Young drivers make mark in HOOTERS PROCUP SERIES

JENNERSTOWN, PA (Sept. 21, 2005) … Young drivers headed for NASCAR stardom will be in the spotlight this Saturday evening at Jennerstown Speedway for the running of the Hooters ProCup Charlie Campbell Memorial BF Goodrich 250, the first stop on the United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) five-race Championship Series.

“The Hooters ProCup series has become the developmental series for the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams over the past over the past couple of years,” said Jennerstown general manager Larry Mattingly. “The fact that the USAR cars race on radial tires and are very similar to NASCAR Cup and BUSCH series cars, makes the Hooters ProCup tour a natural training ground.”

No less than 10 of the 58 drivers entered in the Saturday’s event have strong ties to NASCAR teams. Leading the pack is Mark McFarland, a former National NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series champion, who will be driving a car entered by NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. The 27-year-old McFarland, who has been one of the hottest drivers in late season action, will be moving up to the NASCAR BUSCH series next year, with sponsorship from the United States Navy. “The competition in Hooters ProCup is intense,” McFarland said during a recent Jennerstown practice session. “There will be at least 10 or 12 teams that can win the championship this year. The competition factor from last year has doubled.” While McFarland is focused on winning the USAR national title, he can’t help but be excited about 2006. “Racing in the NASCAR BUSCH series will be a big challenge for us,” he said. “We have a lot of key personnel coming to work for the new team, which should help to cut the learning curve. I’m confident. We’ll have good equipment, good motors and good personnel. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a chance of a lifetime.”
	Mark McFarland

Another Hooters ProCup driver jumping to the BUSCH series next year is Steven Wallace, the 18-year-old son of NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace, who is one of the favorites to capture the Nextel Cup championship prior to retiring at the end of the season.

The younger Wallace has already captured an ARCA RE/MAX event at Michigan International Speedway and will compete in four BUSCH races prior to moving into the series full time next year.

“Jennerstown is a cool track,” Wallace said. “It reminds me a lot of a small Milwaukee Mile, because of the sweeping turns. We practiced very well there, and I think we’ll be in the thick of the battle.”

Wallace says there is no additional pressure being the son of a NASCAR icon. “It isn’t tough being my father’s son,” Wallace added. “You just grow up being used to the spotlight and it becomes reality to you. He’s just always dad to me. To other people he’s Rusty Wallace, but he’s my dad so it’s no big deal.”

Other Hooters ProCup drivers with NASCAR involvement include: Clay Rogers, the defending USAR national champion, who finished fourth in last weekend’s Craftsman truck race; Woody Howard, who has signed a developmental contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, and Matt Carter, son of long time crew chief Travis Carter.

Shelby Howard, who has won at the ARCA level and competed in the Craftsman truck series in 2004, will be driving for current NASCAR point leader Tony Stewart on Saturday. Joel Kauffman is currently competing in the BUSCH Series, while Ken Butler III is wheeling a car prepared in Michael Waltrip’s Aarons BUSCH shops.

 Joey Logano, a 15-year-old Mark Martin protégé, recently signed with Joe Gibbs Racing after becoming the youngest driver to win a Hooters ProCup feature. Jimmy Spencer Jr. is the namesake of his father, who currently stars in the Craftsman Truck series following a successful career in Nextel Cup.

Spectator gates open at 2:00 PM, with qualifying set for 4:30. A pre-race on-track autograph session will be staged at 5:45, while the green flag will drop at 7:00.

###