Chevrolet is stepping back into the spotlight of one of motorsport’s most legendary series. The brand has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the reborn International Race of Champions (IROC), rekindling a partnership that stretches back more than fifty years.

The announcement came earlier this week from IROC Holdings LLC, the group led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham and former team owner Rob Kauffman, in collaboration with General Motors. The move signals a return to form for both Chevy and IROC, two names that have been tied together since the mid-1970s.

A Camaro Legacy

Chevrolet first became part of the IROC story in 1974, when the series debuted with a dozen identical Camaro race cars. The drivers were the best of the best: Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Graham Hill, and other racing icons all strapped into Camaros that season. The Camaro remained the official competition car until 1989, before GM later supplied the Pontiac Firebird from 1996 through IROC’s final season in 2006.

That history is exactly what makes this new agreement so significant. Chevy’s return as the presenting sponsor connects the series’ modern revival directly to its golden era.

“Chevrolet is proud of our long and rich history with IROC, which dates back more than half a century, and is honored to be the presenting sponsor,” said Todd Christensen, Director of Chevrolet Motorsports Marketing. “We look forward to seeing the stars and cars back on track in a revitalized IROC.”

Back On Track

The renewed partnership was officially showcased this past August during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Fans were treated to a rare sight: 27 authentic IROC machines, including several Camaros from the 1974–1989 era, back on the asphalt.

Behind the wheel were drivers who had helped shape the series decades earlier. Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Scott Pruett, Danny Sullivan, and Ken Schrader all returned to pilot the very same cars they once raced in competition. The mix of nostalgia and high-speed action captured exactly what IROC stood for.

“The excitement from fans and drivers around the revival of the IROC brand has been incredible, and Chevrolet’s commitment only reinforces that we’re building something truly special,” said Ray Evernham, Co-Principal of IROC Holdings.

With Chevy once again carrying the banner, the International Race of Champions is poised to bring its unique style of competition to a new generation of fans, while celebrating the history that made it legendary.