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Dodge Avenger IROC

VIN: BP-9519R

Driven by Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bobby Rahal, Al Unser Sr., Jackie Ickx, and other legendary drivers

(1) 2nd place finish and (3) 3rd place finishes

Rare multi-generational continuity across IROC series as Camaro, Daytona, and Avenger cars

Eligible for special 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion IROC class with racing champions

Restored and race prepped by Ray Evernham Enterprises, eligible for many historic racing events

350 C.I.D. V8 engine, 4-speed manual transmission

Quick-change rear end, Penske Racing shocks, disc brakes, 15"x10" Norris Chrome wheels

IROC's Resurgence

Through a partnership of Ray Evernham and Rob Kauffman, the IROC trademark was revived to bring one of the most exciting series back to the forefront. With many of the former IROC race cars race-prepped by Ray Evernham Enterprises, these cars spanning from 1973 to 2006 are ready to be back on a track and used in the way they were designed to be. The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion IROC racing class represents a rare opportunity to race alongside racing legends and those who raced the same cars in the original IROC series. These have included Danny Sullivan, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Bobby Labonte, and Scott Pruett, along with racers Zak Brown, Bruce Canepa, and others.

With Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion signing on for 3 years of IROC racing classes just to start and premiering at the event in 2025, the IROC racing series is seeing a resurgence unlike anything else, with a driver's opportunity to racing among other racing legends and celebrities.

Dodge Avenger IROC

The International Race of Champions (IROC), an American racing series promoted as the equivalent of an all-star game, was a unique and prestigious motorsport competition that ran for several decades, from 1974 to 2006. The goal was to bring together the best drivers from various driving series to compete in identically-prepared cars at some of the world's most legendary tracks. With names racing such as Can-Am and Trans-Am champion Mark Donohue, F1 champion James Hunt, NASCAR legend and champion Dale Earnhardt, Indycar champion A.J.Foyt, Trans-Am, Can-Am champion George Follmer, and more legendary drivers were invited to join the racing championship to prove who was the best of the best.

The IROC series was founded in 1973 by Roger Penske, Les Richter, and Mike Phelps, wanting to create a championship that featured top drivers from a variety of racing categories and disciplines, such as Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and sports car racing. The goal? To create a series to determine the "champion of champions" by placing competitors in identically-prepared cars to level the field across the board. No secret additions, no extra power, no trick tuning, just pure raw driving ability. Still remembered as a unique and prestigious series that brought together some of the greatest drivers in motorsport, IROC created the concept of identifying the "champion of champions" and cemented it as a memorable era of racing history.

While the IROC concept seemed simple enough in theory, the implementation was slightly more difficult, especially when bringing together 12 top drivers and preparing 12 identical cars (with 3 additional spare cars) with equal performance in all aspects. Debuting in 1973 with Roger Penske, the series organizer, and the late Mark Donohue, the project supervisor and development driver, found their first cars with the help of their German counterparts. Porsche Carrera RSRs were the first cars used in the series and the first season was met with popular reception. However, there was a snag: the Porsches proved to be too expensive to build and maintain, and a suitable replacement was needed. Penske, with his ties to Chevrolet, found the next logical choice in the form of the 1974 Chevrolet Camaro. Fast and inexpensive to acquire and modify, the Camaro would end up being the platform of choice for the next 15 years, beginning in IROC's second season.

Beginning in the 1985 season, IROC searched for a suitable upgrade for the spec race cars. While the tried-and-true manner of acquiring street-ready cars and modifying them, over time this became more time intensive and expensive to maintain. It was decided that a bespoke racing chassis would be developed that would allow for greater safety, improved handling and performance, while making it easier to change the exterior design of the cars as the series continued. A tube-frame chassis built by Banjo Matthews allowed for a stiffer chassis, improved safety, and a fiberglass body that was much lighter than production steel. The Camaro was the body of choice from 1985 to 1989, switching to the Dodge Daytona for 1990 to 1993, and then the Dodge Avenger for 1994 and 1995.

This Dodge Avenger IROC racer began life in 1984 as a Gen 3 Camaro, with racing history all the way to 1988. It hosted many famous racers, including Dale Earnhardt, Gordon Johncock, Jacky Ickx, Benny Parsons, Bobby Rahal, Cale Yarborough, Hurley Haywood, Al Unser Sr., and Geoff Bodine. Notably, it was piloted by Dale Earnhardt during his rise to superstardom in NASCAR competition, driving the car in two different seasons of IROC: VIII, and XI where he recorded the car's best finish of 2nd place at the Daytona International Speedway in 1987. The following race results were attained.

06/16/1984 - IROC VIII Round 1: Michigan International Speedway - Gordon Johncock - 3rd

07/07/1984 - IIROC VIII Round 2: Cleveland - Jackie Ickx - 12th

07/28/1984 - IROC VIII Round 3: Talladega International Speedway - Dale Earnhardt - 3rd

08/11/1984 - IROC VIII Round 4: Michigan International Speedway - Benny Parsons - 7th

02/15/1985 - IROC IX Round 1: Daytona International Speedway - Bobby Rahal - 9th

06/08/1985 - IROC IX Round 2: Mid-Ohio - Cale Yarborough - 12th

1985 - IROC IX Round 4: Michigan International Speedway - Cale Yarborough - 3rd

06/07/1986 - IROC X Round 2: Mid-Ohio - Cale Yarborough - 10th

07/26/1986 - IROC X Round 3: Talladega - Hurley Haywood - 11th

02/13/1987 - IROC XI Round 1: Daytona International Speedway - Dale Earnhardt - 2nd

06/06/1987 - IROC XI Round 2: Mid-Ohio - Al Unser Sr. - 10th

08/01/1987 - IROC XI Round 3: Michigan International Speedway - Al Unser Sr. - 6th

02/12/1988 - IROC XII Round 1: Daytona - Geoff Bodine - 5th

In the early 1990s, the same car was changed to the Dodge Daytona and later in its final form, the Dodge Avenger. While the Avenger did not race in its current guise, the car played a critical role of being a practice and familiarization platform, driver evaluation and testing, and IROC Golf Driving School participant in the early 1990s Daytona.

The practice activity in this IROC racer is nothing short of legendary, with a star-studded driver list that included Rusty Wallace, Al Unser Jr., Mark Martin, Tommy Kendall, Scott Pruett, Geoff Brabham, Aerie Luyendyk, Hurley Haywood, Ricky Rudd, Harry Grant, Bob Wollek, Pete Halsmer, along with test drivers Jim Sauter, Dave Marcis, George Follmer, and Dick Trickle.

This Dodge Avenger IROC race car has been fully restored and race prepped by Ray Evernham Enterprises and is in race-ready condition. It is equipped with a 350 C.I.D. V8 engine, 4-speed manual transmission, aluminum quick-change rear end, Penske Racing shocks, 4-wheel disc brakes, and 15"x10" Norris Chrome wheels. Eligible for this year's 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion as well as other historic racing events, this piece of IROC history has the racing heritage that many race cars dream of having.