SBRS: Formula Dodge National Championship schedule

Now in its second year, the Formula Dodge National Championship Presented by RACER, the Official National Amateur Championship of CART, announces its schedule for the 2001 season. Once again, the championship will consist of 13 rounds contested over seven weekends spanning from April though December. The 2001 series will visit several new venues including Sebring International Raceway, Laguna Seca Raceway and will conclude at the World Center of Speed, Daytona International Speedway. Round 5 will be conducted at the June Sprints at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis. while Rounds 8 and 9 will be held in support of the NASCAR Busch North Series at Lime Rock Park in Northwest Connecticut. The remaining rounds will be run in conjunction with the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Regional Championships, the Official Regional Amateur Championships of CART.

The "by invitation only" field of 24 drivers consists of the best amateur racers and top karters form around the world. For the first time ever, the 2001 champion will be recognized as the CART National Amateur Champion. Also at stake is full scholarship to be awarded to the National Champion to compete in the 2002 Barber Dodge Pro Series, the Official Professional Entry Level Series of CART, part of the $1.3 million Barber-CART Scholarship Ladder.

Each race weekend consist of a 30-minute practice session, one 30-minute qualifying session for the first race of the weekend and one 18-minute qualifying session for the second race of the weekend. Round 5 at the June Sprints will have a slightly modified version of this schedule.

<pre> 2001 Formula Dodge National Championship Presented by RACER

Sebring International Raceway, Sebring Fla., April 28, 29 -- Rounds 1 & 2 Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, Ind., May 12, 13 -- Rounds 3&4 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., June 23, 24 -- Round 5 Putnam Park, Mount Meridian, Ind., August 4,5 -- Rounds 6 & 7 Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, Conn., October 12, 13 -- Rounds 8 & 9 Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, Calif., November 17,18 -- Rounds 10 & 11 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla., December 1,2 -- Rounds 12 & 13

- George Tamayo