trans Am / World Challenge –

  1^st in points

  2^nd in points

NHRA –

  Top Fuel – 1^st in points

  Funny Car – 1^st in points
  
If any of the above accolades are achieved by multiple drivers, the drivers could share driving duties and add their points together.

Lastly you need a car! A production based car! The 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 or Boss 302 is as good a starting point as any! Install a roll cage, upgrade the clutch and ensure the engines can race on high banking for the oval and road courses races. Keep the cars as "stock" as possible, as the cars used in AROC must be close to a car you can buy from your local dealer, "stock car racing"! I have decided against using the Boss 302s (Ford built turn key road race car) or the Cobra Jet (Ford built turn key drag racer) for this reason.

My aim with AROC is to cover all major American motor racing disciplines; oval racing (stock cars and single-seaters), road racing, drag racing, sprint cars and midgets.

Maybe the field could be expanded to include off-road racing and rallying. F150 Raptor anybody?

Just an idea...