The acronym "IROC" can be spelled out as "Eye-Rock" in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. It stands for International Race of Champions, which was a North American racing competition held between 1974 and 2006. The spelling of "IROC" is derived from the initials of the competition's name. Even though the competition is no longer running, the term "IROC" is still commonly used in automotive culture to refer to cars made in the IROC racing style.
IROC is an acronym for International Race of Champions, which refers to a motorsport series that took place from 1974 to 2006. The International Race of Champions was an invitational racing competition that featured drivers from various disciplines of motorsport competing against each other on equal grounds. The purpose of IROC was to determine the best all-around racing driver by pitting participants from different racing backgrounds against each other in identical cars.
IROC was founded by Roger Penske, an American businessman and former racing driver, who sought to create a level playing field for the competitors. The series primarily used stock cars, particularly Chevrolet Camaros, with modifications to ensure equality among participants' vehicles. IROC races mostly took place on high-speed oval tracks within the United States, such as Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, although the series also held events on road courses.
The International Race of Champions gained substantial popularity during its run, as it provided an opportunity to witness legendary drivers, including Ayrton Senna, Dale Earnhardt, Mario Andretti, and many others, compete against each other. The IROC series aimed to showcase the skills and adaptability of racers, as they had to adjust to different cars and styles of racing. The winner of the series was often considered one of the most versatile and accomplished drivers in the world of motorsport.