The first season of IROC ended on Friday February 15th, two days before the 1974 Daytona 500. Six drivers were eliminated after the third race, leaving Mark Donohue, Peter Revson, David Pearson, George Follmer, Bobby Unser, and A.J. Foyt to fight for the championship in a winner-take-all finale.
Mark Donohue announced his retirement from racing after the third IROC race in October 1973, this race at Daytona was supposed to be his last as a driver before taking the role as President of Team Penske.