United Speed Alliance Racing Hooters ProCup Series - Forget The Wings, Let's Go Racing! - Racing Across America

The SeriesUnited Speed Alliance Racing Hooters ProCup SeriesThe Hooters ProCup Series was formed in 1996, and just finished its fifth full season in 2001. The original cars used in the series came from the old NASCAR Sportsman series. But through the years, there have also been conversions of ARCA and Busch Grand National cars to run here.

This stock car series, which started in the South, enlarged to a two-division group this past season with the forming of a Northern Division. Between the two divisions, the ProCup showed some 160 total cars, ran in 13 states and raced for the first time in Canada during the 2001 season.

ProCup official Tim Southers explains the group wanted to emphasize stock-appearing cars in a touring series that could be run with minimal mileage. The organization uses the same four body styles as Winston Cup with close adherence to factory templates required. The rear deck carries an adjustable 511/42- to 611/42-inch spoiler.

"We work to keep the costs down using a spec bias-ply tire with only eight tires allowed per event," Southers continues. ProCup officials feel the rare use of the bias-ply tire allows for more tire adjustment and better racing.

Power comes from a 358cid small-block capable of up to 570hp. Engine compression ratio is in the 10.5-11:1 range. Engines must match the brand of chassis, including the Chrysler brand, which was introduced to the series this past season.

The ProCup Series brings a lot of heavy corporate sponsorship to the table with Hooters of America as the prime sponsor, along with Naturally Fresh Foods, Jackaroo Sauces, Lucas Oil and Miller Beer. The group likes to run on tracks from three-eighths to a half-mile in length. A unique appearance this past season was its first race on the new one-mile Chicago Motor Speedway.

The series ends each year with the five-race Challenge Champions Championship Series and final single-race Challenge Championship. The "Four Champions" name came from former NASCAR Champion Alan Kulwicki (whom Hooters sponsored at the time) and three Hooters officials who perished in an aircraft crash in 1993. The overall points winner of the Four Champions gets $250,000.

The success of a racing series can be measured by the success of its graduates, so the ProCup is a good place to run.

Those Hooters ProCup drivers who have moved on to the Busch Grand National Series include Brian Vickers, Hal Goodson, Chad Chaffin and Scott Wimmer, with Ricky Hendrick and Justin Labonte running in the NASCAR truck series.

The wheel-to-wheel action of this series has also attracted national attention to the point that the entire schedule is carried on a delayed basis on the Speedvision network.