USAR: Agreement reach with local cable companies

USAR AT REACHES 56 MILLION HOMES

FAYETTEVILLE, GA - United Speed Alliance Racing announced it has reached agreements with five regional cable networks to broadcast Hooters ProCup Series events during the 2001 season. Speedvision will remain the primary national network to broadcast races for the five year-old touring series.

Agreements have been reached with the following regional companies: Comcast Sports Southeast, Comcast Philadelphia, Comcast Empire, Home Team Sports, and Sunshine. This will make the total households reached with the 2001 television package for the Series at 56 million.

"We are very excited to have a working relationship established with these regional networks," said USAR President Gene Cox. "While we are very pleased with our broadcast schedule on Speedvision, the regional networks will only enhance our ability to reach as many race fans as possible through television."

USAR is currently in its second year with Speedvision to broadcast the races primetime in both east coast and west coast time slots. Speedvision will retain initial broadcast rights that currently show races on tape-delay Thursday nights at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. with another broadcast at noon the next day to promote the lunch at Hooters promotion currently scheduled at Hooters locations throughout the country.

Sunshine also began its second season with USAR and enjoys a strong following with five of its 30 events held in the sunshine state in 2001.

Comcast Sports Southeast and Home Team Sports began broadcasting Hooters ProCup Series races during the second half of last season and will once again carry the Series. Comcast Philadelphia and Comcast Empire will join Home Team Sports in complementing Speedvision's coverage in the northern United States.

Sunshine begins its second season airing races in the southern United States along with Comcast Sports Southeast. The geographic coverage of the television package makes the current agreements on of the best comprehensive packages in the history of the Series.

"We feel this is the best television package we have ever assembled for USAR," added Cox. "We are fortunate to have the support of Hallbrook Productions, Hooters and Eastern Foods. We appreciate the support of our sponsors, competitors and fans who help make this series stronger and stronger each season."

USAR will venture into six new states this season and having the added television coverage can only benefit the Series according to Cox.

"We are entering uncharted territory for this Series," said Cox. "We have had a lot of interest from fans and competitors from all across the country and this television package will give us the ability to reach as many people as we can."

While all races are tape-delayed, Cox adds there are advantages to everyone with tape-delayed coverage - when used properly.

"While many people feel tape-delayed coverage has limitations, there are many benefits to everyone," said Cox. "The ability to package the product to ensure every driver and sponsor receives exposure during a telecast is most important to USAR. This series was created to showcase the competitor and sponsor and with this format we can achieve our goals."

The USAR Hooters ProCup Series currently visits 12 states and Canada during its 30-race schedule. The Series will visit Illinois, Indiana, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and the Canadian province of Ontario for the first time.

For more information on listings and airtimes for the races on all networks, please visit the official website of the USAR Hooters ProCup Series www.usarprocup.com.

-USAR-