Drivers Waltrip, Elliott and Gant Accept Invitations to Compete in 10th IROC Series

TINTON FALLS, N.J. —  Stock car stars Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Harry Gant are the first three drivers to accept invitations to compete in the the 10th International Race of Champions series.

The four-race series will match a dozen top drivers from a variety of racing series’ competing in identically prepared IROC Z-28 Chevrolet Camaros.

The series, which pays $150,000 to the overall winner, will open Feb. 14 at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Waltrip, who will be appearing in his sixth IROC series, is the defending NASCAR Winston Cup champion. He won last year’s IROC opener at Daytona International Speedway, but lost the series title to Gant in a tie-breaker.

Elliott will make his IROC debut after dominating the NASCAR circuit last year with 11 victories, 11 pole positions and more than $2 million in earnings. He wound up second to Waltrip in the NASCAR standings.

Gant gained the IROC title in his first series appearance by winning the 1985 finale at Michigan International Speedway. He was third in the NASCAR stock car standings.

The other IROC races will be June 7 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio; July 26 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega, Ala., and Aug. 9 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course in Watkins Glen, N.Y.