The twentieth season of IROC competition started on February 16, 1996. IROC XX was the first year that the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was used in competition, and contested races at Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway. Mark Martin won the first night race in the history of the series in race three at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and won again in the season finale at Michigan International Speedway propelling him to a come-from-behind IROC championship, his second in three seasons.
The roster of drivers and final points standings were as follows:
| Position | Driver | Points | Winnings | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Martin | 61 | $225,000 | NASCAR Winston Cup |
| 2 | Robby Gordon | 54 | $100,000 | Indy Car |
| 3 | Johnny Benson | 50 | $60,000 | NASCAR Busch Series |
| 4 | Terry Labonte | 48 | $50,000 | NASCAR Winston Cup |
| 5 | Al Unser, Jr. | 48 | $45,000 | Indy Car |
| 6 | Sterling Marlin | 40 | $40,000 | NASCAR Winston Cup |
| 7 | Scott Pruett | 40 | $40,000 | Indy Car |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt | 39 | $40,000 | NASCAR Winston Cup |
| 9 | Tommy Kendall | 36 | $40,000 | SCCA Trans-Am Series |
| 10 | Jeff Gordon | 30 | $40,000 | NASCAR Winston Cup |
| 11 | Rusty Wallace | 26 | $40,000 | NASCAR Winston Cup |
| 12 | Steve Kinser | 25 | $40,000 | World of Outlaws |