USAC: $30,000 'Road to Indy' bonuses await top USAC drivers in 2000
2 April 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Top drivers in six USAC racing series will split $30,000 in year-end bonuses posted by the Indy Racing League as part of its "Road to Indy" incentive program in the year 2000. Included are participants in the Coors Light Silver Bullet Series, the Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars, The MCI WorldCom National, Western and TQ Midget Car Series and the Western Sprint Cars.
Recognizing the top talent of USAC's front-engined, open-wheel racing series, the "Road to Indy" program offers incentives to drivers with aspirations of competing in the Indy Racing Northern Light Series and racing's pinnacle event, the Indianapolis 500.
In 1999, USAC National Champions Ryan Newman, Dave Darland and Jason Leffler, plus Russ Gamester, Tracy Hines, Jack Hewitt, Tony Elliott and Jerry Coons, Jr. enjoyed the fruits of success, which included the "Road to Indy" bonuses.
The awards will be distributed in the following amounts: Each National Champion will receive $4,000, with series runners-up receiving $2,500 and third-place drivers receiving $1,000. Western Sprint and Midget Car champs will receive $1,500 each, with runners-up receiving $1,000 and third-place finishers receiving $500. The TQ Midget Car Champions will receive $1,000 and the runner-up $500. Eligibility for the awards dictates that drivers must display the "Road to Indy" patches on their uniforms and the decals on their cars.
"We are extremely proud of our association with the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis 500," says USAC President/CEO John Capels. "Since 1956, nearly 50% of the drivers earning their initial starting berths at Indianapolis have come from our ranks (132 of 276) and that speaks volumes for our formulas. These incentive bonuses are welcomed by our participants and create stimulus all season long."
The Stoops Freightliner Sprint Cars compete tomorrow night (April 1) at the Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, then join the MCI WorldCom National Midget Cars for Sunday's "Glen Niebel Classic" at the Anderson (Ind.) Speedway. The Coors Light Silver Bullet Series next heads for the Nazareth (Pa.) Speedway for the April 7-8 weekend, which includes a 100-mile race on the 1-mile paved oval. The Western Sprint Cars and Western MCI WorldCom Western Midget Cars combine for a "doubleheader" tomorrow night at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway and the MCI WorldCom TQ Midget Cars resume action April 8 at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway.
Text provided by Dick Jordan
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