So many trophies, in fact, he had just completed a new trophy room in his palatial Rowan County estate off N.C. 152 near Mooresville.

That room burned Saturday afternoon in a spectacular fire that destroyed the 7,000-square-foot home.

When the fire started about 12:30 p.m. — its cause is still under investigation — no one was home. Irvan, his wife, Kim, and their two children were in a plane, on their way home from a vacation in the Bahamas.

By the time Irvan and his wife arrived home — the children were dropped with friends — little remained but firefighters dousing hot spots.

As the remains of Irvan’s palatial estate continued to smolder at 7:30 p.m., Brett Nelson, Irvan’s financial manager, talked with the few reporters left at the side of N.C. 152.

Nelson said Irvan learned his home was on fire when he landed at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. Nelson reached Irvan by cell phone as they were driving to Mooresville.

“He was obviously upset,” Nelson said. “And I think Kim was very upset.

“I think everyone should imagine themselves in that situation — if your house just burned down. It devastates you.”

He said the Irvans would be staying with friends in the area.

Nelson agreed with Rowan County Fire Marshall Randall Faggart’s assessment that the house was a total loss. He said the Irvans had been living at the home, their main residence, for about three years.

The new trophy room “was clearly destroyed,” Nelson said. “We don’t know if any of the trophies made it ...

“It was so pretty in there.”

Firefighters did manage to save Irvan’s garage — and the Mercedes parked inside. While the flames still roared throughout the home, firefighters used one of their vehicles to tow the Mercedes to safety, even though it was still in park. “They certainly deserve all the credit for saving that car,” Nelson said.

During Irvan’s career in the Winston Cup series, which lasted from 1987 to 1999, the driver won a total of 15 races.