Featuring nearly 60 drivers fighting for 36-starting spots and one winner’s trophy, the Championship Series opener is always one of the most exciting events of the season for the Hooters Pro Cup Series. Next year, that excitement will be doubled.

Today, the Hooters Pro Cup Series and Iowa Speedway have agreed to kick off the Championship Series at the plush track being constructed in Newton, Iowa. But the event, scheduled for Sept. 15, 2006, will not only be the first race in the Championship Series, the 250-lap race will be the first event held at the .875-mile tri-oval.

“Tracks like Iowa Speedway are not built everyday. It’s going to be state-of-the-art facility,” said Tony Cox, Hooters Pro Cup Series vice president. “To be able to open our Championship Series and Iowa Speedway at the same time is a huge honor for our series. We’re going to bring some of the best short-track racers in the country to one the finest short tracks in the country. The pairing couldn’t be better.”

The United Speed Alliance Racing (USAR) Hooters Pro Cup Series, based in Longs, S.C., was created following the tragic deaths of 1992 Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki, Dan Duncan, Charlie Campbell and Mark Brooks, son of Hooters of America CEO Bob Brooks, in a plane crash on their way to Bristol, Tennessee.

Buoyed by rapid growth, the Hooters Pro Cup Series split into two divisions, Northern and Southern, in 2001. Both divisions run a regular season then convene for a Championship Series to crown the Hooters Pro Cup Series National Champion and Miller Lite Rookie of the Year.

In 2006, the Hooters Pro Cup Series will feature 30 races in 12 states. The inaugural 250-lap race at Iowa Speedway will be the first venture to the Hawkeye State for the Hooters Pro Cup Series.

“Our goals are to expand the Hooters Pro Cup Series into another division in the near future,” said Cox, “This race will be a perfect way to showcase our product to Midwestern fans on a grand stage and possibly lay the groundwork for a Midwest division.”

Upon completion, Iowa Speedway will feature 12-14 degree compound banking, 54 garage stalls for competitors and 25,000 seats for race fans. Other amenities include 26 suites, at-track camping and a hospitality village.

“We are very excited to announce the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series as our inaugural event at Iowa Speedway,” said Todd A. Melfi, Iowa Speedway general manager. “The Hooters Pro Cup Series is very well respected and has been great to work with. Being able to host one of the Series Championship events is great for our facility as it will provide our fans with the best competitors that USAR has to offer, and the 250-lap event will be a great show to kick off our inaugural season.”

(Sources: USARProCup.com & IowaSpeedway.com)