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 driver and talent developer Jason Sarvis. Age 28

Jason Sarvis

"I just shut up and drive."

Dwight asked Jason Sarvis:

"I guess the best part is the excitement, but it's the game. It's the point that there's only one winner. You've got 30 or 40 guys out there chasing for one trophy and also the money. It's the sport itself. I just enjoy driving. There's probably not one particular thing I enjoy about it. It's just one time that you can sit in victory lane and feel like you're the man for one week."

"This is my profession. I've been racing full time in this series for going on four years now, and of course, trying to move up. That's my primary goal. I'm from Myrtle Beach, S.C., and I live in Mooresville, N.C.

"Definitely. I set short term goals and my long term goal is to take each step as it comes. My next step is Busch Grand National. The Spencers are giving me that opportunity. We're supposed to run three races this year and possibly go into the season next year."

"Hmm. I'd probably say my favorite moment is winning a championship race at Myrtle Beach Speedway which is my home track. I had all my family and friends there. It's an exciting moment to win in front of those guys. In a hometown you always want to perform in front of them. It was a big party afterwards."

"I really don't know. I really don't evaluate myself. Just get in, shut and drive. That's kind of what I try to stick to. I'm really into setting up own cars, building my own shocks. If there's anything inside the car that might help me above anybody else is that I do my own chassis setups so I know what to tell the crew what to the car. That's how I've always raced."

"I just shut up and drive. Once the green flag drops all this other stuff that goes on all day is immaterial. You got 40 guys all going after the checker flag. If you're smart and play your game, I think over a period of time, you'll win. I've never really had a strategy. I've always just wanted to win. As I'm starting to get a little but older, I'm starting to learn different moves not to take. Not getting caught up in as many wrecks. You're anxious to win, but experience just seems to keep fenders on these things."

"Not really. I enjoy just spending time with my friends and family and hanging out and drinking a few Miller Lites. I do a little fishing."

"Bob Brooks and Hooters have done an outstanding job with what they have built with this series. I remember from where it started. He is this series. If he ever pulls out, it's in trouble. He owns it. He does it all. He markets it. He does a very good job of putting people in the stands. They've just built their own identity of racing. With the Hooters, that has brought a different theme to it. It stuck. You don't see girls going around shaking hands in NASCAR. That's what these girls do. They come out to these races and then get the kids involved."

"I'd like to be a Busch Grand National champion. That my goal. I try not to say I want to be in Nextel Cup because those goals are so big for a person who doesn't have the money to buy his way in. I want to take it one step at a time. As I said my next step is Busch and I want to be a champion in that. "

"I'd like to thank Bill Miller power equipment, our sponsor in the Hooters Cup series and definitely Jimmy and Pat Spencer for giving me the opportunity to race and also help their son. That's what this whole program is about-to help me and help him. Hopefully if we can accomplish those goals, we'll be in victory lane. "