|
RACING SERIES BIOS & HISTORY |
|
RACING SERIES BIOS & HISTORY |
|
United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) USARacing (formerly known as the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series) is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is sanctioned by the United Speed Alliance Racing. The series races throughout the United States primarily on short tracks. The sanctioning body was formed by Hooters owner Robert Brooks. Brooks created the body to honor the memories of four people who died in an April 1, 1993 airplane crash: Brooks' son Mark Brooks, reigning NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki, Dan Duncan, and pilot Charlie Campbell. The sanctioning body started a late model series. Brooks decided to stop sanctioning the late model series in favor of the Pro Cup series while at the September 1997 race at the Milwaukee Mile. Brooks wanted to move to steel-bodied racecars. There were eleven races in 1997.The series was expanded to twenty races in 1998. In 2001, the series devised a "northern division" and a "southern division" that race separately. After the regular season, the top drivers from each division participate in a five race playoff series called the Four Champions Challenge. Winners of the respective division are awarded a 25-point bonus for the playoff and a cash bonus as regular season champions. The driver who gets the most points in the Four Champions races, and the seeding points, (four races in 2001, five races from 2002 until 2005, six in 2006, 5 races in 2007) is declared the USAR champion. At the end of the season, each of the top 30 teams that competes in at least half of the series' regular season races in their division is given entry points based on the number of points one competitor can earn for finishing in that respective position in a race. Beginning in 2006, the top 15 in each division automatically qualified. Each driver collects points for each race they participate in during the Championship Series, adding to their entry points collected from their regular season finish. A ten-point bonus is awarded for every driver who attempts to qualify at every race, although driver must race three of the six races to qualify for postseason bonus prizes. Cash bonuses are available for winning four, five, or all six postseason races. In 2003, Shane Huffman won a bonus for winning three of the five races. The success of this series which led to NASCAR devising its own playoff system in 2004. Four Champions Playoff ChampionsThe following drivers won the Four Champions playoff series after the series was split into two divisions:
Series Champions
Rookies of the Year
Other notable alumni
|
