USAR: Hooters ProCup Series announces expansion plans

FAYETTEVILLE, GA – (SEPTEMBER 8, 2000) -- USAR President Gene Cox has announced expansion plans for the Hooters ProCup Series for the 2001 season. The USAR Hooters ProCup Series will expand its schedule to 30 races in 2001.

"We are very excited about the 2001 season for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series," said Cox. "We will provide quality short-track racing to an entire new audience of fans from the midwest to the northeast, as well as continue our great racing tradition in the South."

The Hooters ProCup Series has been racing in the southern United States the past four seasons and now looks at the opportunity to bring the 3,300-pound, 550 horsepower stock cars to new tracks in the northern region of the country.

The Hooters ProCup Series and its two (2) separate regions, Northern and Southern, will have a separate points system with drivers eligible to collect points for races in their division. At season’s end the top 25 drivers in each division’s points standings will be eligible to compete in the Championship Series. Drivers can race in all 30 events if they choose, however, the driver will only be able to collect points from one division. This is designed to help keep costs down for the teams that cannot afford the costs associated with a full 30-race schedule, yet give the full-time better financed teams an opportunity to compete on a broader scale."

"USAR is committed to providing affordable racing for its competitors and we feel this is the best way to help keep costs down for the drivers and their teams," said Cox. "The points system will be unique in that points collected by a driver during the regular season will be used to determine who makes it to the championship round. Once you make it to the championship series it is then possible for any one of the 50 drivers eligible to win the championship because a separate points system will be used for the five-race series."

USAR has also announced it will continue its bonus program during the Championship Series for drivers who can win multiple races. Drivers can win bonuses from $25,000 to $100,000 by winning three, four or all five races. The champion of the five-race series could net $350,000 in total awards bringing the championship points fund total to over $1,000,000.

"We have received almost 200 inquiries from drivers wanting information on the Hooters Procup Series and our plans for next year," said Cox. "While we understand not everyone will be able to compete with us next year, the interest is surely there and we are in the process of making our 2001 information available."