The USAR Hooter 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 series title sponsor is Hooters, an international chain of restaurants. Local and national companies sponsor most races.

History

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.^[1] 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.^[1] 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.

Media

All thirty races in 2006 were televised on Speed, Altitude, Comcast SportsNet West, Comcast Local, and America One. Starting in 2008, all USAR Hooters Pro Cup Races are televised on Versus, but one week after the race occurs, and edited down to an hour.

Drivers

Four Champions Playoff Champions

The following drivers won the Four Champions playoff series after the series was split into two divisions:

• 2007 Bobby Gill
• 2006 Clay Rogers
• 2005 Benny Gordon
• 2004 Clay Rogers
• 2003 Shane Huffman
• 2002 Jason Sarvis
• 2001 Bobby Gill

Series Champions

• 2000 Bobby Gill
• 1999 Bobby Gill
• 1998 Jeff Agnew
• 1997 Mario Gosselin

Rookies of the Year

• 2007 Brandon Ward
• 2006 Derek Kale
• 2005 Woody Howard
• 2004 Matt Carter
• 2003 Benny Gordon
• 2002 Brian Ross
• 2001 Toby Robertson
• 2000 Brian Vickers
• 1999 Steven Christian
• 1998 Jeff Agnew
• 1997 Brad May

Other notable alumni

• Chad Chaffin
• Matt Kenseth^[2]
• Justin Labonte
• Danny O'Quinn
• Scott Wimmer
• Jon Wood
• Brian Vickers

Current drivers

The following are current regular drivers:^[3]

• Sam Fullone
• Johnny Rumley
• Lonnie Rush Jr.
• Gary St. Amant
• Jay Fogleman
• Shelby Howard
• Mike Laughlin Jr.
• Billy Bigley Jr.
• Clay Rogers
• A. J. Fike
• Shane Huffman
• Mike Garvey
• Carl Long
• Matt Crafton
• Bobby Gill
• Richard Boswell
• Buckshot Jones
• Mike Herman Jr.
• Trevor Bayne

Seasons

2008 USAR Hooters ProCup Schedule

Southern Division Schedule

1. March 15 USA International Speedway Lakeland, FL
2. March 29 South Georgia Motorsports Park Cecil, GA
3. April 26 Concord Motorsport Park Concord, NC
4. June 21 Myrtle Beach Speedway Myrtle Beach, SC
5. July 19 Southern National Raceway Park Kenly, NC
6. August 2 Hickory Motor Speedway Hickory, NC

Northern Division Schedule

1. April 19 South Boston Speedway South Boston, VA
2. June 14 Mansfield Motorsports Park Mansfield, OH
3. June 28 Salem Speedway Salem, IN
4. July 12 Motor Mile Speedway Radford, VA
5. July 26 Jennerstown Speedway Jennerstown, PA
6. August 9 South Boston Speedway South Boston, VA

Combination Races

1. May 31 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, WI (with the IndyCar Series) (Must be 18)
2. August 20 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, TN (with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series)

NOTE: Four Hooters ProCup drivers were removed from their cars and replaced by substitute drivers for the Milwaukee Mile race for being under 18. Under the Master Settlement Agreement, all drivers participating in the ABC Supply Company A. J. Foyt 225 weekend races (IndyCar, Indy Light, Hooters ProCup) must be 18 as Marlboro is sponsoring an IndyCar team.

Championship Series

1. August 30 Mansfield Motorsports Park Mansfield, OH
2. September 20 Iowa Speedway Newton, IA
3. October 18 Southern National Raceway Park Kenly, NC
4. November 1 Rockingham Speedway Rockingham, NC

2008 Schedule

References

External links

• Official USAR Hooters Pro Cup Website
• Un-Official USAR Hooters Pro Cup Website
• USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series stats from 1997 to present
• USAR history, written in 1999 and 2002, accessed June 2006

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