USAR: Top 36 final breakdown

Hooters ProCup Series Top-36 Final Breakdown

Longs, SC-Though the Hooters ProCup season reached its climax at USA Int'l Speedway, the top-36 drivers still have one date to look forward to: Jan. 8, 2005.

At the season-ending banquet in Myrtle Beach, drivers that finished inside the top 36 in final points will receive their point-fund checks.

Clay Rogers, 2004 Hooters ProCup Champion, will take the majority of the $1.2 million in point fund money, netting $225,000 in point money, but the rest of the championship drivers didn't fair too bad either.

Listed below are: the final standings in points; finish at USA Int'l; point positions and point fund money gained and lost at USA Int'l; 2004 total winnings and a Championship Finale recap.

1. Clay Rogers (No. 44s Ultra Comp Trailers Ford)
2004 Points Total: 861
Points standing before USA Int'l: 2nd
Finish at USA Int'l: 4th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: +$140,000
Point Fund Money Won: $225,000
2004 Total Winnings: $325,700

Hooters 300 Recap
As the pace car passed Rogers' lifeless machine on Lap 130, it looked like his championship hopes were over. Fortunately, for Rogers, his team was able to push start the No. 44s, and he made his lap up 33 circuits later. After leading the most laps, Rogers only finished fourth, but he won the title after Benny Gordon broke an alternator bracket that knocked all the belts off his engine.

2. Benny Gordon (No. 66n Predator Performance Ford)
2004 Points Total: 843
Points standing before USA Int'l: 1st
Finish at USA Int'l: 27th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: -$140,000
Point Fund Money Won: $60,000
2004 Total Winnings: $205,600

Hooters 300 Recap
Gordon hadn't had a mechanical failure since the second race of the season. But his third DNF of the year came at the most inopportune time. With Gordon poised to take the title, his car began to slow with 100 laps remaining. Each lap, Gordon's car became noticeable slower. And when he coasted to pit road on Lap 228, it was obvious a terminal problem was to blame. Gordon rejoined the race on Lap 240, but he only made a handful of laps before his engine seized. The DNF was a devastating way to end a banner year.

3. Bobby Gill (No. 06s USG Sheetrock Brand Ford)
2004 Points Total: 822
Points standing before USA Int'l: 3rd
Finish at USA Int'l: 1st
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $50,000
2004 Total Winnings: $143,100

Hooters 300 Recap
Thank you, Bobby Gill. That's probably what every fan that stayed until the finish at 3 a.m. uttered on the way home. For the final 10 laps, Gill and Jay Fogleman put on a short-track clinic, rubbing in every turn. In the end, Gill picked up his 10th win at USA Int'l as Fogleman ran out of gas on the final lap.

4. Shane Huffman (No. 84s John Morrell Dinner Bell Ford)
2004 Points Total: 793
Points standing before USA Int'l: 4th
Finish at USA Int'l: 2nd
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $40,000
2004 Total Winnings: $128,900

Hooters 300 Recap
Eliminated from title contention, Huffman wanted to end the season-and his stint at XTRA Motorsports-with a win. Huffman was off to a good start, winning his fifth pole of the season. But once the track went green, Huffman's ride didn't have enough for him to pick up his fourth win of the season. However, he did bypass Fogleman at the line to take second.

5. Jeff Agnew (No. 73n NGA Hooters Golf Tour Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 764
Finish at USA Int'l: 8th
Points standing before USA Int'l: 5th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $30,000
2004 Total Winnings: $108,766

Hooters 300 Recap
Agnew started dead last after engine problems thwarted his qualifying attempt. On Lap 227, Agnew completed his run from the outhouse to the penthouse as he slipped past Bobby Gill for the lead. Agnew's speed didn't hold, but he did finish eighth after starting 36th.

6. Matt Carter (No. 22s HeavyTruckDealers.com Ford)
2004 Points Total: 702
Finish at USA Int'l: 7th
Points standing before USA Int'l: 6th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $28,000
Miller Lite Rookie Bonus: $25,000
2004 Total Winnings: $103,800

Hooters 300 Recap
Carter was one car away from being lapped in the first half of the race, running 20th and 15 sec. behind Benny Gordon at Lap 150. A timely caution at Lap 156 saved Carter-and the rookie of the year title. After making some adjustments during the caution, Carter rallied to finish seventh and take the overall Miller Lite Rookie of the Year.

7. Danny O'Quinn Jr. (No. 02s Homesteader Trailers Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 695
Points standing before USA Int'l: 7th
Finish at USA Int'l: 6th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $26,000
2004 Total Winnings: $87,850

Hooters 300 Recap
O'Quinn Jr. was running 15th with 50 laps to go. Then, on Lap 253, O'Quinn spun in Turn 1. Somehow, O'Quinn charged to sixth at the finish.

8. Gary St. Amant (No. 11n JEGS.com Ford)
2004 Points Total: 682
Points standing before USA Int'l: 8th
Finish at USA Int'l: 5th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $24,000
Miller Lite Rookie Bonus: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $106,300

Hooters 300 Recap
St. Amant was rocket in the final stages of the Hooters 300, blasting from 10th to fifth. St. Amant said he needed 20 more laps to make a run, but he ran out of time. His fifth-place finish left him 20 points behind Carter in the rookie race.

9. Jay Fogleman (No. 4s Lucas Oil Ford)
2004 Points Total: 664
Points standing before USA Int'l: 13th
Finish at USA Int'l: 3rd
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +4
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: +6,000
Point Fund Money Won: $22,000
2004 Total Winnings: $88,850

Hooters 300 Recap
After waging war with Bobby Gill, Fogleman's car limped home out of fuel. It may have been a good thing, however. If both drivers made it to Turn 4, neither would have made it to the finish.

10. Johnny Rumley (No. 8n Lucas Oil Ford)
2004 Points Total: 629
Points standing before USA Int'l: 14th
Finish at USA Int'l: 9th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +4
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: +$5,000
Point Fund Money Won: $20,000
2004 Total Winnings: $90,600

Hooters 300 Recap
Rumley started third and finished ninth. He didn't ruff anyone up and gained four spots in the final points. It was a nice way to end the season.

11. Mardy Lindley (No. 16n Hooters Air Ford)
2004 Points Total: 620
Points standing before USA Int'l: 12th
Finish at USA Int'l: 14th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: +$1,000
Point Fund Money Won: $18,000
2004 Total Winnings: $87,800

Hooters 300 Recap
Lindley didn't play much of a factor at USA Int'l, qualifying eighth and finish 14th. His night could have been worse, though. Lindley broke a rear end during the BFGoodrich Tires Pit Crew Challenge. Had he not been involved in the competition, Lindley would have lost the rear end during the race.

12. Michael Ritch (No. 28s Jackaroo Sauces Ford)
2004 Points Total: 616
Points standing before USA Int'l: 9th
Finish at USA Int'l: 34th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -3
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: -$5,000
Point Fund Money Won: $17,000
2004 Total Winnings: $73,216

Hooters 300 Recap
After back-to-back second-place finishes, Ritch finished the Championship Series like he started it, dropping out early. Ritch finished 34th after recording his fifth DNF of the season and his third of the Championship Series.

13. Billy Bigley Jr. (No. 25s Peerless Woodworking Ford)
2004 Points Total: 615
Finish at USA Int'l: 33rd
Points standing before USA Int'l: 10th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -3
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: -$4,000
Point Fund Money Won: $16,000
2004 Total Winnings: $61,600

Hooters 300 Recap
As a resident of Naples, Fla., Bigley Jr. had his shortest haul of the season traveling to Lakeland. Unfortunately, Bigley Jr. also had his shortest outing. Bigley Jr. made 118 laps before retiring in 33rd place.

14. Danny Sammons (No. 97n AARN.com Ford)
2004 Points Total: 612
Points standing before USA Int'l: 17th
Finish at USA Int'l: 12th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +3
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: +$3,000
Point Fund Money Won: $15,000
2004 Total Winnings: $61,700

Hooters 300 Recap
Sammons bested his 21st-place average at USA Int'l, finishing 12th after starting seventh. He jumped into the top 15 in final points and added $3,000 to his season winnings with the effort.

15. Brad Rogers (No. 29s Tiger Rear Ends Ford)
2004 Points Total: 603
Points standing before USA Int'l: 15th
Finish at USA Int'l: 22nd
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $14,000
Miller Lite Rookie Bonus: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $85,200

Hooters 300 Recap
Were team orders in effect at USA Int'l? The younger Rogers ran out of gas after running 156 laps without pitting. He was unable to keep Gordon from leading at halfway and lost several laps after stalling on the track. Rogers had a top-five car, but he finished 22nd.

16. David Pletcher (No. 51 Wil-Trans Ford)
2004 Points Total: 601
Points standing before USA Int'l: 11th
Finish at USA Int'l: 36th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -5
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: -$6,000
Point Fund Money Won: $12,000
2004 Total Winnings: $59,100

Hooters 300 Recap
Cheech and Chong may sponsor Pletcher in '05. For the seventh time in the Championship Series, Pletcher went up in smoke at USA Int'l, finishing 36th after dropping an engine on Lap 93.

17. Joe Gaita (No. 42s U.S. Insurance Ford)
2004 Points Total: 601
Points standing before USA Int'l: 19th
Finish at USA Int'l: 13th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +2
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $12,000
2004 Total Winnings: $61,000

Hooters 300 Recap
Gaita should have roughed everyone up and blamed it on Brian Ross, whose car can be easily mistaken for Gaita's. Instead, in typical Gaita fashion, he raced hard and clean, finishing 13th.

18. Mike Laughlin Jr. (No. 7s Tucson Ford)
2004 Points Total: 592
Points standing before USA Int'l: 20th
Finish at USA Int'l: 17th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +2
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $12,000
2004 Total Winnings: $53,300

Hooters 300 Recap
The season finale was a microcosm of Laughlin's year. The Tucson Ford was exceptionally fast, but he only managed to finish 17th. Perhaps, it's better than being a slug and stroking into 17th.

19. Eric Corbett (No. 75n Larry & Sons Ford)
2004 Points Total: 586
Points standing before USA Int'l: 16th
Finish at USA Int'l: 31st
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -3
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $12,000
2004 Total Winnings: $39,300

Hooters 300 Recap
Corbett was poised to make another jump in points. But when Forrest Urban Jr. broke on a restart, Corbett slammed the inside wall. For the second year in a row, Corbett was loaded up long before the checkered waved. Corbett finished 31st.

20. Mart Nesbitt (No. 92s Blue Cross Blue Shield Ford)
2004 Points Total: 577
Points standing before USA Int'l: 18th
Finish at USA Int'l: 30th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -2
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $12,000
2004 Total Winnings: $53,000

Hooters 300 Recap
What a difference a year can make. Last year, Nesbitt finished third at USA Int'l and took fifth in points in '04. This season, the veteran dropped out on Lap 161, finished 30th and dropped to 20th in points.

21. Randy Gentry (No. 19s HarrisionsWorkwear.com Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 575
Points standing before USA Int'l: 21st
Finish at USA Int'l: 11th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Won: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $35,600

Hooters 300 Recap
Gentry ran as high as third during the Hooters 300. A late-race tire rub brought Gentry in for an unscheduled stop, dropping the rookie to 15th. He charged to a 11th-place finish, but Gentry was much better than 11th.

22. D.J. Kennington (No. 77n S.M. Freight Inc. Pontiac)
2004 Points Total: 573
Points standing before USA Int'l: 22nd
Finish at USA Int'l: 10th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $37,450

Hooters 300 Recap
In his second start at USA Int'l, Kennington finished 10th. He ran as high as seventh, but 10th wasn't bad for his second start at USA Int'l.

23. Daniel Johnson (No. 16s Naturally Fresh Ford)
2004 Points Total: 552
Points standing before USA Int'l: 23rd
Finish at USA Int'l: 18th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $30,566

Hooters 300 Recap
Johnson finished 18th after starting 25th. His run was uneventful until he rubbed Clay Rogers late in the race, drawing the ire of race control. It seems the Championship Series isn't the time for payback.

24. Joel Kauffman (No. 44n L.A. West Vans Pontiac)
2004 Points Total: 542
Points standing before USA Int'l: 24th
Finish at USA Int'l: 24th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $53,900

Hooters 300 Recap
In New York, someone can clean you windshield during one cycle of a traffic light. At Lakeland, Kauffman's team needed a lap to degrease his windshield. It cost him a sure top-10 finish. Kauffman ended the season with a 24th-place showing.

25. Brian Ross (No. 42n U.S. Insurance Ford)
2004 Points Total: 529
Finish at USA Int'l: 16th
Points standing before USA Int'l: 25th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $10,000
2004 Total Winnings: $48,600

Hooters 300 Recap
After a season of ups and downs, Ross ended '04 in the middle, finishing 16th.

26. Sam Fullone (No. 48n Pero Vegetables Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 525
Finish at USA Int'l: 15th
Points standing before USA Int'l: 26th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $8,000
2004 Total Winnings: $39,900

Hooters 300 Recap
Fullone showed his team is poised for '05 at USA Int'l. Fullone ran in the top 10 often and finished 15th.

27. Joe Harrison Jr. (No. 57n Kenny's Sanitary Service Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 509
Points standing before USA Int'l: 27th
Finish at USA Int'l: 25th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $8,000
2004 Total Winnings: $35,300

Hooters 300 Recap
Most people wouldn't rejoice of finishing 27th in points, but Joe Harrison Jr. did. Running on shoe-string budget, Harrison Jr. made all five Championship Series' events and nabbed $8,000 in point fund money.

28. Jody Lavender (No. 99s Hartsville Community Bank Ford)
2004 Points Total: 508
Points standing before USA Int'l: 29th
Finish at USA Int'l: 19th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $8,000
2004 Total Winnings: $46,000

Hooters 300 Recap
After showing might in the midseason, Lavender, who finished 19th at USA Int'l, struggled down the stretch, averaging a 21.1-finishing position in the final seven races.

29. George Brunnhoelzl III (No. 20 Island Construction Ford)
2004 Points Total: 501
Points standing before USA Int'l: 28th
Finish at USA Int'l: 29th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $8,000
2004 Total Winnings: $35,600

Hooters 300 Recap
Brunnhoelzl III ran in the top 10 until being involved in an incident shortly before the halfway mark. Brunnhoelzl finished 29th.

30. Calvin Redwine (No. 8s N-ergy Beverage Ford)
2004 Points Total: 496
Points standing before USA Int'l: 31st
Finish at USA Int'l: 20th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: +$3,000
Point Fund Money Won: $8,000
2004 Total Winnings: $30,500

Hooters 300 Recap
In his swan song, Redwine finished 20th.

31. Jimmy Spencer Jr. (No. 36n Bill Miller Equipment Sales Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 494
Points standing before USA Int'l: 30th
Finish at USA Int'l: 26th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: -$3,000
Point Fund Money Won: $5,000
2004 Total Winnings: $26,366

Hooters 300 Recap
Spencer Jr. came along way during the season, but it all ended with a crash on Lap 260.
His third spin of the night broke the rear end and relegated him to a 26th-place finish.

32. Michelle Theriault (No. 12s Les-Care Kitchens Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 393
Points standing before USA Int'l: 32nd
Finish at USA Int'l: 35th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: 0
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $5,000
2004 Total Winnings: $19,700

Hooters 300 Recap
Theriault started 30th and finished 35th after a mechanical failure.

33. Don Satterfield (No. 1s Hawk Saw Blades Ford)
2004 Points Total: 462
Points standing before USA Int'l: 34th
Finish at USA Int'l: 23rd
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $5,000
2004 Total Winnings: $30,166

Hooters 300 Recap
Satterfield's Ford debut didn't go as well as he would have liked. Satterfield started 28th and finished 23rd.

34. Randy Humphrey (No. 93s Anderson Aggregates Ford)
2004 Points Total: 440
Finish at USA Int'l: 28th
Points standing before USA Int'l: 35th
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $5,000
2004 Total Winnings: $26,200

Hooters 300 Recap
Humphrey started 33rd and finished 28th.

35. Bud Kenny (No. 13s Spa-Guy Chevrolet)
2004 Points Total: 431
Points standing before USA Int'l: 36th
Finish at USA Int'l: 21st
Point Positions Gained/Lost: +1
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $5,000
2004 Total Winnings: $19,900

Hooters 300 Recap
Kenny made great strides during the year, and it culminated during the Championship Series. After averaging a 26th-place finish during the regular season, Kenny lowered that average to 21st during the final five races.

36. Glenn Gault (No. 32n American Title & Trust Ford)
2004 Points Total: 406
Finish at USA Int'l: Did Not Race
Points standing before USA Int'l: 32nd
Point Positions Gained/Lost: -4
Point Fund Money Gained/Lost: $0
Point Fund Money Won: $5,000
2004 Total Winnings: $41,500

Hooters 300 Recap
Didn't race, didn't matter. After five DNFs in a row, Gault elected to skip the season finale. It cost him four spots in points, but didn't drop him outside the paying positions.

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