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March 23, 2006...ANDERSON, IN - Two men with a passion for open wheel racing announced today the creation of The Premier Racing Association and the inaugural Big Car Series National Championship. Jason Smith, an experienced sanctioning body executive and official, and recently retired open wheel driver Jason McCord, will kick off their Big Car Series on May 17 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The Premier Racing Association (PRA) is primed to revive a great American racing tradition with seven races for the 2006 season. “This is a form of racing that has been packing the grandstands for 50 years,” said Smith. McCord and Smith formed the Big Car Series for the former Silver Crown race cars that were “parked” due to the United States Auto Club’s car design rules that went into effect this year. There were approximately 60 registered race teams last year and this hugely popular form of open wheel racing regularly attracted fields of 45 to 50 cars. “Team owners must purchase an entirely new car to continue to compete with USAC, stated McCord. “ Unfortunately, for many teams it is simply not a viable option.”
“These cars are wildly popular with fans, providing some of the best wheel-to-wheel racing action fans could see all year,” stated Smith. “A large number of the team owners did not embrace the new generation of Silver Crown cars, and we’ve had a tremendous response as we broke the news that they can go racing again. We’ll have strong fields of Big Cars right from the start.”
“With 800-horsepower motors and open wheels, the Big Cars have been a proving ground for some of the greatest names in American racing, from Parnelli Jones to Tony Stewart,” said McCord, “If a driver is successful in these cars, they can drive any race car!”
McCord said the Big Car Racing series will showcase the talents of some of the best open wheel drivers in the country and will also include special guest appearances by drivers who moved from open wheel racing to gain fame in the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch series. “Seeing some of the biggest stars in American racing today go wheel to wheel in a Big Car is something we are so excited to offer to our fans. You never know who just might hop in a ride at a PRA event!” Smith added with a grin.
The 2006 racing schedule includes such major-market venues as IRP, Illiana Motor Speedway in the Chicago area, Music City Motorplex in Nashville, USA International Speedway in Tampa, Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, and South Georgia in the Valdosta area.
A national television package is in the works. “This is an incredible ground floor opportunity for companies who believe in the value of sponsoring races,” said Smith. “We’re already working with several companies. The teams are ready to go racing. The hundreds of thousands of fans across the country are hungry for it. The frantic, close racing action is perfect for television. It’s an extraordinary sponsorship opportunity.”
A multi-pronged, aggressive event marketing package will include radio, newspaper, internet, public relations, fan apparel, collectible posters and more.
Smith also stated that a series championship is being structured so that race teams will be financially motivated to make every starting grid in the series schedule.
The 2006 series schedule for Big Car Racing is as follows:
May 17: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, IN
June 13: Illiana Motor Speedway, Schererville, IN
July 5: Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis, IN
August 9: Music City Motorplex, Nashville, TN
August 15: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT
*October 25: South Georgia Motorsports Park, Cecil, GA
*December 13: USA International Speedway, Lakeland, FL
Smith said that none of the Big Car Racing race dates conflict with race dates in the USAC Silver Crown series, “We’re running our shows mid-week -- on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. This gives fans and competitors the opportunity to support us and USAC’s new cars. It also gives drivers who have a steady Sunday job the opportunity to come have fun!”
“For drivers, teams and fans – It’s the year to think BIG.” proclaimed Smith.
For more information, contact PRA at 765/642-1700, or visit the website at www.praracing.com. The address for PRA is 714 West 53rd Street, Anderson, IN 46011.
* Final details TBA
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