United States Auto Club
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Sport | Auto racing |
---|---|
Jurisdiction | United States |
Abbreviation | USAC |
Founded | 1955[1] |
Headquarters | Speedway, Indiana, U.S. |
President | Kevin Miller |
Chairman | Jeff Stoops |
Official website | |
www |
The United States Auto Club (USAC) is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500. USAC serves as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series, including the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Cars, National Midgets, Speed2 Midget Series, .25 Midget Series, Stadium Super Trucks, and Pirelli World Challenge. Seven-time USAC champion Levi Jones is USAC's Competition Director.[2]
History
[edit]When the American Automobile Association (AAA) withdrew from auto racing after the 1955 season, citing the Le Mans disaster and the death of Bill Vukovich at Indianapolis as contributing factors,[3] both the SCCA and NASCAR were mentioned as its potential successor.[3][4] Ultimately, USAC was formed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.[5] It became the arbiter of rules, car design, and other matters for what it termed championship auto racing, the highest level of USAC racing. For a while there was a separate series of specifications for championship cars designed to be run on dirt, rather than paved, tracks. Today, USAC sanction open-wheel racing series such as the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Car Series, National Midget Series, and Quarter Midgets.
Triple crown
[edit]The "triple crown" is earned in USAC racing when a driver claims all three national championships (silver crown, sprint car, and midget car). Only two drivers, Tony Stewart (1995) and J. J. Yeley (2003), have achieved the triple crown in a single season. Five other drivers, Pancho Carter (1972–78), Dave Darland (1997–2001), Jerry Coons Jr. (2006–08), Tracy Hines (2000, 2002, 2015), and Chris Windom (2016, 2017, 2020) have claimed each of the three championships at least once in their careers. In 2012 Mike Curb and Cary Agajanian became the only car owners to win the triple crown by winning all three championships in the same year.[citation needed]
National championship
[edit]USAC had awarded a national championship until A. J. Foyt won his seventh title in 1979.[6] It has announced that it will begin awarding a national championship starting in 2010.[6] A driver's best 25 finishes are counted toward the championship and the 2010 winner received $40,000.[6] Points are accumulated in the three national series: sprints, midgets, and silver crown.[6] Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Indiana claimed the inaugural championship, topping runner-up Levi Jones by 14 points.
As of 2013 it has been known as the Mike Curb "Super License" National Championship Award.
USAC national drivers champions
- 2010 – Bryan Clauson; Noblesville, Indiana
- 2011 – Bryan Clauson; Noblesville, Indiana
- 2012 – Bryan Clauson; Noblesville, Indiana
- 2013 - Tracy Hines; New Castle, Indiana
- 2014 - Tracy Hines; New Castle, Indiana
- 2015 - Dave Darland; Kokomo, Indiana
- 2016 - Brady Bacon; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- 2017 - Justin Grant; Ione, California
- 2018 - Tyler Courtney; Indianapolis, Indiana
- 2019 - Tyler Courtney; Indianapolis, Indiana
- 2020 - Chris Windom; Canton, Illinois
- 2021 - Justin Grant; Ione, California
- 2022 - Justin Grant; Ione, California
1978 plane crash
[edit]On April 23, 1978, returning from a race at the Trenton Speedway in New Jersey, eight USAC officials, plus the pilot, were killed when their 10-seat Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed during a thunderstorm 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis.[7][8]
Killed were:[9]
- Ray Marquette, USAC's vice-president of public affairs and a former sportswriter for The Indianapolis Star
- Frank Delroy, chairman of USAC technical committee
- Shim Malone, starter for USAC races and head of its midget racer division
- Judy Phillips, graphic artist and publication director of USAC's newsletter
- Stan Worley, chief registrar
- Ross Teeguarden, assistant technical chairman
- Don Peabody, head of the sprint division
- Dr. Bruce White, assistant staff doctor
- Don Mullendore, owner and pilot of the plane.
The incident closely followed the death of Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.[8]
End of championship car sanctioning
[edit]The plane crash came at a time when Indy car owners and drivers were demanding changes from USAC. Aside from the Indianapolis 500, USAC events were not well attended, and the owners felt that USAC poorly negotiated television rights. The owners also wanted increases in payouts, especially at Indy.[10] Though some think the plane crash was used as an opportunistic way to force change in the sport, it was merely an unfortunate coincidence. The seed of dissent had been growing for several years before the accident,[11] and claims the crash was an immediate cause for the 1979 CART/USAC "split" are considered for the most part unfounded.
Also unpopular were the attempts of USAC to keep the aging Offenhauser engine competitive with the newer, and much more expensive, Cosworth DFX engine using boost-limiting "pop off valves" and limiting the amount of fuel that could be used.[12]
Finally, most car owners banded together to form Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) in 1978, with the first race to be run in 1979. USAC tried unsuccessfully to ban all CART owners from the 1979 Indianapolis 500, finally losing in court before the race began. Both the USAC and CART ran multi-race schedules in 1979.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president John Cooper was instrumental in forming a joint body of CART and USAC with the creation of the Championship Racing League in March 1980. However, in mid-1980, Cooper forced USAC to renounce their agreement with the CRL if they wanted to keep officiating the Indy 500.[13] After USAC's attempt at a 500-mile race at Pocono Raceway – which was boycotted by the CART teams, forcing USAC to fill the field with silver crown cars – USAC and CART eventually settled into a relatively peaceful co-existence, with USAC continuing to sanction the Indianapolis 500 and no other Championship car races, and CART including the race in its schedule between other CART-sanctioned races. USAC continued to sanction the Indy 500 until 1997, when the Indy Racing League (itself product of the second American open-wheel split in 1996) terminated the sanctioning agreement following two consecutive scoring errors that year; subsequent Indy 500s were sanctioned by the IRL itself, which was renamed the IndyCar Series in 2011.
Road racing expansion
[edit]Since 2022, the United States Auto Club has sanctioned the USF Juniors, USF2000 Championship, and USF Pro 2000 Championship series, which serve as a ladder series to Indy NXT, along with the Radical Sportscars North American Championships, Skip Barber Racing School, as well as continued sanctioning of the GT World Challenge America and Porsche Sprint Challenge North America under the newly formed Road Racing Division under the direction of Randy Hembrey.
Active series
[edit]USAC Silver Crown Series
[edit]Category | Sprint car racing |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 1971 |
Drivers' champion | Logan Seavey |
Teams' champion | Robbie Rice |
Official website | USAC Silver Crown Series |
Current season |
Beginning in 1971, all dirt races were split from the National Championship. From 1971 to 1980, the series was named "National Dirt Car Championship", then renamed "Silver Crown Series" in 1981.
- Champions
Season | Car No. | Driver | Team | |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Dirt Car Championship | ||||
1971 | 4 | George Snider | Wilke | |
1972 | 3 | A. J. Foyt | Foyt | |
1973 | 2 | Al Unser | Miletich/Jones | |
1974 | 2 | Mario Andretti | Miletich/Jones | |
1975 | 55 | Jimmy Caruthers | Middleton | |
1976 | 29 | Billy Cassella | Seymour | |
1977 | 4 | Larry Rice | LeFevre | |
1978 | 21 | Pancho Carter | Capels | |
1979 | 30 | Bobby Olivero | Kurtz | |
1980 | 12 | Gary Bettenhausen | Delrose/Holt | |
Silver Crown Series | ||||
1981 | 55 | Larry Rice | Knepper | |
1982 | 39 | Ken Schrader | Fortune | |
1983 | 9 | Gary Bettenhausen | Delrose/Holt | |
1984 | 58 | Dave Blaney | DePalma | |
1985 | 39 | Rick Hood | Fortune | |
1986 | 63 | Jack Hewitt | Hampshire | |
1987 | 63 | Jack Hewitt | Hampshire | |
1988 | 10 | Steve Butler | Jarrett | |
1989 | 30 | Chuck Gurney | Kurtz | |
1990 | 54 | Jimmy Sills | Consani | |
1991 | 35 | Jeff Gordon | Ede | |
1992 | 10 | Steve Butler | Jarrett | |
1993 | 69 | Mike Bliss | McClure | |
1994 | 75 | Jimmy Sills | Stanton | |
1995 | 25 | Tony Stewart | Boles | |
1996 | 75 | Jimmy Sills | Stanton | |
1997 | 56 | Dave Darland | Foxco | |
1998 | 9 | Jason Leffler | Goetz | |
1999 | 14 | Ryan Newman | Ede | |
2000 | 37 | Tracy Hines | Riggs | |
2001 | 10 | Paul White | Cook | |
2002 | 9 | J. J. Yeley | Stewart/East | |
2003 | 9 | J. J. Yeley | Stewart/East | |
2004 | 9 | Dave Steele | Stewart/East | |
2005 | 9 | Dave Steele | Stewart/East | |
2006 | 29 | Bud Kaeding | BK/Leffler | |
2007 | 29 | Bud Kaeding | BK | |
2008 | 27 | Jerry Coons Jr | RW | |
2009 | 29 | Bud Kaeding | BK | |
2010 | 10 | Levi Jones | Stewart/Curb-Agajanian | |
2011 | 10 | Levi Jones | Stewart/Curb-Agajanian | |
2012 | 22 | Bobby East | Stewart/Curb-Agajanian | |
2013 | 10 | Bobby East | Stewart/Curb-Agajanian | |
2014 | 63 | Kody Swanson[14] | DePalma Motorsports | |
2015 | 63 | Kody Swanson | DePalma Motorsports | |
2016 | 98 | Chris Windom[15] | Fred Gormly/RPM | |
2017 | 63 | Kody Swanson | DePalma Motorsports | |
2018 | 63 | Kody Swanson | DePalma Motorsports | |
2019 | 20 | Kody Swanson | Nolen Racing | |
2020 | 91 | Justin Grant[16] | Hemelgarn Racing | |
2021 | 77, 21, 9 | Kody Swanson[17] | Doran Racing, Mark Swanson Racing, Dyson Racing | |
2022 | 1 | Kody Swanson[18] | Doran-Dyson Racing | |
2023 | 22 | Logan Seavey[19] | Rice Motorsports/Abacus Racing |
- Race winners
* As of the end of the 2022 season
Driver | Wins[18] |
---|---|
Kody Swanson | 37 |
Jack Hewitt | 23 |
Brian Tyler | 18 |
Dave Steele | 16 |
J. J. Yeley | 15 |
Dave Darland | 14 |
Chuck Gurney | 14 |
Jimmy Sills | 12 |
Bobby East | 11 |
Bobby Santos III | 11 |
Gary Bettenhausen | 10 |
Mike Bliss | 10 |
USAC National Sprint Car Championship
[edit]Category | Sprint car racing |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 1956 |
Tire suppliers | Hoosier Racing Tire |
Drivers' champion | Justin Grant |
Teams' champion | TOPP Motorsports |
Official website | AMSOIL USAC National Sprint Car Series |
Current season |
From 1956 to 1960, USAC's National Sprint Car Championship was divided into two regional divisions in the Midwest and the East.
- Champions
Season | Car No. | Driver | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1956 | 9 | Midwest: Pat O'Connor | Estes |
1 | East: Tommy Hinnershitz | ||
1957 | 21 | Midwest: Elmer George | Hulman |
East: Bill Randall | |||
1958 | 25 | Midwest: Eddie Sachs | Cheesman |
3 | East: Johnny Thomson | Traylor | |
1959 | 4 | Midwest: Don Branson | Estes |
4 | East: Tommy Hinnershitz | Pfrommer | |
1960 | 51 | Midwest: Parnelli Jones | Fike |
2 | East: A. J. Foyt | Watson | |
1961 | 1 | Parnelli Jones | Fike |
1962 | 1 | Parnelli Jones | Fike |
1963 | 2 | Roger McCluskey | Homeyer |
1964 | 3 | Don Branson | Phillips |
1965 | 9 | Johnny Rutherford | Meskowski |
1966 | 51 | Roger McCluskey | Anderson |
1967 | 92 | Greg Weld | Leffler |
1968 | 4, 27 | Larry Dickson | Smith, Stapp |
1969 | 2 | Gary Bettenhausen | Davis |
1970 | 2 | George Snider | Lay |
1971 | 2 | Gary Bettenhausen | Davis |
1972 | 4 | Sammy Sessions | Amerling |
1973 | 2 | Rollie Beale | Kilman |
1974 | 6 | Pancho Carter | Stapp |
1975 | 80 | Larry Dickson | Ensign |
1976 | 24 | Pancho Carter | Stap |
1977 | 56 | Sheldon Kinser | Hammond |
1978 | 43 | Tom Bigelow | Armstrong |
1979 | 43 | Greg Leffler | Armstrong |
1980 | 2 | Rich Vogler | Seibert |
1981 | 6 | Sheldon Kinser | Leyba |
1982 | 1 | Sheldon Kinser | Leyba |
1983 | 39 | Ken Schrader | Delrose/Holt |
1984 | 39 | Rick Hood | Fortune |
1985 | 39 | Rick Hood | Fortune |
1986 | 6 | Steve Butler | Stoops |
1987 | 1 | Steve Butler | Stoops |
1988 | 1 | Steve Butler | Stoops |
1989 | 69 | Rich Vogler | Hoffman |
1990 | 69 | Steve Butler | Hoffman |
1991 | 7 | Robbie Stanley | Stanley |
1992 | 1 | Robbie Stanley | Stanley |
1993 | 69 | Robbie Stanley | Hoffman |
1994 | 22k | Doug Kalitta | Kalitta |
1995 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Niebel |
1996 | 4c | Brian Tyler | Contos |
1997 | 4c | Brian Tyler | Contos |
1998 | 2, 12 | Tony Elliott | Walker/Vance, Conroy |
1999 | 69 | Dave Darland | Hoffman |
2000 | 66 | Tony Elliott | Walker |
2001 | 76 | J. J. Yeley | GT |
2002 | 69 | Tracy Hines | Hoffman |
2003 | 20 | J. J. Yeley | Stewart |
2004 | 20 | Jay Drake | Stewart |
2005 | 2B | Levi Jones | Benic |
2006 | 20 | Josh Wise | Stewart |
2007 | 20 | Levi Jones | Stewart |
2008 | 69 | Jerry Coons Jr | Hoffman |
2009 | 20 | Levi Jones | Stewart |
2010 | 20 | Levi Jones | Stewart |
2011 | 20 | Levi Jones | Stewart |
2012 | 7 | Bryan Clauson | CTR-BCI-Curb-Agajanian |
2013 | 20 | Bryan Clauson | Stewart/Curb-Agajanian |
2014 | 69 | Brady Bacon[20] | Hoffman |
2015 | 12 | Robert Ballou | Ballou Motorsports |
2016 | 69 | Brady Bacon[21] | Hoffman |
2017 | 5 | Chris Windom | Baldwin Brothers |
2018 | 7 | Tyler Courtney | Clauson Marshall Motorsports |
2019 | 19AZ | C.J. Leary | Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports |
2020 | 69 | Brady Bacon[22] | Hoffman |
2021 | 69 | Brady Bacon[23] | Hoffman |
2022 | 4 | Justin Grant[24] | TOPP Motorsports |
2023 | 4 | Justin Grant[25] | TOPP Motorsports |
- Race winners
* As of the end of the 2020 season
Driver | Wins |
---|---|
Dave Darland | 62 |
Tom Bigelow | 52 |
Tracy Hines | 47 |
Jack Hewitt | 46 |
Larry Dickson | 45 |
Pancho Carter | 42 |
Bryan Clauson | 41 |
Gary Bettenhausen | 40 |
Sheldon Kinser | 37 |
Jon Stanbrough | 35 |
Rich Vogler | 35 |
Brady Bacon | 35 |
Rollie Beale | 32 |
Robert Ballou | 29 |
Tyler Courtney | 29 |
Don Branson | 28 |
A. J. Foyt | 28 |
Levi Jones | 28 |
Chris Windom | 28 |
J. J. Yeley | 28 |
USAC National Midget Championship
[edit]Category | Midget car racing |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 1956 |
Tire suppliers | Hoosier Racing Tire |
Drivers' champion | Buddy Kofoid |
Teams' champion | Curb-Agajanian |
Official website | USAC P1 Insurance National Midgets |
Current season |
- Champions
Season | Car No. | Driver | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1956 | Shorty Templeman | ||
1957 | Shorty Templeman | ||
1958 | Shorty Templeman | ||
1959 | Gene Hartley | ||
1960 | Jimmy Davies | ||
1961 | Jimmy Davies | ||
1962 | Jimmy Davies | ||
1963 | Bob Wente | ||
1964 | Mel Kenyon | ||
1965 | Mike McGreevy | ||
1966 | 1 | Mike McGreevy | |
1967 | 1 | Mel Kenyon | Kenyon |
1968 | 1 | Mel Kenyon | Kenyon |
1969 | 3 | Bob Tattersall | Stroud |
1970 | 5 | Jimmy Caruthers | Caruthers |
1971 | 5 | Danny Caruthers | Caruthers |
1972 | 81 | Pancho Carter | Rieder |
1973 | 2 | Larry Rice | Shannon |
1974 | 61 | Mel Kenyon | Kenyon |
1975 | 5 | Sleepy Tripp | |
1976 | 1 | Sleepy Tripp | |
1977 | 43 | Mel Kenyon | Armstrong |
1978 | 2 | Rich Vogler | Caruthers |
1979 | 2 | Steve Lotshaw | Piascik |
1980 | 69 | Rich Vogler | Lockard |
1981 | 61 | Mel Kenyon | Kenyon |
1982 | 5 | Kevin Olson | Carey |
1983 | 4 | Rich Vogler | Streicher |
1984 | 16 | Tom Bigelow | Sandy |
1985 | 66 | Mel Kenyon | Burns |
1986 | 2 | Rich Vogler | Byrd |
1987 | 11 | Kevin Olson | Wilke |
1988 | 1 | Rich Vogler | Byrd |
1989 | 46 | Russ Gamester | Gamester |
1990 | 4 | Jeff Gordon | Helmling |
1991 | 8 | Mike Streicher | Streicher |
1992 | 11 | Stevie Reeves | Wilke |
1993 | 9 | Stevie Reeves | Lewis |
1994 | 6 | Tony Stewart | Potter |
1995 | 9 | Tony Stewart | Lewis |
1996 | 91 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Lewis |
1997 | 71 | Jason Leffler | Willoughby |
1998 | 9 | Jason Leffler | Lewis |
1999 | 9 | Jason Leffler | Lewis |
2000 | 91 | Kasey Kahne | Lewis |
2001 | 9 | Dave Darland | Lewis |
2002 | 9 | Dave Darland | Lewis |
2003 | 9 | J. J. Yeley | Lewis |
2004 | 9 | Bobby East | Lewis |
2005 | 20 | Josh Wise | Stewart |
2006 | 11 | Jerry Coons Jr. | Wilke |
2007 | 11 | Jerry Coons Jr. | Wilke-Pak |
2008 | 71 | Cole Whitt | Kunz |
2009 | 17B | Brad Kuhn | RW |
2010 | 39 | Bryan Clauson | Tucker/Kunz/BCI |
2011 | 39 | Bryan Clauson | CTR-Curb-Agajanian |
2012 | 3 | Darren Hagen | RFMS |
2013 | 71 | Christopher Bell | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2014 | 97 | Rico Abreu | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2015 | 24 | Tracy Hines[26] | Parker Machinery |
2016 | 67 | Tanner Thorson[27] | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2017 | 97 | Spencer Bayston[28] | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2018 | 67 | Logan Seavey[29] | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2019 | 7BC | Tyler Courtney | Clauson-Marshall Racing |
2020 | 89 | Chris Windom[30] | Tucker/Boat Motorsports[31] |
2021 | 67 | Buddy Kofoid[32] | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2022 | 67 | Buddy Kofoid | Kunz/Curb-Agajanian |
2023 | 57 | Logan Seavey | Abacus Racing |
- Race winners
Driver | Wins |
---|---|
Mel Kenyon | 111 |
Rich Vogler | 95 |
Bob Wente | 78 |
Bob Tattersall | 63 |
Sleepy Tripp | 57 |
Jimmy Davies | 48 |
Bryan Clauson | 38 |
Tracy Hines | 35 |
Gene Hartley | 31 |
Chuck Rodee | 31 |
Dave Darland | 30 |
Mike McGreevy | 30 |
Johnny Parsons | 30 |
Kyle Larson | 27 |
Gary Bettenhausen | 27 |
Tony Stewart | 27 |
Darren Hagen | 25 |
Parnelli Jones | 25 |
Dave Strickland | 25 |
USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series
[edit]Category | Sprint car racing |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 2004 |
Tire suppliers | Hoosier Racing Tire |
Drivers' champion | Damion Gardner |
Teams' champion | Alexander |
Official website | AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series |
Current season |
The USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Series debuted in 2004 utilizing the same cars and 410ci engines that race in USAC's AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship at dirt oval tracks across California and Arizona. The series also features combination races with the AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car National Championship.
Champions
Season | Car No. | Driver | Team | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | 3 | Rip Williams | Jory | |
2005 | 50 | Damion Gardner | Chaffin | |
2006 | 38 | Cory Kruseman | Crossno | |
2007 | 4 | Tony Jones | Alexander | |
2008 | 50 | Mike Spencer | Chaffin | |
2009 | 50 | Mike Spencer | Chaffin | |
2010 | 50 | Mike Spencer | Chaffin | |
2011 | 50 | Mike Spencer | Chaffin | |
2012 | 50 | Mike Spencer | Chaffin | |
2013 | 4a | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2014 | 4 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2015 | 4 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2016 | 4 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2017 | 4 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2018 | 4 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2019 | 4 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2020 | No champion crowned due to the COVID-19 Pandemic[33] | |||
2021 | 1 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2022 | 1 | Damion Gardner | Alexander | |
2023 | 17R | Brody Roa | Tom and Christy Dunkel |
Source:[34]
USAC Western States Midget Series
[edit]Category | Midget car racing |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 1982 |
Tire suppliers | Hoosier Racing Tire |
Official website | USAC Western States Midgets |
Current season |
USAC started the Western States Midgets in 1982 utilizing the same cars & engines that race in the USAC National Midgets. The series solely races on dirt ovals across California and Arizona but in past raced on pavement ovals as well. The series does run co-sanctioned races with USAC's National Midget Series (including the historic Turkey Night Grand Prix race) and the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets.
Champions
Season | Car No. | Driver | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | Jeff Haywood | ||
1983 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1984 | Tommy White | ||
1985 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1986 | Robby Flock | ||
1987 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1988 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1989 | Robby Flock | ||
1990 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1991 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1992 | Sleepy Tripp | ||
1993 | Robby Flock | ||
1994 | Johnny Cofer | ||
1995 | Billy Boat | ||
1996 | Jay Drake | ||
1997 | Ricky Shelton | ||
1998 | Rick Hendrix | ||
1999 | Marc DeBeaumont | ||
2000 | Wally Pankratz | ||
2001 | Danny Ebberts | ||
2002 | Robby Flock | ||
2003 | Steve Paden | ||
2004 | Johnny Rodriguez | ||
2005 | Jerome Rodela | ||
2006 | Jerome Rodela | ||
2007 | 87 | Johnny Rodriguez | Mitchell Motorsports |
2008 | 40 | Nic Faas | Western Speed |
2009 | 47 | Garrett Hansen | Bondio |
2010 | 25 | Alex Schutte | Rodela |
2011 | 21k | Cory Kruseman | Kruseman |
2012 (Overall) | 7 | Shannon McQueen | McQueen |
2012 (Dirt) | 15 | David Prickett | Neverlift |
2012 (Pavement) | 17n | Chad Nichols | Nichols |
2013 (Overall) | 68 | Ronnie Gardner | Six8 |
2013 (Dirt) | |||
2013 (Pavement) | 29 | Chad Nichols | Team 17/Eskesen |
2014 (Overall) | 68 | Ronnie Gardner | Six8 |
2014 (Dirt) | |||
2014 (Pavement) | 17 | Chad Nichols | Team17 |
2015 | 68 | Ronnie Gardner | Six8 |
2016 | 68 | Ronnie Gardner | Six8 |
2017 | 68 | Ronnie Gardner | Six8 |
2018 | 9D | Michael Faccinto | Sean Dodenhoff Motorsports |
2019 | 4D | Robert Dalby | Ken Dalby |
2020 | season championship cancelled[35] | ||
2021 | 9 | Blake Bower | Tony Boscacci |
2022 | 14J | Michael Faccinto | Graunstadt Enterprises |
2023 | 51 | Brody Fuson | Rusty Carlile |
2024 | 101 | Cade Lewis | Dean Alexander |
Source:[36]
USAC 360 Sprint Car Series
[edit]USAC sanctions several regional 360 c.i.d. non-wing sprint car series across the country. USAC's West Coast Sprint Car Series was launched in 2009 by Santa Maria Speedway promoter Chris Kearns, and joined forces with USAC in 2010. The West Coast series primarily races at tracks across California while also having special event races in Nevada. USAC's Southwest Sprint Car Series was launched in 1991 as the Arizona Sprint Car Racing Association. The series joined forces with USAC in 2012.[37] The Southwest series primarily races at tracks in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico while also having special event races in Arkansas, Kansas & Oklahoma. The Southwest series was put on hold after the 2019 season and has not made its way back into the sport since then.
USAC and URC Sprint Car Series promoter Curt Michael joined forces to create the USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, with the first season beginning in 2018.[38]
Champions
|
|
|
USAC Speed2 Midget Series
[edit]USAC formed the Speed2 Midget Series (formerly known as the Ford Focus Midget Series, Ignite Midget Series and HPD Midget Series) in 2002 with several regional divisions running across the United States on both dirt & pavement oval tracks. With exception to the engine, the cars used are the same as National & Western States Midget cars. The powerplants currently used are 4-cylinder production-based engines with stock internal dimensions to save costs for competitors. The series started out as a spec engine class, originally with Ford supplying their Zetec engine from 2002 to 2012, and then HPD supplying their K24 engine starting in 2013.
National Championship
The Speed2 Midget Series National Champion has been determined in a variety of ways. The inaugural championship, 2005, was decided by a two-race series (one dirt, one pavement). Subsequent national champions were determined by a single "national championship race" held at various locations. This format was used until 2010. In 2011, a points system was instituted to determine the national champion. Counting only a drivers twelve best finishes, the system allowed drivers from multiple regions to compete under a common points structure for a season-long championship. The 2012 season did not award a national champion, however the respective regional champions were honored at USAC Night of Champions.
National Champions
- 2005: Robbie Ray; Davenport, IA;
- 2006: Michael Faccinto; Hanford, CA ; Scelzi #4x
- 2007: James Robertson; Indianapolis, IN; Steele #1
- 2008: Alex Bowman; Tucson, AZ; Bowman #55
- 2009: Kyle Hamilton; Danville, IN; Steele #1
- 2010: Nick Drake; Mooresville, NC; Cline #55
- 2011: Nick Drake; Mooresville, NC; Cline #55
Regional Champions
Season | Series | Driver |
---|---|---|
2002 | (No Regions) | |
2003 | California (North) | Josh Lakatos |
California (South) | Todd Hunsaker | |
Indiana | Robbie Ray | |
2004 | California (North) | Bradley Galedrige |
California (South) | Chris Rahe | |
Carolina / Virginia | Chase Scott | |
Midwest | Tate Martz | |
Speedrome | Brice Kenyon | |
2005 | California (Dirt) | Chase Barber |
California (Pavement) | Alex Harris | |
Carolina / Virginia | Chase Scott | |
Midwest | Tate Martz | |
Northeast | Michael Sboro | |
Oklahoma | Jasiel Randolph | |
Speedrome | Jamie Williams | |
2006 | California (Dirt) | Bobby Michnowicz |
California (Pavement) | Tim Skoglund | |
Carolina / Virginia | Chase Scott | |
Florida | Ryan Smith | |
Indiana | James Robertson | |
Midwest (Dirt) | Jordan Noblitt | |
Midwest (Pavement) | Tate Martz | |
Northeast | Ryan Smith | |
2007 | California (Dirt) | Nic Faas |
California (Pavement) | Tim Skoglund | |
Carolina | Tanner Swanson | |
Indiana | Chett Gehrke | |
Midwest | James Robertson | |
Northeast | Jeff Abold | |
UMARRA | Mario Clouser | |
Utah | Tim Savage | |
2008 | California (Dirt) | Alex Bowman |
California (Junior) | Charlie Butcher | |
California (Pavement) | Ian Miille | |
Carolinas | Bradley Riethmeyer | |
Indiana | Kyle Hamilton | |
Midwest | ||
Utah | Kipp Posey | |
UMARA | Branden Allen | |
2009 | California (Dirt) | Brody Roa |
California (Pavement) | Nik Romano | |
California (Young Guns) | Kyle Edwards | |
Carolina | Jeremy Frankoski | |
Midwest | Joe Liguori | |
UMARA | ||
Utah | Kipp Posey | |
2010 | Eastern | Scott Hunter |
Eastern (Young Guns) | Jesse Little | |
Midwest | Joe Liguori | |
Midwest (Young Guns) | Cooper Clouse | |
Western | Nick Carlson | |
Western (Young Guns) | Jarid Blondel | |
Utah | Michael Daniels | |
2011 | DMA | Joe Krawiec |
Eastern | Nick Drake | |
Eastern (Dirt) | Scott Hunter | |
Eastern (Pavement) | Jarett Andretti | |
Eastern (Young Guns) | Jared Irvan | |
Midwest | Ross Rankine | |
Midwest (Young Guns) | Sam McGhee | |
Utah | Jim Waters | |
Western | Brodie Kostecki | |
Western (Young Guns) | ||
2012 | DMA | Kevin Chaffee |
Eastern | Jared Irvan | |
Midwest (Dirt) | Ross Rankine | |
Midwest (Pavement) | ||
Northwest | Jared Peterson | |
Western (Dirt) | Cory Elliott | |
Western (Pavement) | Bryant Dawson | |
Western North | Garret Peterson | |
2013 | DMA | Joe Krawiec |
Eastern | Chris Lamb | |
Midwest (Dirt) | Gage Walker | |
Midwest (Pavement) | Cooper Clouse | |
Washington | Chase Goetz | |
Western | Jarid Blondel | |
Western (Dirt) | Cory Elliott | |
Western (Pavement) | Bryant Dawson | |
2014 | DMA | Adam Pierson |
Eastern | Scott Hunter | |
Midwest (Dirt) | Austin Nemire | |
Midwest (Pavement) | ||
Washington | Chase Goetz | |
Western | Shawn Buckley | |
Western (Dirt) | Ashley Hazelton | |
2015 | DMA | Adam Pierson |
Eastern | Chris Lamb | |
Midwest | Alex Watson | |
Western | Cody Jessop | |
Western (Dirt) | Shawn Buckley | |
Western (Pavement) | Dylan Nobile | |
Western (Restricted) | Jesse Love | |
2016 | DMA | Adam Pierson |
Eastern | Chris Lamb | |
IMRA | Jeff Mallonee | |
Midwest Thunder | Gage Etgen | |
Western | Jesse Love | |
Western (Dirt) | ||
Western (Pavement) | Toni Breidinger | |
Western (Restricted) | Blake Brannon | |
2017 | DMA | Dean Christensen |
Eastern | Jessica Bean | |
Gulf Coast | Kyle Jones | |
IMRA | Dillon Morley | |
Midwest Thunder | Aaron Leffel | |
Western (Overall) | Jesse Love | |
Western (Dirt) | ||
Western (Pavement) | ||
2018 | DMA | Jason Goff |
Eastern | Jessica Bean | |
IMRA | Andy Baugh | |
Midwest Thunder | Aaron Leffel | |
Western (Overall) | Adam Lemke | |
Western (Dirt) | Tyler Slay | |
Western (Pavement) | Adam Lemke | |
2019 | DMA | Will Hull |
Eastern | Jessica Bean | |
IMRA | Andy Baugh | |
Midwest Thunder | Aaron Leffel | |
2020 | DMA | Seth Carlson |
Eastern | Jessica Bean | |
IMRA | Bryan Stanfill | |
Midwest Thunder | Jacob Denney | |
Radical Focus | Joseph Holiday |
USAC Lightning Sprint National Championship
[edit]USAC started the Speedway Motors Lightning Sprint National Championship in 2017 for local tracks running Lightning Sprint cars. The points format counts the 12 best races at USAC sanctioned tracks.[41]
GT World Challenge America
[edit]Pirelli World Challenge, was started in 1990 and switched to USAC sanctioning in 2017.[42] The championship currently races on road and street courses across the United States and Canada with seven different classes for GT cars & Touring cars. Founded by WC Vision, the series is presently owned by SRO Group.
Off-road racing
[edit]The Stadium Super Trucks series was founded in 2013 by former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon. It is sanctioned by USAC,[43] though Gordon and sponsorship marketing company The Elevation Group co-own the series.[44]
The USAC also sanctions the American Rally Association, Nitro Rallycross, King of the Hammers and Great American Shortcourse.
Former series
[edit]USAC Championship Car Series
[edit]USAC Championship Car Season Champions | ||
---|---|---|
1956 | Jimmy Bryan | season |
1957 | Jimmy Bryan | season |
1958 | Tony Bettenhausen | season |
1959 | Rodger Ward | season |
1960 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1961 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1962 | Rodger Ward | season |
1963 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1964 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1965 | Mario Andretti | season |
1966 | Mario Andretti | season |
1967 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1968 | Bobby Unser | season |
1969 | Mario Andretti | season |
1970 | Al Unser | season |
1971 | Joe Leonard | season |
1972 | Joe Leonard | season |
1973 | Roger McCluskey | season |
1974 | Bobby Unser | season |
1975 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1976 | Gordon Johncock | season |
1977 | Tom Sneva | season |
1978 | Tom Sneva | season |
1979 | A. J. Foyt | season |
1980 | Johnny Rutherford | season |
USAC Gold Crown Series
[edit]Starting in 1981, USAC scaled back their participation in Indy car racing outside of the Indianapolis 500. The preeminent national championship season was instead being sanctioned by CART. USAC developed a split-calendar season, beginning in June, and ending in May with the Indy 500. After 1983, however, the Gold Crown schedule would consist of only one event per season (Indy 500), and the Gold Crown title would be regarded largely as ceremonial. The winner of the Indianapolis 500 would be the de facto Gold Crown champion, as it was the lone points-paying event. The title and the "series" were retired after the 1994–1995 season with the advent of the Indy Racing League.
USAC Gold Crown Series Champions | |||
---|---|---|---|
1981–82 | George Snider | season | [45] |
1982–83 | Tom Sneva | season | [46] |
1983–84 | Rick Mears | season | [47] |
1984–85 | Danny Sullivan | season | [48] |
1985–86 | Bobby Rahal | season | [49] |
1986–87 | Al Unser | season | [50] |
1987–88 | Rick Mears | season | [51] |
1988–89 | Emerson Fittipaldi | season | [52] |
1989–90 | Arie Luyendyk | season | [53] |
1990–91 | Rick Mears | season | [54] |
1991–92 | Al Unser Jr. | season | [55] |
1992–93 | Emerson Fittipaldi | season | [56] |
1993–94 | Al Unser Jr. | season | [57] |
1994–95 | Jacques Villeneuve | season | [58] |
USAC Stock Cars
[edit]USAC featured a stock car division from 1956 to 1984.
* The inaugural season featured two subtitles: Pacific Coast (won by Sam Hanks) and Short Track (Troy Ruttman).
USAC Road Racing Championship
[edit]From 1958 until 1962, USAC sanctioned a road racing championship.[59] It was held for sports cars from 1958 to 1961, and adopted Formula Libre rules in 1962.
Year | Champion | Car | Report |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | Dan Gurney | Ferrari 375 Plus Ferrari 290 MM |
season |
1959 | Augie Pabst | Ferrari 625 TR Scarab Mk. II-Chevrolet |
season |
1960 | Carroll Shelby | Maserati Tipo 61 Scarab Mk. II-Chevrolet |
season |
1961 | Ken Miles | Porsche 718 RS 61 | season |
1962 | Roger Penske | Cooper T53-Climax | season |
TORC: The Off-Road Championship
[edit]TORC: The Off-Road Championship was founded in 2009 by motocross racer Rick Johnson and it was managed the race operations and officiated the events.[60] USAC took over complete management of the series in 2010.[60] The complete management ended in August 2013 season when it was sold to The Armory. USAC returned to officiation/race control and the series was renamed "TORC: The Off Road Championship" for 2014.
- 2009 Pro 4x4: Rick Huseman, Pro 2WD: Rob MacCachren
- 2010 Pro 4x4: Johnny Greaves, Pro 2WD: Ricky Johnson
- 2011 Pro 4x4: Ricky Johnson, Pro 2WD Bryce Menzies
- 2012 Pro 4x4: Ricky Johnson, Pro 2WD Bryce Menzies
- 2013 Pro 4x4: Johnny Greaves, Pro 2WD: Bryce Menzies
- 2014 Pro 4x4: Johnny Greaves, Pro 2WD: CJ Greaves
See also
[edit]- Sports Car Club of America
- Automobile Racing Club of America
- Automobile Association of America
- Automobile Club of America
References
[edit]- ^ USAC Information Archived 2007-08-11 at the Wayback Machine insmkt.com. Retrieved on August 19, 2007.
- ^ "Rip the Fence: Episode 60 - Levi Jones". Motor Racing Network. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "AAA cuts ties with U.S. auto racing". The Michigan Daily. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Associated Press. August 4, 1955.
- ^ "Substitute seen for auto racing sponsor vacancy". St. Petersburg Times. International News Service. August 5, 1955.
- ^ "USAC takes over AAA's place". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. March 8, 1956.
- ^ a b c d Waltz, Keith (February 23, 2010). "A True USAC National Championship". National Speed Sport News. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- ^ Morrison, Patrick T.; Newland, James G. Jr. (April 25, 1978). "Weather Caused Plane Crash? (Part 1)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Morrison, Patrick T.; Newland, James G. Jr. (April 25, 1978). "Weather Caused Plane Crash? (Part 2)". The Indianapolis Star. p. 9. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Morrison, Patrick T.; Newland, James G. Jr. (April 25, 1978). "Crash Victms Were Racing Fans, Award Winners And Innovators". The Indianapolis Star. p. 9. Retrieved June 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ The battles wage on and off the tracks automedia.com.
- ^ The Talk of Gasoline Alley - 1070-AM WIBC, May 10, 2007
- ^ The CART-USAC War: part 1 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine oreopolis.com. Originally published in NUVO Newsweekly – January 25, 1996.
- ^ The CART-USAC War: part 2 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine oreopolis.com. Originally published in NUVO Newsweekly – January 25, 1996.
- ^ ""SALT CITY 78" CAPS SWANSON'S SILVER CROWN TITLE!". USAC. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
- ^ ""2016 SILVER CROWN SEASON CONCLUDES; WINDOM BANKS 4-CROWN AND SILVER CROWN TITLE". USAC. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ "Bettenhausen 100". USAC Silvercrown. October 18, 2020. Event occurs at 15:36. FloRacing.
- ^ "The king is crowned: Swanson takes Toledo finale, USAC Silver Crown title". USAC. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ a b "7th heaven: Kody Swanson is USAC Silver Crown champ, Doran-Dyson the entrant kings". USAC. 24 October 2022.
- ^ "THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: SEAVEY REACHES THE USAC SILVER CROWN PINNACLE IN 2023". USAC. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "BACON, GARDNER EARN NATIONAL, CRA TITLES". USAC. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
- ^ "BACON BECOMES TWO-TIME USAC SPRINT CHAMP; HOFFMANS HOIST 11TH OWNERS' TITLE TROPHY". USAC. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ "USAC Fall Nationals Sprints". USAC Sprint Car. October 3, 2020. Event occurs at 21:03. FloRacing.
- ^ "Amsoil USAC National Sprint Car Championship 2021 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ "Grant reaches the mountain TOPP: 2022 USAC Sprint Car season in review". USAC Racing. 2022-11-09. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ^ "BACK-2-BACK: GRANT CLIMBS HIS WAY BACK TO THE TOPP IN 2023". USAC Racing. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
- ^ "Tracy Hines Wins 2015 Honda USAC Midget Series Title to Join Triple Crown Club". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
- ^ "THORSON WEATHERS STORMY START TO CLAIM 2016 USAC NATIONAL MIDGET TITLE". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
- ^ "BAYSTON FOLLOWS KENYON AS TOWN'S NEWEST USAC MIDGET CHAMP - USAC Racing".
- ^ "ARCA Winner Logan Seavey Locks Up USAC Midget Championship". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
- ^ "Merced Speedway". USAC National Midget cars. November 21, 2020. Event occurs at 18:15. FloRacing.
- ^ Seelman, Jacob (18 November 2020). "Windom All But Clinches USAC Midget Crown". Sprint Car & Midget Magazine. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ "Logan Seavey Completes Sweep Of All Three USAC Finales". www.floracing.com. FloRacing. 28 November 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ^ "MEET THE 2020 USAC CHAMPIONS - USAC Racing". usacracing.com. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Driver champions usacracing.com
- ^ "Western States - USAC Racing". USAC. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Driver champions usacracing.com
- ^ "USAC Joins Forces with Arizona Traditional Sprint Cars". 7 December 2012.
- ^ "USAC EAST COAST SPRINT CARS SET TO DEBUT IN 2018 - USAC Racing".
- ^ Driver champions usacracing.com
- ^ "West Coast Sprint Car Series".
- ^ "USAC UNVEILS LIGHTNING SPRINT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2017 - USAC Racing".
- ^ "USAC Named New PWC Sanctioning Body – Sportscar365". 13 January 2017.
- ^ "PowerPoint Presentation" (PDF). Stadium Super Trucks. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Nate (September 23, 2014). "Robby Gordon's stadium truck series adds owners". USA Today. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
- ^ "1981–82 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1982–83 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1983–84 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1984–85 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1985–86 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1986–87 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1987–88 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1988–89 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1989–90 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1990–91 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1991–92 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1992–93 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1993–94 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "1994–95 Gold Crown Championship". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ Krejci, Martin. "USAC Road Racing Championship". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 2 August 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ^ a b "TRAXXAS Off Road Championship Under New Direction". Traxxas TORC Series. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.