TC Daily Pit Stop: IROC is Back; Norm Benning Close to Best Opportunity Ever; Ward Burton to Make Racing Return; RIP Tim Steele
TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, January 8th, 2024
Evernham, Kauffman Set to Revive Legendary IROC Brand in 2024
The IROC brand has been laying dormant for 18 years, but on Monday, the revival of the iconic International Race of Champions was announced. NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham and Rob Kauffman have acquired the brand and formed a new joint venture named IROC Holdings LLC.
The new venture is planning to hold the first IROC race since the racing series shuttered in 2006. The plan at this time is a single vintage race in 2024, which will feature original IROC Chevrolet Camaros from the 1970s.
No additional details about the event are available at this time.
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Norm Benning Close on Funding for ‘Best Opportunity I’ve Ever Had’
Norm Benning, a 35-year journeyman driver in NASCAR, is currently in the process of finalizing a deal to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, and says that the organization he’s working with is top-tier, and would provide him the “best opportunity I’ve ever had”.
“If we can put this together, it’s gonna be good,” said Benning of the opportunity ahead.
There’s one small problem, though. Benning hasn’t quite secured the funding necessary to stake his claim on the seat. Benning says he is roughly 10 days away from the deadline to secure funding for the ride, and that he is coming close.
“I’m not looking for one person. I mean, it’s possible, but I would rather just people the opportunity to get their name on the truck,” said Benning. “We’re just running out of time here pretty quick, but right now, I got just enough money to get in trouble, you know what I mean? So, everything helps at this point.”
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Ward Burton Returns to Driver Seat For Charity Event at Orange County Speedway
It’s been 12 years since 2002 Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton sat behind the wheel of a race car, but the veteran racer is nearing a return to the track. Burton will compete in the Orange Krush 200 invitational Late Model event at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC on March 28th.
Burton will join his son Jeb Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, and a star-studded cast of drivers in the event.
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Tim Steele, Three-Time ARCA Menards Series Champion, Passes Away Aged 55
Tim Steele, a legendary force in the ARCA Menards Series, has passed away at the age of 55.
His daughter, Kelsey Slade, posted an update to Facebook on Sunday morning, saying: “This morning, my dad peacefully took the checkered flag here on earth. His life was an exhilarating ride, always at full throttle, driven by a passion for racing and a wild spirit. While many knew him for his accomplishments on the racetrack, his role as a dad and grandpa was by far the greatest victory. God Speed Dad, I love you.”
Steele, a native of Michigan, was a three-time ARCA Menards Series champion and made 28 NASCAR National Series starts between 1992 and 1999 with a best finish of fifth coming in the 1997 NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.