Bruton Smith confirmed that one of his companies, zMAX, is negotiating to become the sponsor of the International Race of Champions series . The True Value chain of hardware stores will end its association with IROC after this season. “I am not interested in buying IROC,” Smith said. “But I do have people who I’m quite sure have talked a couple of times about maybe becoming a sponsor. We are discussing that with them.” Smith said that while he would leave the management of the series up to IROC president Jay Signore and his team, that does not mean Smith wouldn’t have ideas for possible changes in the series. “We might have some suggestions,” Smith said. “I would like to see it really be an international race of champions. It doesn’t seem they ever quite get that.” Smith said he thinks a “consolidation” of the IROC schedule might be necessary “if you really want to have a championship,” but would not elaborate further. The potential sponsor, zMAX, is a line of engine lubricant products made by a company Smith bought in 1997.( ThatsRacin.com )(5-8-2003)
