By Dick Jordan
Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and Toyota Motor Sales, USA have announced an enhanced contingency program for USAC participants in 2013, with bonuses awarded to Toyota-powered teams who win specified USAC driving champions.
Over $15,000 of the expected potential payout of over $150,000 has been earmarked for 2013 series champions in the USAC Traxxas Silver Crown, National Dirt and Pavement Midgets and Western Midgets.
Contributing to the high percentage of race payouts is Toyota’s unique policy of awarding the two highest-finishing Toyotas in each event, contingent on their inclusion in the “top-five.”
“We are once again delighted to be able to offer these incentives to Toyota-powered USAC participants in 2013,” says Gary Reed, manager of TRD’s USAC racing program. “We’ve had a great relationship with USAC and its competitors over the past seven years and we look forward to a very productive 2013 campaign.”
The 2013 Silver Crown and National Dirt Midget Driver’s Championship teams receive $5,000 each under the newly-announced structure, while the National Pavement Midget Driver’s Championship ream receives $3,000 and the Western Midget Driver’s Championship team will receive $2,500. Posted individual event contingency awards include $4,500 for Silver Crown, $2,000 for Dirt and Pavement Midgets and $1,000 for Western States Midgets. To be eligible, teams must register in advance with TRD.
“Once again we are fortunate to have Toyota as a partner offering incentives to our teams,” says USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller. “We welcome their participation and appreciate the impetus they provide.”
In 2012 Toyota powerplants produced 16 National Midget victories in 23 starts and five Silver Crown wins in eight attempts.