By Patrick Reynolds

I miss the International Race of Champions.

The concept of preparing 12 equal cars and letting a dozen of the finest drivers settle a score in a short-distance race is very appealing.

Allowing a driver’s skill to decide the outcome by reducing the extenuating factors:

  • No planned pit stops.
  • Random draws for chassis usage and starting position.
  • Car set ups as close as possible.

An annual four-race series was all that was used to decide an IROC title.

The original idea saw Mark Donohue crowned the 1974 series champion after challenges from George Follmer and Emerson Fittipaldi. Tony Stewart was the final titleholder in 2006, winning two of the four races.

Lack of sponsorship forced IROC to initially postpone their 2007 season and eventually shut down the series. Sadly the equipment has been sold off and the tour no longer exists.

But if I were the all-knowing ruler of IROC, and logistics, money, and reality were not obstacles, here would be my personal 2012 driver lineup.

Tony Stewart The NASCAR Cup Champion squeaked into the Chase. Then he put on a clinic on how to turn 26 races of frustration into 10 races of triumph.

Sebastian Vettel Formula One’s champion and dominator. Vettel clinched the crown with four races left in the season. The only drama he left on the table was how high his winning and performance statistics could rise. He brought back memories of Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari performances a decade ago.

Dario Franchitti The Indycar Champion did not get to celebrate after the tour’s final 2011 race. Las Vegas, and maybe the season, will be remembered for the tragic loss of Dan Wheldon. Overshadowed were Franchitti’s three wins and the championship lead entering the last round. He was the Indycar star that would have been honored had the year not ended in such a sad manner.

Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas Grand Am Road Racing Champions who co-drove Chip Ganassi’s title winning ride. They represent the American sports car scene as well as anyone. Pruett and Rojas are the current benchmark in which road racers are measured and they both would get IROC berths. There is no way to accurately separate the pair. And why would you?

Carl Edwards He finished the year tied with Stewart for the NASCAR Cup championship. Stewart won on a tie-breaking system. This is as close as the fight could get. Edwards is surely one of the top stock car drivers in the nation.

Jason Line Years ago, John Force lobbied for a drag racer to be included in the IROC lineup. I agree. NHRA had four major champions: Del Worsham in Top Fuel, who retired to be crew chief for Alexis DeJoria at Kalitta Motorsports; Matt Hagan in Funny Car; Eddie Craweic in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Jason Line in Pro Stocks. Of the three drivers still behind the wheel in 2012, Line won his title by the widest margin. He gets the IROC nod.

Will Power Indycar was a two-man title battle for most of the season. Power gave Franchitti the biggest challenge. Who knows how Las Vegas would have ended had the race been completed? But Power’s six victories shine a spotlight on his performance.

Jason Meyers The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Champion represents one of the toughest tours to follow. Dirt racing is a pure form of American motorsports that keeps the present grounded to its roots. The soon-to-retire Meyers would be excellent in finding room in his schedule to drive here. Steve Kinser and Danny Lasoski have seen IROC winner’s circles before. Why not Meyers?

Jenson Button Formula One’s championship runner up won in Canada, Hungary, and Japan but gave no title challenge to Vettel. Button was the best of the rest and I wanted two F1 guys. Button gets the spot.

Greg Pursley The NASCAR West Series champ won 6 out of 14 races for a .429 batting average, highest amongst the NASCAR Hometrack Series. He makes a nice NASCAR short track representative with the strength he showed against the competition West of the Mississippi.

Rick Eckert The World of Outlaws Late Model Champion did with fenders what Meyers did with open wheels. He claimed a tough championship against tough competition on tough dirt tracks. Eckert also was the Eastern Motorsports Press Association’s driver of the year. He rounds out the field and the dirt track representation.

(Patrick Reynolds is a former professional NASCAR team mechanic who hosts Motor Week LIVE! on RacersReunion Radio Mondays at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT)

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