'Double Down' drives up winnings for USRA drivers

[NickHolt]

For Immediate Release

Dec. 27, 2004

Contact: Chuck Licata, 903.576.4144

 

'Double Down' drives up winnings for USRA drivers

 

One would think the United States Racing Association was playing Las Vegas with its latest reward for its Super Late Model (SLM) and Truck series drivers.

The 'Double Down' program will give drivers in both USRA series the chance to double - and almost triple - their money in select USRA race events in 2005.

"Our 'Double Down' program is another way for us to reward our drivers as well as make the race more exciting for the fans," said USRA owner Terry Dickerson. "Right now, we are finalizing sponsorship so we can run at least one 'Double Down' race at each of the four tracks we run in 2005. Our drivers deserve it and our fans will go nuts over it."

Here's how the program works. Depending on the number of cars/trucks that start a race, either the Top 6 or Top 8 qualifiers will be brought on to the front straightaway. Six (or eight) sponsors caps will be laid down on the front straight. Each "participating" driver, in the order they qualified - meaning the fastest qualifier goes first - will choose one of the caps. There will be a number under each cap; that number automatically becomes each driver's starting position.

Then - starting with the pole sitter - each participating driver will be offered the opportunity to "Double Down" for the race until someone accepts the offer. The Double Down offer will only be made to participating drivers.

Any driver who goes Double Down will immediately move to the rear of the starting grid. But, that same driver may benefit in two ways:

(1) The driver will earn $50 for EACH car/truck that he/she passes during the race. For example, if the driver starts last in a 25-car field and finishes in third place, that driver takes home an extra $1,100 for passing 22 cars (22 x $50 = $1,100).

(2) The driver will double his/her money for finishing at - or above - their starting position. For example, a driver has pulled the cap that puts him/her in the 5th starting position. They then decide to Double Down; the driver is immediately placed at the rear of the field. If the driver fights his/her way through the field and finishes the race no lower than fifth place, they'll earn double the money of the finishing spot. That puts double the money - $2,000 for SLM, $550 for the Trucks - in that driver's pocket for finishing in fifth place. A victory would net a SLM driver $6,000 and a Truck driver $1,400 (the winner's purse times two) plus, as stated above, $50 for each car/truck passed.

"Now," Dickerson continued, "can you imagine the excitement for the fans in the stands watching the race? The driver who goes Double Down practically becomes an instant hero. He can not only make some extra money for himself and his crew but he'll also have most of the crowd going nuts every time he passes another car or truck on his way to the front."

Dickerson said more about Double Down would be explained at the upcoming USRA meeting to be held for series drivers and supporters on Jan. 8 at the Holiday Inn Express in San Marcos (located at exit 204 behind Luby's) from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The ROMCO/TSRS banquet will be held later that night.

USRA drivers and supporters may also book a room at the same Holiday Inn Express for a special series rate of $69 (the price includes a continental breakfast). One may take advantage of this special rate by calling the hotel at 512-754-6621 and mention they're calling for "the USRA rate."

[gundogC3]

Sound's like fun!