USAR: USAR coming to St. Augustine

 FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. -- United Speed Alliance Racing is prepared to return to action on Saturday March 25th with the running of the Jackaroo Sauces ® 250 at Florida Speedpark in St. Augustine, Florida. The series began its fourth season of competition in February and the four-week break has everyone ready to race in America’s oldest city.

 A full field of cars is expected to qualify for the Hooters ProCup Series event. The event will be the first held at the facility for the touring series since track owner John W. Huffman changed the name of the track in northeastern Florida.

 The 1/2-mile facility has hosted three Hooters ProCup Series races since 1998 and each race has produced a different winner. Mario Gosselin is the only driver to win from the pole position while Michael Ritch won the spring race in 1999 and Bobby Gill won this past November.

 Gill, the defending 1999 Hooters ProCup Series National Champion, will look to become the first driver to win back-to-back races at Florida Speedpark. Gill outlasted Derrick Kelley for the win to help clinch his first title last November.

 Another driver among the talented list of over 100 registered so far this season is the 1999 Miller Lite Rookie of the Year driver Steven Christian, who solidified his title with a top-five finish at Florida Speedpark last November. Christian continues his quest for his first career Hooters ProCup Series win.

 “We are very excited about the Hooters ProCup Series returning to Florida Speedpark,” said General Manager Louis Smith. “The Hooters ProCup Series has some of the best drivers in the country and they always entertain the fans who visit Florida Speedpark.”

The Hooters ProCup Series qualifying record for the track was set by Toby Porter last April when he qualified at 17.435 seconds (103.241 mph). While Porter set the pace in last year’s spring race, several new faces have already announced their presence in the series.

 Veteran Late Model Stock competitor Stacy Puryear won the Discount Auto Parts Pole Award at Lakeland in February’s season-opener, and finished his first-ever USAR event with a solid third-place performance in the final standings. Puryear, who overcame a bout with the flu before his strong performance, leads a list of over 35 drivers who have registered to attempt to win the prestigious Miller Lite Rookie of the Year Award for the 2000 season.

 One of the early surprises in the young season has been the strong performance of veteran Charlie Ford. Ford, who has competed in the Series since its current format was created in 1997, finished fourth for his first top-five finish since 1997 after qualifying 20th to start the season-opening race. Ford finished eighth in November at Florida Speedpark and clearly has momentum going into the Jackaroo Sauces ® 250.

 Andy Thurman, who collected his first career win at Lakeland in February, will lead a talented group of drivers such as Jay Fogleman, Mart Nesbitt, Mardy Lindley, Kelley, Gosselin, Jeff Agnew, Tim Clayton, Jabe Jones, Mike Laughlin, Jr. into action next Saturday at Florida Speedpark.

 Jon Wood, who finished second to Thurman at Lakeland, will lead a group of rookies into competition as they continue for rookie bragging rights. David Pletcher and Dexter Canipe were the final two rookie drivers to finish in the top-10 at Lakeland while Kevin Barrett, Chuck Walls, Sean Studer, Clayton Rogers, Brian Vickers, Kertus Davis, Shane Huffman and Regan Smith all look to win Miller Lite Rookie of the Race honors when they arrive in St. Augustine. </html>