USAR Release

For Immediate Release

Tim Southers

USAR Media Relations

(770) 719-0204

usar@bellsouth.net

www.usarprocup.com

Gill Prepares to Defend His Title Once Again at USA International
Three-time Hooters ProCup Series Champion Looks for Fourth Win in a Row at Track

Fayetteville, GA (February 18, 2002) - The 2002 season for the USAR Hooters ProCup Series is just six days away and the Southern Division will once again begin the season at USA International Speedway in Lakeland, Florida.

The Lucas Oil 250 presented by Jennie-O Turkey Store will be the first of 32 races on the Series schedule. The 2002 season will feature 14 regular season races in the Southern Division and 13 in the Northern Division schedule. The Four Champions Championship Series will wrap up the season with a five-race format to determine the 2002 USAR National Champion.

The Series crowned Bobby Gill the 2001 National Champion for the third consecutive year and Gill will try to win his fourth consecutive race at the largest track currently on the Series schedule.

Gill enjoyed a phenomenal year last season, winning the title during the first-ever Four Champions Championship Series. Gill entered the season-ending playoff format as the only driver to complete every lap possible in 2001 and the veteran can add a new title to his resume if he wins at USA International - Million Dollar Gill.

Gill collected $352,950 for his 2001 title, bringing his overall winnings to $991,200 in just 58 starts in the Series. Gill can become the first driver in the history of the young Series to surpass the $1 million mark in career earnings in the Series.

"I would just like to thank Mr. (Bob) Brooks for giving us a great series to race in," Gill said.

Returning to USA International Speedway gives the Series a chance to welcome everyone back as well as add several new faces to the USAR family in 2002. Gill will look to add to his five career Series wins at the track while facing some of the best short track drivers in the country.

Shane Huffman is one Southern Division driver expected to return in top form after enjoying a breakout season one year ago. The young driver from North Carolina won four races and finished in the top-five in the 2001 final standings.

Steven Christian is another veteran expected to contend for the title. The Georgia driver collected his second career win in the Series last season. Christian has won the consistency award for highest percentage of laps led in the Series two out of the last three years and finished in the top-10 once again in that category last year.

Former Series champion Mario Gosselin has also enjoyed success at his home track. The Lake Wales, FL driver has won five pole awards at USA International Speedway, visiting victory lane twice (1998, 1999). Gosselin won the pole for the Lucas Oil 250 last season to begin the season.

USAR has registered over 100 drivers so far this season and expects around 40 to 45 entries for the season opening race. The Lucas Oil 250 presented by Jennie-O Turkey Store will be the first of three regular season races at the beautiful track located in central Florida. The Series ending season-finale will be held at the track on November 30 as the final race of the Four Champions Championship Series.

-30-

2002 USAR Hooters ProCup Series race Facts

what: Lucas Oil Products 250 presented by JENNIE-O TURKEY STORE

USAR Hooters ProCup Series Race #1 of 32 (Southern Division Race #1)

WHERE: USA International Speedway - Lakeland, Florida

.750 Mile Banked Oval

WHEN: Saturday, February 23, 2002

DISTANCE: 250 Laps/187.5 Miles

POSTED AWARDS: $112,500

STARTING FIELD: 36 cars possible. Fastest 32 cars through time trials. Four provisional positions based on

the 2002 USAR rule book. One provisional each may be added to the field for a former Hooters ProCup Series Champion, or a former USAR Hooters ProCup Series Rookie of the Year who competed in 2001.

PROMOTER: USA International Speedway

CONTACTS: Gene Crane, USA International Speedway Public Relations Director, 863-984-3173

Tim Southers, USAR Public Relations Director, 770-719-0204

Timmy Hutson, USAR Media Relations Asst., 770-719-0204

TV: SPEED CHANNEL (Tape-Delayed)

Thursday, February 28, 2002 9:00 pm (EST)

Friday, February 29, 2002 1:00 am (EST)

Friday, February 29, 2002 12:30 pm (EST)

SCHEDULE:

Friday, February 22: Saturday, February 23:

12 Noon - 1:30 pm Early Parking & Registration 7:00 am USAR Officials Meeting

1:30 pm Pit Gates Open 7:30 am Late Hauler Parking

2:00 pm USAR Tech Inspection Begins 8:00 am Pit Gates Open

3:00 pm Goodyear Challenge Tech Begins 8:30 am ProCup Tech Opens

4:00 pm Practice for Goodyear Challenge & EROC 9:00 am ProCup Crew Chief Meeting

7:00 pm USAR Tech Closes (No Practice for USAR) 9:15 am ProCup Rookie Meeting

7:30 pm Qualifying for Goodyear Challenge Series 10:00 am Front Gates Open

10:00 am - 1:00 pm ProCup Practice

1:30 pm ProCup Drivers Meeting

1:45 pm Chapel Service

2:15 pm Goodyear Challenge & EROC Practice

3:45 pm EROC Race (35 Laps)

5:00 pm ProCup Qualifying Time Trials

6:15 pm ProCup Drivers Autograph Session

7:10 pm Pre-Race Ceremonies Begin

7:30 pm Lucas Oil 250 presented by Jennie-O

To Follow Goodyear Challenge Series (100 Laps)

RECORDS: Qualifying: Bobby Gill (21.804 sec./117.114 mph) November 27, 1999.

2001 RACES: Three-time defending USAR Hooters ProCup Series Bobby Gill swept all three races held

at the track last season. Gill used his final win of the year to propel him to the 2001 USAR Hooters ProCup Series championship.

NOVEMBER 24, 2001: NOVEMBER 24, 2001 STATS:

1. Bobby Gill Lance Snacks Pole Award: Steve Christian

2. Brian Vickers Time of Race: 2:24:51

3. Mardy Lindley Green Flag Avg. Speed: 114.793

4. Mario Gosselin Margin of Victory: .488 sec.

5. Lee Tissot Caution Flags: 8 for 50 laps

6. Toby Robertson Lap Leaders: Steve Christian 1-11; Bobby Gill 12-86;

7. Bill Plemons, Jr. Steve Christian 87; Bobby Gill 88-106; Steve Christian

8. Jon Kerley 107-150; Bobby Gill 151-225; Bill Plemons, Jr. 226-233;

9. Steve Christian Brian Vickers 234-247; Bobby Gill 248-301.

10. Kertus Davis

PREVIOUS WINNERS AT USA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Race Winner Pole Winner

1997 Chad Chaffin Chad Chaffin

1997 Gene Morgan Gene Morgan

1997 Gene Morgan Bob Schacht

1998 Mario Gosselin Bob Schacht

1998 Michael Ritch Sammy Potashnick

1998 Michael Ritch Chad Chaffin

1998 Scott Wimmer Mario Gosselin

1999 Bobby Gill Chad Chaffin

1999 Mario Gosselin Mario Gosselin

1999 Bobby Gill Mario Gosselin

1999 Derrick Kelley Bobby Gill

2000 Andy Thurman Stacy Puryear

2000 Brian Vickers Mario Gosselin

2000 Derrick Kelley Hal Goodson

2000 Steven Christian Hal Goodson

2001 Bobby Gill Mario Gosselin

2001 Bobby Gill Jason Sarvis

2001 Bobby Gill Steve Christian

PARTICIPATING SPECIAL AWARD SPONSORS:

Southern Pole Award ($1,000): TBA

Northern Pole Award ($1,000): Sunoco

Halfway Leader Award ($1,000): Lucas Oil Products

Most Laps Led Award ($500): Southern Pride Chewing Tobacco

Hard Charger Award ($500): W.J. Plemons Investments

OFFICIAL SERIES SPONSORS:

Hooters . Naturally Fresh Salad Dressings & Dips . Jackaroo Sauces . Goodyear . Lucas Oil Products . Southern Pride Chewing Tobacco . Coca-Cola . Sunoco

PARTICIPATING CONTINGENCY AWARD SPONSORS:

Automotive Specialist .BSR Priducts . CV Products . DRP Performance . Dr. Gas . JE Pistons . Eibach . Edelbrock . Earl's . Holley Carbs . Hess Racing Priducts . Longacre . K&N Engineering . MSD Ignitions . Motorsports Design . Spin Tech . Quarter Master . REV Incorp. . Laughlin Racing Products . Lowes LugNuts . Isky Racing Cams . Performance Fiberglass . Wiseco . Mahle Performance . Manley Performance . Racing Electronics . Tri-Star . Maxima Technologies

NOTES OF INTEREST:

· The Lucas Oil 250 presented by Jennie-O Turkey Store will be the 19th USAR Hooters ProCup Series race held at the track.

· Bobby Gill is the only repeat winner of the season-opening race at USA International Speedway (1999 & 2001).

· Bobby Gill can become the first driver in the history of USAR to surpass the $1 million dollar mark in career earnings. Gill enters USA International Speedway with $991,200 in career USAR Hooters ProCup Series earnings.

· Gill also owns the most career USAR Hooters ProCup Series wins at USA International Speedway with 5 wins.

· Michael Ritch returns to USAR Hooters ProCup Series competition full-time since the 1999 season. Ritch is currently tied with Bobby Gill for the most wins in a season with seven wins.

2001 USAR Hooters ProCup Total Winners: 2001 Top 10 Lap Leaders:

Bobby Gill 6 Shane Huffman 928

Hal Goodson 4 Hal Goodson 872

Shane Huffman 4 Bobby Gill 776

Sean Studer 3 Sean Studer 528

Jeff Agnew 2 Brian Vickers 520

Mario Gosselin 2 Jeff Agnew 452

Brian Vickers 2 Mario Gosselin 449

Steve Christian 1 Bill Plemons, Jr. 388

Jay Fogleman 1 Steve Christian 329

Donnie Hill 1 Mardy Lindley 267

Bill Plemons, Jr. 1

David Pletcher 1

Stacy Puryear 1

2001 Pole Award Winners:

Mario Gosselin 5

Shane Huffman 5

Regan Smith 4

Steve Christian 3

Hal Goodson 3

Brian Vickers 3

Jay Fogleman 1

Charlie Ford 1

Mardy Lindley 1

Toby Robertson 1

Jason Sarvis 1

Sean Studer 1

MEDIA SERVICES:

USAR Hooters ProCup Series will assist any member of the media in contacting a USAR Members. USAR will send out all unofficial race results immediately following each race. Official results will be released on Monday morning by 10 am. USAR Media Relations can be contacted via email at (usar@bellsouth.net) and official information can also be accessed on the worldwide web at www.usarprocup.com .

Faxed results and information can be requested by contacting the USAR Media Relations office at (770) 719-0204. The fax number for USAR Media Relations is (770) 719-0206.

-30-