Truck Series/ARCA Driver McCumbee Checks Out CARS Pro Cup Series
by Cheryl Lauer
October 27, 2011
Although this has been somewhat of a transitional year for the short track touring series formerly known as the Hooters Pro Cup Series, fans have seen some fantastic racing. The series now known as CARS (Championship Auto Racing Series) Pro Cup currently has a very tight points battle while maintaining its traditional points system.
At the recent championship race at Myrtle Beach Speedway, Truck Series and ARCA competitor, Chad McCumbee, made his first start in the CARS Pro Cup. Afterwards he spoke about how the ride in the 11 car came together and his impressions of the Series:
McCumbee: “I’d always had interest in the series for years now. When I found out the series was coming back to Myrtle Beach, obviously that place is very special to me and any time there’s any type of special event there, we look to see if maybe we could put something together. I’ve done some work with those guys over at T3R and with Cal Boprey and Bryan Silas and those folks over there. I knew they had a Pro Cup car that they’d run a few races this year and we just got to talking about it and made it work there, so we enjoyed it and maybe we’ve got some more coming.”
Speedcouch: You said Myrtle Beach was special to you. Is that where you got your start in Late Models?
McCumbee: “Yeah, it sure was. That’s where I ran Late Model Stocks back in 2003-2004 when I first moved to that division. It’s always been a place that I try to do anything I can do to help Myrtle Beach, and anything I can do to participate in races they have, I always try to do.”
Speedcouch: Can you talk a little bit about the Pro Cup car, the tires, the engine package, compared to the other series you’ve race in?
McCumbee: “I’ve been running the ARCA Series this year and it was very similar. The BFGoodrich tire was more like a true radial, I would say than the tire that we run on a short track in the ARCA cars. The Hoosier that we run on ARCA cars is a radial, but it’s a short track radial. So there is a similar feel there, obviously the cars weigh about the same and the motor package is real similar. I think the option of motor packages that you can run in the Pro Cup Series now is great because that allows a bunch of different competitors to be able to easily get into the series. They don’t have to have a certain type motor. You know, even with the cars – I feel like a specific Pro Cup car is better, but I think you can still compete with an old Nationwide car or even an ARCA car.” - Read More
Clay Rogers: Who Says Opportunity Only Knocks Once?
by Cheryl Lauer
September 30, 2010
Long-time NASCAR fans may remember back in 2001 when Matt Kenseth’s crew chief, Robbie Reiser, gave an opportunity to a talented short-track racer in what was then called the Busch Series. Reiser put 20-year old Clay Rogers in the #17 Visine car to drive the standalone Busch races with Kenseth driving most of the companion events with Winston Cup that season. Prior to this chance in NASCAR, Rogers ran the competitive USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.
Despite high hopes all around, things didn’t go as expected for Rogers and the team back in 2001, with Visine pulling their sponsorship that fall and forcing the closure of the team. Rogers first chance at “the Big Time” didn’t end well. In 2002, Rogers returned to the USAR Series and since that time has won three championships in the series and in 2010 seems posed to win his fourth championship in 2010.
Since returning to USAR in 2002, Rogers has driven for several different teams, along with running some races in the truck series along the way. His current team in USAR recently announced that they plan to move their team and Rogers to the Truck Series in 2011. Anyone who follows the USAR series will know that Rogers and the #16 Lamb & Robinson Team have proven to be a very powerful combination this season. Clay has had an impressive six wins and six poles in nine regular season races in USAR, but is surprisingly winless through the two Championship races so far.
Based on Rogers’ total dominance in the USAR regular season, it’s really quite surprising to see him winless in the Championship Series. That’s not to say he hasn’t been in the mix and that he currently leads the championship points by 34 points over closest competitor, Caleb Holman. While Rogers and the 16 team have been very competitive, his competitors have definitely stepped up their game for the final five races of the 2010 season.
At the most recent USAR race on September 11th at Bristol Motor Speedway, Clay was kind enough to take some time and sit down and tell me about his racing background and what brought him to where he is today. Through the interview, it became quite apparent that while still only 29 years old, Clay has an impressive history in racing which began at a very young age. Read More