Drissi wins Historic IROC Series race at Laguna Seca

Tomy Drissi powered his 2006 Pontiac Firebird to victory in Saturday’s race for the IROC Series Unser Family Cup at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event marked the first time the IROC series has competed at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca since 2002 and the first-ever appearance of all seven generations of IROC cars in one field.

Drissi claimed the top spot on the podium among a field of 26 drivers, fending off former IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti in a 2006 IROC Pontiac Firebird. Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, finished third in a 2003 IROC Pontiac Firebird.

The field was a rolling museum of motorsport history, featuring champions and icons from F1, IndyCar, IMSA and NASCAR. Other drivers included four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon in fourth (2001 IROC Pontiac Firebird), sports car ace Patrick Long in sixth (1977 IROC Chevrolet Camaro) and Bobby Labonte in eighth (2001 IROC Pontiac Firebird)). The field also included Zak Brown, Jenson Button, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Bruce Canepa, Scott Pruett and many more.

The event was part of a special showcase organized by IROC co-owner Ray Evernham, bringing together legendary machinery spanning the series’ original 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR to the final Pontiac Firebirds of the mid-2000s. Serving as Grand Marshal was two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr., whose family has deep roots in IROC history.

On Friday, following the qualifying race, the field of IROC cars formed a colorful caravan from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering at The Quail Lodge for a special parade.

“The field of drivers today was incredible,” said Evernham. “We had Indy 500 winners and champions, Daytona 500 winners and champions, and IROC champions. IROC has been such a huge part of the history of motorsports and now to have all seven generations of these cars on track together for the first time was pure magic for fans and participants alike.”