Photos © Dwight Drum
Web work by Gary Larsen

USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series

Series slogan:

Where racing's past, present and future collide!

We understand the Hooters approach to racing. It's promotional and exciting. Sponsorship in stock car racing these days almost have to have big reasons and big pockets. The United Speed Alliance Racing Hooters Pro Cup series is supported by the Hooters organization and other sponsors with proper payout and prime coverage. They bring a TV eye, the Speed channel, to their races and they bring their support groups including many Hooters girls to beautify and promote the racing environment. Mostly, it's just fun.

Drivers of all ages and stages in their racing careers vie for the checkered flag in USAR. Some have raced in the NASCAR Busch series and Craftsman Truck series, some aspire to race to the top. Zoomster.com attended a Hooters Pro Cup event at USA International Speedway in Lakeland. Dwight Drum interviewed several drivers- some young, some not-so-young and some older. That mix fits the slogan, where racing's past, present and future collide.

Our next interview is with USAR Hooters champion Shane Huffman. Age 30

"For the most part I kind of wing it."

Dwight asked Shane Huffman:

"Most of the time it's something I grew up watching and always wanted to do. The thrill and the speed and winning the race-I guess that's what it's all about really."

"This is it, right here."

"Actually we do. I'd like to get in the right situation of course. I don't want to take the wrong step, but I really want to do the truck deal or the Busch deal. I think I can be real competitive at it."

"Winning the championship in the Hooters series last year was definitely one of them, but also last year in the championship race at Winchester we led every lap and it's never been done before in the Hooters Pro Cup racing so I would say both of those. "

"Just to make it as far as I can and to be in a competitive situation. Obviously everybody wants to be in Nextel Cup, but I don't want to be in Nextel Cup running 30th every week. I want to be in a competitive situation in whatever I'm racing or whatever I'm doing. As far as my goals from where I've started and everything, I probably shouldn't be where I am today. I've just been real fortunate and had a lot of the right breaks."

"I really have no fears. I think if you're afraid to be on a racetrack you're probably in the wrong sport. There's always a chance to get hurt, but if you go out there thinking about it, then you're not going to do your job to the best that you can do."

"No I really don't. The desire is one thing but a lot of people have the desire. I guess there must be some kind of hidden talent or something. I don't know."

"I don't know if you call it a strategy, but I really kind of think the race through and try to put myself in goods position. Obviously everybody makes mistakes every now and them. For the most part I kind of wing it."

"I love to do other things but there is nothing I'd rather be doing. I don't know if that makes sense."

"I'd like to be in the Craftsman truck series or the Busch Grand National series would be fine. You know at age 30 the chances of me making it to Nextel Cup are getting slimmer by the day. I just want to contend for a championship in either one of those series one time which I think I have the ability to do - just given the right opportunity."

"It ain't the wings. Mr. Brooks brings a lot to this series. A lot of the attention and the television package which we all need to put the sponsorship of ours in the series. We all need to race. There's good purses, good points bond. It's just a real good series and Mr. Brooks and Hooters Restaurants do a lot of that. "

"I love racing. It's been a good life for me. I've had a lot of good opportunities and I've got to thank a lot of people for it. I'd like to have the opportunity to do a little more."