IROC: True Value Pit Notes, Daytona

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Daytona Beach, FL - The 2001 True Value IROC Series got under way at the Daytona International Speedway Tuesday afternoon with the series' first practice session in preparation for race one on Friday, February 16.

2001 is the 25th anniversary season for the series, which hosts 12 drivers from different series in identically prepared Pontiac Firebird Trans Am race cars. In tribute, the test cars used for setup and driver practice will showcase the names of True Value IROC champions on the door panels. Each of the four events will feature four different champions, representing all 16 champions by the season finale at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Daytona event will feature 1980 Champion, Bobby Allison on the black Pontiac Firebird Trans AM, 1979 Champion, Mario Andretti on the red Firebird and the 1974 inaugural IROC Champion, Mark Donohue on the blue. Yet to be determined is a fourth test car, which will honor the current 2000 True Value IROC Champion, Dale Earnhardt.

Series drivers, Scott Goodyear representing the Indy Racing Northern Light Series and Kenny Brack representing the CART FedEx Championship Series were on hand to practice with series test drivers, Dave Marcis, Jim Sauter, Dick Trickle and Andy Hillenburg.

Scott Goodyear is a rookie to the series, Kenny Brack ran in 1999, finishing sixth. "Just paint three big yellow stripes on me, I am the student here," said Goodyear, "but this is the most fun you could possibly have in a race car." Kenny Brack said, "My first run, you know, I took a little time to get the feel again, but in my second run, I was feeling very good."

Round one of the True Value IROC series will be broadcast on Sunday, February 18 at 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. The series continues with race two at the Talladega Superspeedway, April 21, race three at Michigan International Speedway, June 9 and the season finale at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, August 4.

Text Provided By IROC

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