IROC XXVII

The 25th season of the Crown Royal International Race of Champions began on Friday, February 14, 2003 at Daytona International Speedway. The roster included 12 drivers from five separate racing leagues. The first race saw Mark Martin tie an IROC record 11 career wins, tying him with Al Unser, Jr. and the late great Dale Earnhardt. Rookie Kurt Busch won in only his second start in race 2 after finishing second at Daytona. At Chicagoland, Mike Bliss became the first driver representing the Craftsman Truck Series to win a race in IROC competition. Jimmie Johnson won the final race of the year for his first career IROC victory. Busch clinched the title with his fourth-place showing in the race, as Mark Martin and Mike Bliss, his closest competitors, finished fifth and tenth, respectively.

The roster of drivers and final points standings were as follows: ^[1][2]

Race One (Daytona International Speedway)

1. Mark Martin
2. Kurt Busch
3. Danny Lasoski
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Greg Biffle
6. Steve Kinser
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Sam Hornish, Jr.
9. Mike Bliss
10. Felipe Giaffone
11. Helio Castroneves
12. Ryan Newman

Race Two (Talladega Superspeedway)

1. Kurt Busch
2. Mike Bliss
3. Greg Biffle
4. Sam Hornish, Jr.
5. Mark Martin
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Ryan Newman
8. Jimmie Johnson
9. Steve Kinser
10. Danny Lasoski
11. Felipe Giaffone
12. Helio Castroneves

Race Three (Chicagoland Speedway)

1. Mike Bliss
2. Ryan Newman
3. Kurt Busch
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Mark Martin
6. Jimmie Johnson
7. Sam Hornish, Jr.
8. Scott Sharp
9. Danny Lasoski
10. Helio Castroneves
11. Steve Kinser

Race Four (Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Ryan Newman
4. Kurt Busch
5. Mark Martin
6. Steve Kinser
7. Greg Biffle
8. Helio Castroneves
9. Steve Kinser
10. Mike Bliss
11. Sam Hornish, Jr.
12. Danny Lasoski

References