THE ROOTS

OF RACING

M

an has always sought to prove his individual superiority over others of his species. In prehistoric times, the benefits of being the clan’s “alpha male” included getting the best food and females. These contests of territorial domination, like those in the animal kingdom, included physical battles, which left the loser tending to his battered body and crushed ego. Later, as man domesticated horses and camels to carry him, the natural inclination to prove whose beast was better evolved into racing to settle the matter. The invention and development of the wheel then gave us the chariot races that thrilled spectators in ancient Rome. A century ago, automobiles had barely been invented before the builders and owners sought to prove the superiority of their machines. Thus was born auto racing, a sport that’s a lot more fun to watch—and participate in—than our early forefathers’ contests for dominance. Today there are over 50 types of automobile racing around the globe, ranging from rallies to valleys, from hill climbs to superspeedways, on surfaces of cement, dirt, sand, mud and ice, and

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over salt flats and jungle and swamp terrain. As long as there are powered vehicles, humans will continue to try to prove the superiority of “man and machine.” The next generation of racers is currently training to outdo the last. But where are they? In football and basketball, young athletes work their way through the competitive leagues of high school and college. Baseball and hockey players also emerge via junior and minor league systems. But few of us know much about the “minor leagues” of auto racing. It so happens that most every major racing series has a “grass roots” developmental program to tutor, guide and protect youngsters. Racing organizations know that the future of their beloved sport lies in the youth who will be the racing heroes of the next generation. To ensure the survival and quality of their sport, these groups have set up structured programs to help develop these young drivers. For every big-name driver in one of the major racing series today there are a thousand other youthful racers plying their craft on small regional tracks, working their way up to the Big Time. Today, those young men and women are involved in karting,

Photo courtesy NASCAR

BY TOM NASH Each year, new stars emerge in auto racing. They weren’t born in the roll cage of a Nextel Cup car or the cockpit of an IRL racer. So, where do those young driving stars come from?

motocross, motorcycle, boat and drag racing. Eventually, like salmon swimming upstream to spawn, the few that the fates don’t sort out will make it to the top and become stars. So, if you’re wondering where the Earnhardts, Andrettis and Unsers of tomorrow will come from, rest assured they’re out there. You just have to know where to look.

NASCAR: Dodge Weekly Series The Dodge Weekly Series is NASCAR’s (www.nascar.com) championship program for weekly short-track competitors. Drivers compete at their home tracks for local awards, as well as regional and national championships. Eight geographic regions are represented: Atlantic, Heartland, Midwest, New Eng-

land, Northeast, Northwest, Southeastern Coastal and Sunbelt. The regional champions’ racing records are compared using a competition performance index point formula to determine a national champion. How big is it? Well, in 2003, approximately 8000 drivers in 30 states competed in over 1600 events on 75 asphalt and dirt oval tracks, ranging in size from a quarter-mile to .646-mile in length. They vied for part of $1.7 million in point fund money. Mark McFarland of Winchester, Virginia, won the 2003 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series National Championship. The 25-year-old won the series’ Atlantic Region championship after recording 16 wins and 18 top-five finishes in 18 starts in the Late Model

Stock Car division at Old Dominion Speedway in Manassas, Virginia. McFarland’s bonus awards pushed his winnings to $213,500, the largest point fund award ever won by a single driver in the 21-year history of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. The series was founded in 1982 and includes eight divisions: Late Model, Asphalt Modified, Sportsman, Pro Stock, Super Late Model, Dirt Late Model, Dirt Modifieds and Super Stock. The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series all-star alumni include some huge names—Jeff and Ward Burton, Stacy Compton, Terry Cook, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Ron Hornaday, Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Mike McLaughlin, Sterling Marlin, Jamie

McMurray, Steve Park, Robert Pressley, Elliott Sadler, Dennis Setzer, Jack Sprague and Mike Wallace.

Indy Racing League: Menards Infiniti Pro Series The Indy Racing League (www.indy racingleague.com) created the Infiniti Pro Series in 2002 to serve as a stepping stone for young drivers with dreams of driving in the IndyCar Series. The series provides an ideal training ground for the rising talent of IRL’s open-wheel racing. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series schedule for 2004 consists of 12 100mile races to be held at selected IRL venues, and includes the Freedom 100 Mile Race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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Photo courtesy NASCAR

THE ROOTS OF RACING

NASCAR’s Dodge Weekly Series awards points to nearly 8000 amateur drivers in eight divisions, while they compete in races at their home tracks. Point standings are compared to determine local, regional and national champions.

CART: Ladder Series For all its recent financial troubles (losses from competing against IRL), CART (www.cart.com) has had a very good developmental “ladder” system to bring along young racers. The top series, the Toyota Atlantic Championship Series, is considered one of the best preparatory programs in auto racing. It’s run at the same venues as the Champ Cars, prior to the big races. Over the last 30 years, the Atlantic Series has seen the likes of such drivers as Bobby Rahal, Danny Sullivan, Gilles Villeneuve, Keke Rosberg, Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser. If CART survives this year, and it looks as though it may, this series will be critical to the future of the organization. Just below Toyota Atlantic is the Barber Dodge Series, considered to be the official entry level of professional CART racing. The cost to field and run the smaller, less expensive cars in the Barber Dodge Series made it attractive to

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many groups and individuals. In existence for 18 years, the series counts Robbie Buhl, Bryan Herta, Kenny Brack and Juan Montoya as alumni. Unfortunately, CART will not host the Barber Dodge Series for 2004. Next down the CART ladder is the Formula Dodge National Championship Series. Young drivers with proven talent and track experience are invited to compete in this 13-race amateur series. The big prize is being designated as CART’s National Amateur Champion. The top drivers in Formula

Photo courtesy Indy Racing League

All cars in the series are equipped with a 3.5L V8 Infiniti Q45 racing engine that produces 450 hp, tucked into a Dallara chassis, and shod with Firestone tires. About 30 drivers participated in the series last year. The top finishers are considered to be prime choices for filling seats in the IndyCar Series.

Dodge are eligible to move up the ladder to the next step. After four years of developing young drivers, financial difficulties have put the future of the Formula Dodge Series in doubt. The bottom rung of the CART ladder is also the top rung in karting. Only three years old, the Stars of Tomorrow Series showcases drivers 8 years old and up, in both gearbox (shifter) and nongearbox classes. Eight to ten races are held in various geographic regions, leading to a championship race. The system is sanctioned by the World Karting Association (WKA) and the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). The top talent is expected to move up the ladder in CART’s developmental system. Such was the case for 12-year-old John Edwards of Little Rock, Arkansas. Last year, the young karter moved up the ladder from the Stars of Tomorrow series. Competing in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Series, he took pole position in qualifying Saturday morning on Daytona’s infield road course, then led the 13-car field from flag-to-flag for his first auto racing victory. John then doubled up with a win on Sunday, posting a 25-second margin of victory over the second place finisher—during a downpour! Karts have been the career starting point for other racing luminaries, among them Michael Andretti, Patrick

The Menards Infiniti Pro Series is the Indy Racing League’s training ground for young drivers. After two years of spirited competition, the series has proven to be a fan favorite. Twelve 100-mile races are scheduled for 2004.

We’re not talking about go-karts here. CART’s developmental Stars of Tomorrow Series karts can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 31⁄2 seconds, have shifted transmissions and sophisticated disc brakes. Engines range from 80 to 125cc.

Carpentier, Helio Castroneves, Gil de Ferran, Dario Franchitti, Paul Tracy, Alex Zanardi and Bryan Herta. However, as in the series higher up the CART ladder, the future of the Stars of Tomorrow Series is unclear.

American Speed Association: Late Model Series

The American Speed Association (ASA) has taken a great step forward toward developing young drivers with the establishment of the Late Model Series. The 14-race schedule is sure to increase interest in local stock car racing.

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John Edwards, a 12-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas, became the youngest winner of the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Series when he posted his first open-wheel victory at Daytona International Speedway last year.

while some will be run as stand-alone programs. If the series proves successful, the number of venues will be expanded next year. The races will be 100-lap green flag contests, planned without changing tires, adding fuel or pit stops. The cars will include makes from three major manufacturers—GM, Ford and Dodge—and will utilize template bodies and specified crate engines. The engines must be from the company that makes the body.

NHRA: O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League

Photo courtesy ASA Racing

The American Speed Association (www.asaracing.com) recently added a developmental series to its menu. Formerly known as the USPRO Cup Series, a localized Midwest racing program, it was designed to provide young drivers and racing teams with an afford-

able way to establish competitive resumes, by using an inexpensive formula for equipment and competing locally. The series was founded in 2002 and quickly became popular with local fans. This year, ASA takes over the program. After that announcement from ASA, more than 100 teams from 14 states registered for the coming year’s competition. The 2004 ASA Late Model Series schedule will feature 14 events in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Some races will be held in conjunction with the nationally touring ASA races,

Photo courtesy R. Dole, Skip Barber Racing

Photo courtesy CART

THE ROOTS OF RACING

The National Hot Rod Association (www.nhra.com) has been operating its youth driver development program, the Jr. Drag Racing League, since 1992. Sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts, the program features youngsters aged 8 to 17 competing in half-scale dragsters powered by 5-hp engines that produce speeds up to 85 mph. Many of the dragsters, or kits, are made by the same commercial chassis builders who also build the larger versions. The cost to go racing at this level may run from $3000 to $5000, including mandatory safety gear and entry fees. Just like the professionals, most Jr. racers defray their racing

THE ROOTS OF RACING

Photo courtesy NHRA

The NHRA says the O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League has approximately 4000 drivers, ages 8 to 17, about 25% of whom are female. More than 130 NHRA member tracks in the U.S. and Canada offer races for the youth program.

culminating events of the season, each awarding $100,000 in savings bonds every year.

Sports Car Club of America The subject of training race car drivers would not be complete without a mention of the Sports Car Club of America (www.scca.org). The SCCA trains more drivers—from the ground up—than any other racing organization. The 65,000-member nonprofit organization of more than 100 regional chapters sanctions over 2000 amateur and pro-

Photo courtesy USA LAT

costs by securing sponsors. Local competition is held at an eighth-mile distance. NHRA national events are contested over a quartermile. Drivers aged 8 to 9 may run as quick as 12.90 seconds on the eighthmile. Drivers 13 to 17 may do it in 7.90 seconds. Stock Jr. Dragsters use pump gasoline for fuel, but most engines are modified to burn alcohol (methanol), for quicker times. The NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League Eastern and Western Conference Finals are the

Under the sanction of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), the Grand-Am road racing series has been the proving ground for many drivers who later found success in many different types of racing competition.

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fessional races and events each year. The foundation of the SCCA continues to be club racing. It’s at these local and regional venues that drivers are educated, trained and nurtured by certified instructors in the art and technique of competitive driving. On the professional side, SCCA is best known for the Trans-Am Series. Started in 1966 as a competition for racing sedans, Trans-Am has remained one of the premier road racing series in North America. It averages more than a million fans at its races each year. In the first few years, the series saw participation by such notable drivers as future NASCAR champions A.J. Foyt and Richard Petty, Formula 1 standouts Jochen Rindt and Jacky Ickx, road racers Mark Donohue and Peter Revson, and Indy 500 stars Parnelli Jones, Sam Posey and Swede Savage. The Trans-Am Series now showcases some of North America’s top road racers, including three-time champion Paul Gentilozzi, two-time titleholder Scott Pruett, Michael Lewis, Johnny Miller IV, Randy Ruhlman, Bob Ruman, 2002 champion Boris Said, Simon Gregg and Tomy Drissi. Now under the promotional guidance of Gentilozzi, the series is run in conjunction with CART events, so the schedule of events for the year is still unconfirmed as we go to press. Race officiating is another important role of the SCCA. Every major U.S. road racing event is staffed by SCCA members. The organization’s 5000 trained and licensed workers provide emergency services, course communications, timing and scoring, registration and marshaling for the course, pregrid, pit lane and paddock. Other racing organizations have development programs, too, but space prohibits listing them all. If you’re curious about programs not mentioned here, check out their websites. There you’ll learn about the racing stars of tomorrow who are out there at the grass roots level, honing their skills to be the very best. Visit www.motor.com to download a free copy of this article.