United States Auto Club


The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500. Today, USAC serves as the sanctioning body for a number of racing series, including the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Cars, National Midgets, Speed2 Midget Series,.25 Midget Series, Stadium Super Trucks,, and Pirelli World Challenge.

History

When the American Automobile Association withdrew from auto racing after the 1955 season, citing the Le Mans disaster and the death of Bill Vukovich at Indianapolis as contributing factors, both the SCCA and NASCAR were mentioned as its potential successor. Ultimately, USAC was formed by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman. It became the arbiter of rules, car design, and other matters for what it termed championship auto racing, the highest level of USAC racing. For a while there was a separate series of specifications for championship cars designed to be run on dirt, rather than paved, tracks.
USAC's long history as an open-wheel racing sanctioning body continues today with the Silver Crown Series, National Sprint Car Series, National Midget Series, Ignite Ethanol Fuel Series, Quarter Midgets, and. NASCAR drivers including Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and Kasey Kahne honed their skills and captured championships while competing in various USAC series.

Triple crown

The "triple crown" is earned in USAC racing when a driver claims all three national championships. Only two drivers, Tony Stewart and J. J. Yeley, have achieved the triple crown in a single season. Four other drivers, Pancho Carter, Dave Darland, Jerry Coons Jr., and Tracy Hines have claimed each of the three championships at least once in their careers. In 2012 Mike Curb and Cary Agajanian became the only car owners to win the triple crown by winning all three championships in the same year.

National championship

USAC had awarded a national championship until A. J. Foyt won his seventh title in 1979. It has announced that it will begin awarding a national championship starting in 2010. A driver's finishes in their 25 best races are counted toward the championship and the 2010 winner received $40,000. Points are accumulated in the three national series: sprints, midgets, and silver crown. Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Indiana claimed the inaugural championship, topping runner-up Levi Jones by 14 points.
As of 2013 it has been known as the Mike Curb "Super License" National Championship Award.
USAC national drivers champions
On April 23, 1978, returning from a race at the Trenton Speedway in New Jersey, eight USAC officials, plus the pilot, were killed when their 10-seat Piper Navajo Chieftain crashed during a thunderstorm 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
Killed were:
The effect on USAC, and for open-wheel racing in the United States, was devastating, especially since it closely followed the death of Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman.

End of championship car sanctioning

The plane crash came at a time when Indy car owners and drivers were demanding changes from USAC. Aside from the Indianapolis 500, USAC events were not well attended, and the owners felt that USAC poorly negotiated television rights. The owners also wanted increases in payouts, especially at Indy. Though some think the plane crash was used as an opportunistic way to force change in the sport, it was merely an unfortunate coincidence. The seed of dissent had been growing for several years before the accident, and claims the crash was an immediate cause for the 1979 CART/USAC "split" are considered for the most part unfounded.
Also unpopular were the attempts of USAC to keep the aging Offenhauser engine competitive with the newer, and much more expensive, Cosworth DFX engine using boost-limiting "pop off valves" and limiting the amount of fuel that could be used.
Finally, most car owners banded together to form Championship Auto Racing Teams in 1978, with the first race to be run in 1979. USAC tried unsuccessfully to ban all CART owners from the 1979 Indianapolis 500, finally losing in court before the race began. Both the USAC and CART ran race schedules in 1979.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway president John Cooper was instrumental in forming a joint body of CART and USAC with the creation of the Championship Racing League in March 1980. However, in mid 1980, Cooper forced USAC to renounce their agreement with the CRL if they wanted to keep officiating the Indy 500. After USAC's attempt at a 500-mile races at Pocono Raceway – which was boycotted by the CART teams, forcing USAC to fill the field with silver crown cars – USAC and CART eventually settled into a relatively peaceful co-existence, with USAC continuing to sanction the Indianapolis 500, and CART including the race in its schedule.

Active series

USAC Silver Crown Series

Beginning in 1971, all dirt races were split from the National Championship. From 1971 to 1980, the series was named National Dirt Car Championship, then renamed Silver Crown Series in 1981.
; Champions
; Race winners
* As of the end of the 2017 season
WDriverWins
Jack Hewitt23
Kody Swanson19
Brian Tyler17
Dave Steele16
J.J. Yeley15
Dave Darland14
Chuck Gurney14
Jimmy Sills12
Bobby East11
Gary Bettenhausen10
Mike Bliss10

USAC National Sprint Car Championship

From 1956–1960, USAC's National Sprint Car Championship was divided into two regional divisions in the Midwest and the East.
; Champions
SeasonCar No.DriverTeam
19569 Midwest: Pat O'ConnorEstes
19561 East: Tommy Hinnershitz
195721 Midwest: Elmer GeorgeHulman
1957 East: Bill Randall
195825 Midwest: Eddie SachsCheesman
19583 East: Johnny ThomsonTraylor
19594 Midwest: Don BransonEstes
19594 East: Tommy HinnershitzPfrommer
196051 Midwest: Parnelli JonesFike
19602 East: A. J. FoytWatson
19611 Parnelli JonesFike
19621 Parnelli JonesFike
19632 Roger McCluskeyHomeyer
19643 Don BransonPhillips
19659 Johnny RutherfordMeskowski
196651 Roger McCluskeyAnderson
196792 Greg WeldLeffler
19684, 27 Larry DicksonSmith, Stapp
19692 Gary BettenhausenDavis
19702 George SniderLay
19712 Gary BettenhausenDavis
19724 Sammy SessionsAmerling
19732 Rollie BealeKilman
19746 Pancho CarterStapp
197580 Larry DicksonEnsign
197624 Pancho CarterStap
197756 Sheldon KinserHammond
197843 Tom BigelowArmstrong
197943 Greg LefflerArmstrong
19802 Rich VoglerSeibert
19816 Sheldon KinserLeyba
19821 Sheldon KinserLeyba
198339 Ken SchraderDelrose/Holt
198439 Rick HoodFortune
198539 Rick HoodFortune
19866 Steve ButlerStoops
19871 Steve ButlerStoops
19881 Steve ButlerStoops
198969 Rich VoglerHoffman
199069 Steve ButlerHoffman
19917 Robbie StanleyStanley
19921 Robbie StanleyStanley
199369 Robbie StanleyHoffman
199422k Doug KalittaKalitta
199520 Tony StewartNiebel
19964c Brian TylerContos
19974c Brian TylerContos
19982, 12 Tony ElliottWalker/Vance, Conroy
199969 Dave DarlandHoffman
200066 Tony ElliottWalker
200176 J. J. YeleyGT
200269 Tracy HinesHoffman
200320 J. J. YeleyStewart
200420 Jay DrakeStewart
20052B Levi JonesBenic
200620 Josh WiseStewart
200720 Levi JonesStewart
200869 Jerry Coons JrHoffman
200920 Levi JonesStewart
201020 Levi JonesStewart
201120 Levi JonesStewart
20127 Bryan ClausonCTR-BCI-Curb-Agajanian
201320 Bryan ClausonStewart/Curb-Agajanian
201469 Brady BaconHoffman
201512 Robert BallouBallou Motorsports
201669 Brady BaconHoffman
20175 Chris WindomBaldwin Brothers
20187 Tyler CourtneyClauson Marshall Motorsports
201919AZ C.J. LearyReinbold/Underwood Motorsports

; Race winners
* As of the end of the 2018 season
DriverWins
Dave Darland62
Tom Bigelow52
Tracy Hines47
Jack Hewitt46
Larry Dickson45
Pancho Carter42
Bryan Clauson41
Gary Bettenhausen40
Sheldon Kinser37
Jon Stanbrough35
Rich Vogler35
Rollie Beale32
Robert Ballou29
Levi Jones28
J.J. Yeley28

USAC National Midget Championship

; Champions
SeasonCar No.DriverTeam
1956 Shorty Templeman
1957 Shorty Templeman
1958 Shorty Templeman
1959 Gene Hartley
1960 Jimmy Davies
1961 Jimmy Davies
1962 Jimmy Davies
1963 Bob Wente
1964 Mel Kenyon
1965 Mike McGreevy
19661 Mike McGreevy
19671 Mel KenyonKenyon
19681 Mel KenyonKenyon
19693 Bob TattersallStroud
19705 Jimmy CaruthersCaruthers
19715 Danny CaruthersCaruthers
197281 Pancho CarterRieder
19732 Larry RiceShannon
197461 Mel KenyonKenyon
19755 Sleepy Tripp
19761 Sleepy Tripp
197743 Mel KenyonArmstrong
19782 Rich VoglerCaruthers
19792 Steve LotshawPiascik
198069 Rich VoglerLockard
198161 Mel KenyonKenyon
19825 Kevin OlsonCarey
19834 Rich VoglerStreicher
198416 Tom BigelowSandy
198566 Mel KenyonBurns
19862 Rich VoglerByrd
198711 Kevin OlsonWilke
19881 Rich VoglerByrd
198946 Russ GamesterGamester
19904 Jeff GordonHelmling
19918 Mike StreicherStreicher
199211 Stevie ReevesWilke
19939 Stevie ReevesLewis
19946 Tony StewartPotter
19959 Tony StewartLewis
199691 Kenny Irwin Jr.Lewis
199771 Jason LefflerWilloughby
19989 Jason LefflerLewis
19999 Jason LefflerLewis
200091 Kasey KahneLewis
20019 Dave DarlandLewis
20029 Dave DarlandLewis
20039 J. J. YeleyLewis
20049 Bobby EastLewis
200520 Josh WiseStewart
200611 Jerry Coons Jr.Wilke
200711 Jerry Coons Jr.Wilke-Pak
200871 Cole WhittKunz
200917B Brad KuhnRW
201039 Bryan ClausonTucker/Kunz/BCI
201139 Bryan ClausonCTR-Curb-Agajanian
20123 Darren HagenRFMS
201371 Christopher BellKunz/Curb-Agajanian
201497 Rico AbreuKunz/Curb-Agajanian
201524 Tracy HinesParker Machinery
201667 Tanner ThorsonKunz/Curb-Agajanian
201797 Spencer BaystonKunz/Curb-Agajanian
201867 Logan SeaveyKunz/Curb-Agajanian
20197BC Tyler CourtneyClauson-Marshall Racing

; Race winners
* As of the end of the 2017 season
DriverWins
Mel Kenyon111
Rich Vogler95
Bob Wente78
Bob Tattersall63
Sleepy Tripp57
Jimmy Davies48
Bryan Clauson38
Tracy Hines35
Gene Hartley31
Chuck Rodee31
Dave Darland30
Mike McGreevy30
Johnny Parsons30
Gary Bettenhausen27
Tony Stewart27
Darren Hagen25
Parnelli Jones25
Dave Strickland25

USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series

The USAC/CRA AMSOIL Sprint Car Series debuted in 2004 utilizing the same cars & engines that race in USAC's AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship at dirt oval tracks across California and Arizona. The series also features combination races with the AMSOIL USAC Sprint Car National Championship.
Champions
SeasonCar No.DriverTeam
20043 Rip WilliamsJory
200550 Damion GardnerChaffin
200638 Cory KrusemanCrossno
20074 Tony JonesAlexander
200850 Mike SpencerChaffin
200950 Mike SpencerChaffin
201050 Mike SpencerChaffin
201150 Mike SpencerChaffin
201250 Mike SpencerChaffin
20134a Damion GardnerAlexander
20144 Damion GardnerAlexander
20154 Damion GardnerAlexander
20164 Damion GardnerAlexander
20174 Damion GardnerAlexander
20184 Damion GardnerAlexander
20194 Damion GardnerAlexander

USAC Western States Midget Series

USAC started the Western States Midgets in 1982 utilizing the same cars & engines that race in the USAC National Midgets. The series solely races on dirt ovals across California but in past raced on pavement ovals as well. The series does run co-sanctioned races with USAC's National Midget Series and the Bay Cities Racing Association Midgets.
Champions

USAC 360 Sprint Car Series

USAC sanctions several regional 360 c.i.d. non-wing sprint car series across the country. USAC's West Coast Sprint Car Series was launched in 2009 by Santa Maria Speedway promoter Chris Kearns, and joined forces with USAC in 2010. The West Coast series primarily races at tracks across California while also having special event races in Nevada. USAC's Southwest Sprint Car Series was launched in 1991 as the Arizona Sprint Car Racing Association. The series joined forces with USAC in 2012.. The Southwest series primarily races at tracks in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico while also having special event races in Arkansas, Kansas & Oklahoma.
USAC and URC Sprint Caf Series promoter Curt Michael joined forces to create the USAC East Coast Sprint Car Series, with the first season beginning in 2018.
Champions

USAC Speed2 Midget Series

USAC formed the Speed2 Midget Series in 2002 with several regional divisions running across the United States on both dirt & pavement oval tracks. With exception to the engine, the cars used are the same as National & Western States Midget cars. The powerplants currently used are 4-cylinder production-based engines with stock internal dimensions to save costs for competitors. The series started out as a spec engine class, originally with Ford supplying their Zetec engine from 2002-2012, and then HPD supplying their K24 engine starting in 2013.
National Championship
The Speed2 Midget Series National Champion has been determined in a variety of ways. The inaugural championship, 2005, was decided by a two-race series. Subsequent national champions were determined by a single "national championship race" held at various locations. This format was used until 2010. In 2011, a points system was instituted to determine the national champion. Counting only a drivers twelve best finishes, the system allowed drivers from multiple regions to compete under a common points structure for a season-long championship. The 2012 season did not award a national champion, however the respective regional champions were honored at USAC Night of Champions.
National Champions
Regional Champions
SeasonSeriesDriver
2002--
2003California Josh Lakatos
2003California Todd Hunsaker
2003IndianaRobbie Ray
2004California Bradley Galedrige
2004California Chris Rahe
2004Carolina / VirginiaChase Scott
2004MidwestTate Martz
2004SpeedromeBrice Kenyon
2005California Chase Barber
2005California Alex Harris
2005Carolina / VirginiaChase Scott
2005MidwestTate Martz
2005NortheastMichael Sboro
2005OklahomaJasiel Randolph
2005SpeedromeJamie Williams
2006California Bobby Michnowicz
2006California Tim Skoglund
2006Carolina / VirginiaChase Scott
2006FloridaRyan Smith
2006IndianaJames Robertson
2006Midwest Jordan Noblitt
2006Midwest Tate Martz
2006NortheastRyan Smith
2007California Nic Faas
2007California Tim Skoglund
2007CarolinaTanner Swanson
2007IndianaChett Gehrke
2007MidwestJames Robertson
2007NortheastJeff Abold
2007UMARRAMario Clouser
2007UtahTim Savage
2008California Alex Bowman
2008California Charlie Butcher
2008California Ian Miille
2008CarolinasBradley Riethmeyer
2008IndianaKyle Hamilton
2008MidwestKyle Hamilton
2008UtahKipp Posey
2008UMARABranden Allen
2009California Brody Roa
2009California Nik Romano
2009California Kyle Edwards
2009CarolinaJeremy Frankoski
2009MidwestJoe Liguori
2009UMARAJoe Liguori
2009UtahKipp Posey
2010EasternScott Hunter
2010Eastern Jesse Little
2010MidwestJoe Liguori
2010Midwest Cooper Clouse
2010WesternNick Carlson
2010Western Jarid Blondel
2010UtahMichael Daniels
2011DMAJoe Krawiec
2011EasternNick Drake
2011Eastern Scott Hunter
2011Eastern Jarett Andretti
2011Eastern Jared Irvan
2011MidwestRoss Rankine
2011Midwest Sam McGhee
2011UtahJim Waters
2011WesternBrodie Kostecki
2011Western Brodie Kostecki
2012DMAKevin Chaffee
2012EasternJared Irvan
2012Midwest Ross Rankine
2012Midwest Ross Rankine
2012NorthwestJared Peterson
2012Western Cory Elliott
2012Western Bryant Dawson
2012Western NorthGarret Peterson
2013DMAJoe Krawiec
2013EasternChris Lamb
2013Midwest Gage Walker
2013Midwest Cooper Clouse
2013WashingtonChase Goetz
2013WesternJarid Blondel
2013Western Cory Elliott
2013Western Bryant Dawson
2014DMAAdam Pierson
2014EasternScott Hunter
2014Midwest Austin Nemire
2014Midwest Austin Nemire
2014WashingtonChase Goetz
2014WesternShawn Buckley
2014Western Ashley Hazelton
2015DMAAdam Pierson
2015EasternChris Lamb
2015MidwestAlex Watson
2015WesternCody Jessop
2015Western Shawn Buckley
2015Western Dylan Nobile
2015Western Jesse Love IV
2016DMAAdam Pierson
2016EasternChris Lamb
2016IMRAJeff Mallonee
2016Midwest ThunderGage Etgen
2016WesternJesse Love IV
2016Western Jesse Love IV
2016Western Toni Breidinger
2016Western Blake Brannon
2017DMADean Christensen
2017EasternJessica Bean
2017Gulf CoastKyle Jones
2017IMRADillon Morley
2017Midwest ThunderAaron Leffel
2017Western
2017Western
2017Western -

USAC Lightning Sprint National Championship

USAC started the Speedway Motors Lightning Sprint National Championship in 2017 for local tracks running Lightning Sprint cars. The points format counts the 12 best races at USAC sanctioned tracks.

Pirelli World Challenge

, was started in 1990 and switched to USAC sanctioning in 2017. The championship currently races on road and street courses across the United States and Canada with seven different classes for GT cars & Touring cars. Founded by WC Vision, the series is presently owned by SRO Group.

Stadium Super Trucks

The Stadium Super Trucks series was founded in 2013 by former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon. It is sanctioned by USAC, though Gordon and sponsorship marketing company The Elevation Group co-own the series.

TORC: The Off-Road Championship presented by AMSOIL

was founded in 2009 by motocross racer Rick Johnson and it was managed the race operations and officiated the events. USAC took over complete management of the series in 2010. The complete management ended in August 2013 season when it was sold to The Armory. USAC returned to offication / race control and the series was renamed "TORC: The Off Road Championship" for 2014.

USAC Championship Car Series

USAC Gold Crown Series

Starting in 1981, USAC scaled back their participation in Indy car racing outside of the Indianapolis 500. The preeminent national championship season was instead being sanctioned by CART. USAC developed a split-calendar season, beginning in June, and ending in May with the Indy 500. After 1983, however, the Gold Crown schedule would consist of only one event per season, and the Gold Crown title would be regarded largely as ceremonial. The winner of the Indianapolis 500 would be the de facto Gold Crown champion, as it was the lone points-paying event. The title and the "series" were retired after the 1994-1995 season.

USAC Stock Cars

USAC featured a stock car division from 1956 to 1984.
* The inaugural season featured two subtitles: Pacific Coast and Short Track.

USAC Road Racing Championship

From 1958 until 1962, USAC sanctioned a road racing championship. It was held for sports cars from 1958–1961, and adopted Formula Libre rules in 1962.
YearChampionCarReport
1958 Dan GurneyFerrari 375 Plus
Ferrari 290 MM		season
1959 Augie PabstFerrari 625 TR
Scarab Mk. II-Chevrolet		season
1960 Carroll ShelbyMaserati Tipo 61
Scarab Mk. II-Chevrolet		season
1961 Ken MilesPorsche 718 RS 61season
1962 Roger PenskeCooper T53-Climaxseason