USAR: Shane Huffman signs 2001 sponsor

HICKORY, N.C. -- Johnsonville Sausage, primary sponsor for driver Shane Huffman on the USAR Hooters ProCup Series, announced Monday that they are extending their sponsorship agreement with the Hickory, N.C. native for the 2001 season.

Based in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Johnsonville is the world's leading manufacturer of fine bratwurst, in addition to their breakfast sausage and summer sausage product lines.

"We are extremely pleased with our 'rookie season' as a sponsor in the USAR ProCup Series," said Johnsonville's Randy Wilhoit, Business Manager (Carolinas), "With a new team and a rookie driver, we knew going in that it would be a building process performancewise, but, from a business perspective, this program has exceeded all of our expectations."

Current plans for 2001 have Team Johnsonville Racing running a full schedule in the Southern Division of the USAR ProCup Series and the year-end Four Champions Challenge Series, as well as selected events in USAR's Northern Division Series and the season-opening ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway.

Despite being one of only 18 drivers to qualify for every ProCup event, Huffman endured a somewhat rocky 2000 season, thanks in large part to a rash of mechanical failures. In the search for more consistency in 2001, Team Johnsonville Racing will be undergoing reorganization during the off-season, with a crew chief to be named in the near future, and will now be based in Hickory.

"After the season we've had, we're really looking forward to next year," said Shane, "We're very happy to have Johnsonville back on board and they are giving us the ability to make the changes it's going to take to be a contender in this series."

"We've reached agreements with both a chassis builder and a motor program for next year and we've got a short list of crew chiefs possibilities that we're discussing," Shane said, "Our number one priority for 2001 is implementing an extensive testing program. That's something we weren't able to do a whole lot of this year and it probably showed."

Huffman hopes to close out the year on a strong note, as he and Team Johnsonville head south for the season-ending Florida swing of the 2000 USAR ProCup Series. First up is St. Augustine, Fla. and the Florida Speed Park on Saturday, November 11, followed two weeks later by the season finale at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, November 25.

USAR