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What is SRX Racing?

The Superstar Racing Experience, or SRX, returns to the track with new drivers and a new television partner, but what is this racing series?

History of Superstar Racing

International Race of Champions: 1974-2006

While the Superstar Racing Experience has only been racing since 2021, the concept has been done several times before. Back in 1974, Roger Penske and professional football player Les Richter created the International Race Of Champions (IROC).

The concept was to take twelve of the best drivers from across motorsports and place them in identical cars, to showcase driver ability instead of who has the faster car.

The inaugural season saw drivers racing Porsche Carrera RSRs and featured drivers from Formula One, SCCA, Champ Car (now IndyCar), and NASCAR. Mark Donohue won the first championship, winning all four of the races that season, three at Riverside International Raceway and one on the Daytona Road Course.

The series ran several different cars during its years, moving from Porsches to Chevrolet Camaros, Dodge Daytonas and Avengers, and finally Pontiac Trans-Ams. The series maintained its small field of drivers and only held four races a season.

The races were a mix of oval racing and road course racing, giving both oval and road racers equal opportunity. Mark Martin holds the championship record with five IROC Championships, winning in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 2005. The series concluded in 2006, with Tony Stewart being crowned champion, winning at Texas Motor Speedway and the Daytona Road Course.

Hoping to return in 2007, the series could not find a sponsor and canceled the season with hopes to return in 2008. In March of ’08, the IROC Series sold its assets and would not return.

During its time, IROC held 30 seasons of competition. Other famous names who have raced in IROC are:

  • AJ Foyt
  • Mario Andretti
  • Dale Earnhardt Sr.
  • Mark Martin
  • Kevin Harvick
  • Tony Stewart

What is SRX Racing

Stewart, the last IROC Champion, announced in 2020 the formation of the Superstar Racing Experience. Partnered with famous NASCAR crew chief and team owner, Ray Evernham, the series would bring champions and popular racers to tracks across the United States, allowing fans to see big-name drivers at their local tracks.

Alongside the all-star drivers, a track champion would join the race at the track they have won at.

Like IROC, the cars are all equally prepared. Drivers are assigned cars and crew chiefs at random, and no adjustments can be made until the halfway point of the race.

The cars, built by Fury Race Cars, feature a sloping front nose and large wing in the rear, giving them similar characteristics to the Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbirds of 1970. They have spec engines developed by Ilmor Engines and Holley Performance.

The event begins with two heat races. The first is a short 12-minute race that decides the lineup for the second race. In heat two, the field is inverted, meaning the driver who won the first heat will start at the rear. The feature race is only 90 minutes long, with a timeout halfway to allow for adjustments to be made. If a driver wrecks their car, they can use a backup car.

Who races in SRX?

The SRX Series hosts many different drivers from all forms of North American motorsport. Drivers have come from IndyCar, NASCAR, Dirt Racing, NHRA, and many more. In 2023, we will see these drivers take the track in SRX.

  • Marco Andretti, IndyCar, 2022 SRX Champion
  • Greg Biffle, NASCAR
  • Clint Bowyer, NASCAR
  • Kyle Busch, NASCAR
  • Helio Castroneves, IndyCar
  • Ron Capps, NHRA
  • Hailie Deegan, NASCAR
  • Austin Dillion, NASCAR
  • Ernie Francis Jr., INDYNXT
  • Denny Hamlin, NASCAR
  • Kevin Harvick, NASCAR
  • Tony Kanaan, NASCAR
  • Kasey Kahne, NASCAR
  • Matt Kenseth, NASCAR
  • Brad Keselowski, NASCAR
  • Bobby Labonte, NASCAR
  • Josef Newgarden, IndyCar
  • Ryan Newman, NASCAR
  • Ryan Preece, NASCAR
  • Ken Schrader, NASCAR
  • Tony Stewart, NASCAR, 2021 SRX Champion
  • Daniel Suarez, NASCAR
  • Paul Tracy, IndyCar
  • Kenny Wallace, NASCAR

Other drivers who have competed in SRX are Bill and Chase Elliott and Dave and Ryan Blaney from NASCAR, Scott Speed, who competed in Formula One and is currently in Rally Cross, and Willy T. Ribbs, who competed in IndyCar.

When does SRX race?:

The Superstar Racing Experience races on Thursday nights, reviving ESPN “Thursday Night Thunder”. Thunder was a broadcast from 1989 to 2002, showcasing dirt and paved oval racing around Indianapolis. It gave viewers the first glimpses of greatness from a young Jeff Gordon and many other racers who went on to compete in NASCAR. SRX broadcasts begin at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Where do they race?

In 2023, SRX with travel to six tracks across the country. The schedule is:

  1. Stafford Motor Speedway, July 13th
  2. Stafford Motor Speedway, previously Thunder Road, July 20th
  3. Motor Mile Speedway, July 27th
  4. Berlin Speedway, August 3rd
  5. Eldora Speedway, August 10th
  6. Lucas Oil Speedway, August 17th

In previous seasons the series has raced at Knoxville Speedway, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, and Five Flags Speedway. The tracks are all famous short oval tracks, paved or dirt.

Who has won in SRX?

Many drivers from all different racing backgrounds have won in SRX. Tony Stewart, holds the wins record with four wins, and the inaugural championship. Chase Elliott is second, with two wins, one at Nashville in 2021 and one at Sharon Speedway in 2022. The other winners in SRX include:

  • Doug Coby, Stafford, 2021
  • Ernie Francis Jr., Lucas Oil, 2021
  • Marco Andretti, Slinger, 2021
  • Helio Castroneves, Five Flags, 2022
  • Ryan Newman, Stafford, 2022
  • Bobby Labonte, Nashville, 2022
  • Denny Hamlin, Stafford, 2023

 

How to Watch

ESPN broadcasts every SRX race this season. Races begin at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Watch some of the best drivers compete every Thursday during the SRX season on ESPN.

Featured image credit: Alan Poizner/The Tennessean

 

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