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IndyCar
MILLER: Bullrings To The Brickyard
Short track drivers briefly caught the attention of the IRL in the late 1990s, but now the love and dollars might be flowing again.
IndyCar racing has had its back turned to USAC's best for quite some time. That could change for 2011. (Bryan Clausen Racing)
Holding the title of USAC midget, sprint or dirt car champion has meant different things throughout the past six decades. If you wore No. 1 in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, it was usually an automatic ticket to the Indianapolis 500 and the big car circuit, as it was called.
In the 1990s, that mantra opened the door to stock cars and became a pipeline to NASCAR.
For the past few years it’s simply continued to be a badge of honor for the best racing on four wheels in North America but a tough way to earn a living.
“If you count all your expenses, travel and insurance for 100 races it works out to about $5 an hour,” cracked Levi Jones, the three-time sprint champ from Olney. Ill.
Considering he runs about 100 races a year, Jones was closer to the truth than you might think and that’s why Kevin Miller and Randy Bernard are trying to help raise the payout and profile for a successful USAC driver.
USAC president Miller has introduced a new category: the USAC Driver’s Championship for his three divisions with $40,000 going to the winner, in addition to series points funds and purse payouts through the year.
By comparison, Jones earned a little less than $40,000 in ’09 for taking the sprint crown.
“I was embarrassed when I heard that figure for Levi so we were able to come up with this chance to reward the guys who excel and have been loyal to our brand,” said Miller. “USAC ran an off-road truck series and charged $150,000 for a management fee and we put most of that money into the point funds.
“The overall champion category pays the Top 10 drivers and we were able to increase the overall point funds for drivers and owners 35 percent.”
Bryan Clauson, who owns a 25-point lead over Jones for that 40 grand heading into this weekend’s 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, loves the concept.
“It’s a really cool deal and the money all goes to the driver instead of just getting your percentage,” said the 21-year-old gasser from Noblesville who leads the midget standings and is second in sprints.
“I wish we’d have had this last year because I would have won it but I’m excited to be leading the points.”
Jones is leading the sprint car division, ranks sixth in Silver Crown and 17th in the midgets, where he’s only run sporadically. At the end of the season in November, drivers are allowed to take their 25 best races to determine the champion.
“It’s something we’ve never had a chance to do before and for me to be in the running for that kind of cash is awesome,” said Jones, who has six sprint wins and one Silver Crown victory so far in 2010.
“I’ve had a pretty good year but with this point fund it’s got a chance to be my best year ever.”
But, besides the bonus money for being versatile in three disciplines on dirt and pavement, the other caveat for being the first USAC overall champ is coming from Bernard.
The IndyCar CEO is working on a plan to reward USAC’s best with a ride for all the Indy Lights ovals in 2011.
“One of things I hear most from fans and media is that we need more American drivers and I agree, I think it’s very important,” said Bernard, who has been to Bloomington and Kokomo for USAC shows this summer and is planning to be at Rossburg, Ohio this Saturday night.
“There are a lot of good young racers in USAC who deserve a chance to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and USAC is a valuable part of our heritage in Indy cars.”
None of USAC’s full-timers thinks about a career in the IZOD IndyCar series because they aren’t road racers. But past USAC champions like Tracy Hines, Dave Darland, Jerry Coons Jr. and Bud Keading are certainly some of the most accomplished open-wheel racers in this country and are deserving of a shot.
Clauson, who scored 20 victories in 2009, was under contract to Chip Ganassi a few years ago and made several Nationwide starts before the team folded for lack of sponsorship. He started in USAC and now he’s back but at least the Indy 500 is on his radar.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love racing in USAC for a living and even though you’ve got to run 100 times a year, I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing,” he exclaimed.
“If I could win this deal and get a Lights ride, it may give me a chance to run at Indianapolis. We need some more Americans in that race and I’d like to be one of them.”
Ditto for Jones.
“Man I grew up bugging my dad to take me to Indy for practice and qualifying, it was ALWAYS what I wanted to do,” said the 28-year-old veteran who drives for Tony Stewart. “Until Randy Bernard came along I never thought I’d ever have a chance so to get that opportunity would be all I could ever hope for.
“I’d like to see Tracy, Darland, Clauson and myself run the Hoosier 100, the Lights race and Indy 500 all in the same weekend.”
And a whole bunch of people who haven’t cared about Indy cars in a long time might just show up for all three races.
Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.
Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.
In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
In the 1990s, that mantra opened the door to stock cars and became a pipeline to NASCAR.
For the past few years it’s simply continued to be a badge of honor for the best racing on four wheels in North America but a tough way to earn a living.
“If you count all your expenses, travel and insurance for 100 races it works out to about $5 an hour,” cracked Levi Jones, the three-time sprint champ from Olney. Ill.
Considering he runs about 100 races a year, Jones was closer to the truth than you might think and that’s why Kevin Miller and Randy Bernard are trying to help raise the payout and profile for a successful USAC driver.
USAC president Miller has introduced a new category: the USAC Driver’s Championship for his three divisions with $40,000 going to the winner, in addition to series points funds and purse payouts through the year.
By comparison, Jones earned a little less than $40,000 in ’09 for taking the sprint crown.
“I was embarrassed when I heard that figure for Levi so we were able to come up with this chance to reward the guys who excel and have been loyal to our brand,” said Miller. “USAC ran an off-road truck series and charged $150,000 for a management fee and we put most of that money into the point funds.
“The overall champion category pays the Top 10 drivers and we were able to increase the overall point funds for drivers and owners 35 percent.”
Bryan Clauson, who owns a 25-point lead over Jones for that 40 grand heading into this weekend’s 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, loves the concept.
“It’s a really cool deal and the money all goes to the driver instead of just getting your percentage,” said the 21-year-old gasser from Noblesville who leads the midget standings and is second in sprints.
“I wish we’d have had this last year because I would have won it but I’m excited to be leading the points.”
Jones is leading the sprint car division, ranks sixth in Silver Crown and 17th in the midgets, where he’s only run sporadically. At the end of the season in November, drivers are allowed to take their 25 best races to determine the champion.
“It’s something we’ve never had a chance to do before and for me to be in the running for that kind of cash is awesome,” said Jones, who has six sprint wins and one Silver Crown victory so far in 2010.
“I’ve had a pretty good year but with this point fund it’s got a chance to be my best year ever.”
But, besides the bonus money for being versatile in three disciplines on dirt and pavement, the other caveat for being the first USAC overall champ is coming from Bernard.
The IndyCar CEO is working on a plan to reward USAC’s best with a ride for all the Indy Lights ovals in 2011.
“One of things I hear most from fans and media is that we need more American drivers and I agree, I think it’s very important,” said Bernard, who has been to Bloomington and Kokomo for USAC shows this summer and is planning to be at Rossburg, Ohio this Saturday night.
“There are a lot of good young racers in USAC who deserve a chance to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and USAC is a valuable part of our heritage in Indy cars.”
None of USAC’s full-timers thinks about a career in the IZOD IndyCar series because they aren’t road racers. But past USAC champions like Tracy Hines, Dave Darland, Jerry Coons Jr. and Bud Keading are certainly some of the most accomplished open-wheel racers in this country and are deserving of a shot.
Clauson, who scored 20 victories in 2009, was under contract to Chip Ganassi a few years ago and made several Nationwide starts before the team folded for lack of sponsorship. He started in USAC and now he’s back but at least the Indy 500 is on his radar.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love racing in USAC for a living and even though you’ve got to run 100 times a year, I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing,” he exclaimed.
“If I could win this deal and get a Lights ride, it may give me a chance to run at Indianapolis. We need some more Americans in that race and I’d like to be one of them.”
Ditto for Jones.
“Man I grew up bugging my dad to take me to Indy for practice and qualifying, it was ALWAYS what I wanted to do,” said the 28-year-old veteran who drives for Tony Stewart. “Until Randy Bernard came along I never thought I’d ever have a chance so to get that opportunity would be all I could ever hope for.
“I’d like to see Tracy, Darland, Clauson and myself run the Hoosier 100, the Lights race and Indy 500 all in the same weekend.”
And a whole bunch of people who haven’t cared about Indy cars in a long time might just show up for all three races.
Robin Miller became an Indy-car junkie in late 1950s and stooged for his hero, Jim Hurtubise, at the 1968 Indy 500. He went on to work as a vent man and board man on Indy pit crews from 1971-77. Miller bought a Formula Ford from Andy Granatelli in 1972 and raced it in SCCA until 1974 when he purchased a midget from Gary Bettenhausen, competing in the USAC midget series from 1975-82.
Robin flunked out of Ball State College in 1968 and began working at The Indianapolis Star sports department in 1969, covered motorsports there from 1969-2000.
In addition to his broadcast work. Miller's also covered IndyCar racing for Autoweek, Autosport, Car & Driver and On Track magazines over the past 35 years.
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
2013 INDY 500 Practice
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