The United States Auto Club has announced a new addition to its racing portfolio for the 2016 season with the introduction of the USAC Micro Sprint National Championship in which drivers nationwide will compete within their region and against drivers from other regions throughout the United States, to determine a single national champion.
The series features several dates at Keller Auto Raceway at Plaza Park in Visalia, Calif. and Dixon (Calif.) Speedway, which will both showcase four divisions: Super 600s, Non-Wing 600s, Restricted 600s and Junior Sprints. Three dates are scheduled at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway and one at Santa Maria (Calif.) Raceway, which will host the Super 600 class only. Racing programs at each venue will follow track rules.
For a driver to qualify for the National Micro Sprint Championship, that driver must run at three different racetracks and must participate in a minimum of 15 events during the 2016 season. Driver results from each race will be entered into a database to calculate the national point rankings from which a national champion will be determined. Regions will be formed as additional tracks are added.
“I’m very excited to get this program off the ground,” series director Doug Lockwood said. “I have seen a lot of talent come through the micro ranks with many drivers moving up to the USAC Sprint Car Series over the years. I’m really looking forward to working with the micro drivers and tracks.”
Each driver ranking in the top-ten in the final National Driver Rankings at the end of the 2016 season will be a part of the points championship. The national champion will be honored at USAC’s “Night of Champions” ceremony in December in Indianapolis.
Maxwell Industries has come on board as the first series sponsor for the 2016 season. The Ventura, California-based company will be awarding gift certificates for each event with the top-three in the final national points receiving additional gift certificates. First place will receive a $2000 discount on a shock dyno with second and third place in the final national standings receiving $1500 and $1000 off, respectively, for a shock dyno.
The USAC National Micro Sprint Championship is looking for additional sponsors and partners to join in on this exciting endeavor. If your racetrack would like to join the schedule, please contact Doug Lockwood at gr8iskobe@aol.com to get involved for the 2016 season.
USAC memberships are now available online at www.usacracing.org.