USAR: 2001 Series Plan

United Speed Alliance Racing Announces Series Plan

Fayetteville, GA -- United Speed Alliance President Gene Cox announced the 2001 plan for the Hooters ProCup Series last Wednesday afternoon during a national conference call with media and six track officials scheduled to host Hooters ProCup Series races in 2001. The touring series will venture into the northern region of the United States for the first time next season with 13 out of 30 events scheduled to take place north of Virginia.

The Hooters ProCup Series currently has 20 races held in six southeastern states from February through November. The schedule next season will create the need for two regions of competition which resulted in the creation of a new series plan for 2001.

"We will have two distinct regions of competition next season," said Cox. "We will have 11 regular-season races scheduled in the North, while 14 regular-season events will be held in the South. After those events are completed we will invite the top 25 drivers in points from their respective region. Those 50 drivers will then have the opportunity to compete in the Four Champions Championship Series."

The Four Champions Championship Series events will be held at the end of the season and will consist of five races to be held to determine a national champion in the USAR Hooters ProCup Series. Two of the Four Champions Championship Series events will be held in the North while three more races will be scheduled in the South with the season-ending race to be held at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.

"We have worked to create a plan that keeps the racers in mind," added Cox. "We have set up the two regions so that drivers can keep their travel costs down and race in their respective regions. A driver can compete in all 30 events if he or she wishes to do so, but they can only collect points from one region."

"The top 25 from each division are assured rewards from the points fund," added Cox. "Where they finish in the final standings will be determined from the Four Champions Championship Series."

Four of the five Four Champions Championship Series dates have been scheduled so far with Chicago Motor Speedway to host the first Four Champions Challenge Series race on September 15 and Jennerstown Speedway to host the second race two weeks later on September 29. Myrtle Beach Speedway is scheduled to host the next race on October 20 and USA International Speedway on November 24.

"We feel this format was the best for everyone," said Cox. "This allows our better financed teams a chance to race 30 times a year in new markets and the teams who maybe couldn't afford to travel across the country all summer long a chance to compete for the championship without too much added expense."

USAR will also offer its bonus plan to drivers who compete in the Hooters ProCup Series. Through the support of Eastern Foods Incorporated, makers of Naturally Fresh Dressings & Dips and Jackaroo Sauces, the Four Champions Challenge Series Bonus will once again be offered in 2001. The bonus will pay a driver based on the number of races he or she wins during the five-race Championship Series.

If one driver can win any three of the races they will win a $25,000 bonus. If a driver can win four of the races they can collect a $50,000 bonus while any driver successful enough to sweep all five season-ending races will take home $100,000 courtesy of Eastern Foods, Inc.

The 2001 rulebooks and marketing information for USAR member teams should be ready for release by the end of November with only "minor" changes considered in the rulebook from its current 2000 format.

USAR hopes to finalize the current "tentative schedule" into a finalized schedule by the end of November in addition to the rulebook and schedule.