| Thursday, January 31, 2008 |
by Skip Wall
What do eight drivers from last years Hooters ProCup Series' roster have in common?
The same thing that six former ProCup drivers have as well. They (14 current and former USAR drivers) have moved over to the ARCA series for the season opener at Daytona. It used to be that drivers moving up to further their careers would go on up into the Nationwide Series, Truck Series and eventually the Sprint Cup Series. So why the move over to the ARCA series? And why has USAR lost its way with fans, drivers, sponsors and team owners?
There are several reasons. Some drivers will tell you that its to enhance their career, such as one of the most recent drivers to move over, Jack Bailey. "I owe a lot to my family and friends especially my Dad, Randy Humphrey and businessman Rob Smyjunas, for getting me this shot at proving myself at this level, in good equipment, surrounded by experienced people," says Bailey who will run a limited schedule for owner Eddie D'Hondt.
Another is veteran Matt Carter who landed one the best rides in ARCA with Larry Clement. Carter who won a race last year at Iowa, will be the biggest blow to leave the USAR series from last season.
You cant blame drivers wanting to enhance a career. It wasn't that long ago that USAR touted itself as the best short track series around. All of that will change now as the series added on the Milwaukee Mile and Rockingham and dropped some smaller tracks. It was a slap in the face to the drivers in the southern division. In fact some drivers are mad about USAR combining its divisions and forcing them to all compete at the Milwaukee Mile. Some of the smaller budgeted will not make the field making it even worse.
Perhaps USAR has more than its share of problems than they will say and aren't making or willing to take steps to resolve them. Another problem seems to be that the USAR series has lost its way with some of its drivers and its fan base. The series does not seem to know what it is supposed to be.
Some still think that the USAR series is seen as a stepping stone for racers wanting to climb on up the ladder. Some have but some have returned back after not making it in the bigger leagues and a few have just disappeared off the radar scope. What is odd is that instead of moving up the ladder, some 14 drivers within the past few years moved over to ARCA from the USAR.
Just a few years ago there were several NASCAR Sprint Cup owners in the USAR series trying to develop drivers. That number has now dwindled as they have now turned towards ARCA and the NASCAR Camping World Series formerly the Busch East.
USAR also lost a lot of exposure when they let Michelle Theriault get away to ARCA and NASCAR along with a major sponsor, Glock. It was Theriault who garnered more fans in pre race ceremonies than any other driver. USAR also snubbed Glock in its sponsorship programs. Another factor was the fact that one of its own officials snubbed Theriaults whole team and kept it all hush hush.
Other drivers are concerned about USAR trying to take away sponsors. One driver had to give up full time driving as he claimed that USAR took away his major auto parts sponsor only to lose it themselves a couple of seasons later.
It has to be tough to attract serious sponsorships but rumors are flying that this could be the last year for the Hooters sponsorship as the current contract is soon to expire. USAR officials will not come out in the open to discuss it leaving drivers and car owners not knowing its fate. It seems as if the series has been on the downslide since the founder of the USAR series, Bob Brooks, passed away. Brooks was a man who deeply cared for the series and its drivers. Since his death the series and its current management have lost its way with teams.
One of the biggest complaints coming from the fan base is its television package with SPEED. Many are upset that the package keeps getting smaller and has turned into an infomercial. Only 50 laps of a 250 lap event would actually get seen. One such event showed some concern about Clay Rogers not being able to make a race as he was off running at a Craftsman Truck race on the same day as the Hooters event. Because the race was on tape delay, everyone knew the outcome and have blasted the series for not showing more racing. However the USAR series feels that it has a good package.
Contrary to what USAR officials and the TV execs seem to think, fans just no longer care for the format that is shown for the USAR series. In fact the Camping World Series, formerly the Busch East started broadcasting its races live. And it was the East that lured away superstar Joey Logano and Theriault from USAR.
It is also felt that USAR has to do a better job of promoting the series for it to survive. USAR needs all the exposure it can get. Without it, only hurts themselves, it drivers, team owners and sponsors. However the series has shown it doesn't need the outside media world and only wants to promote with its own media dept., with only what they want you to hear. Not much else. In fact, more than one time USAR has declined credentials to the media. Moreover one female rep for a major sponsor of Hooters declined to have its big top notch driver interviewed declining that company any publicity. Tell that to the board room execs. Any publicity is better than none at all. This isn't Sprint Cup where there are too many media reps.
It seems that USAR can't or wont accept criticism. Moreover in other series such as ASA, ARCA and NASCAR development series, they open the doors up and make the media feel appreciated and wanted and have no problem with controversy. Seems like they understand criticism, good promoting, rivalries and controversy helps sell tickets. It's criticism, promoting, rivalries and controversy that Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem NC thrives off of that attracts 11 to 13 thousand fans a week at its events.
It would be sad to see USAR go by the wayside should Hooters not renew its contracts. Hopefully another title sponsor will pick up the series should that happen.
USAR is still a very good series to race in. One report says the proof is in the pudding as the series had a very good season and had some good stats. But tell that to the track promoter at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Seems like the gate wasn't good enough for the series home track, so for that or for some other reason USAR dropped one of its events for this year at the popular track. Some are very upset at this because this race was where teams could spend time with families as the beach was nearby.
We understand the need for the USAR. We understand the need for fans to turn out to see the events. We understand the need for drivers to move up to the bigger leagues. However Gene Cox and other big officials need to themselves understand just what the fans and teams want. USAR used to be the best short track series around and still is to a certain extent.
And it was Kenny Wallace who once said for USAR not to change nothing.
They did. So one would have to ask, has the series lost its way?
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