The twenty-first season of the International Race of Champions started on February 17, 1997. The series used identically prepared Pontiac Firebird Trans Am race cars, and contested races at Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, California Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway. Mark Martin won the IROC championship, his second straight and third in four seasons.
The roster of drivers and final points standings were as follows: