SRT Viper Cup series returns in 2012

Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand has announced the 10-race 2012 season schedule for the newly named SRT Viper Cup Series Presented by Pennzoil Ultra – formerly the Dodge Viper Cup series. Entering its third year of competition in 2012, the series will visit five of the country’s most famous and challenging road courses at events sanctioned by the North American Road Racing Association (NARRA):

A revised rule package for the 2012 season includes the elimination of race qualifying for the five scheduled Sunday races. Instead the Sunday race fields will be set in reverse order of the finishing field from each of the previous day’s races. This inverted start will create even more on-track action as the faster drivers will now have to move through the field to the front.

“The SRT Viper Cup Series continues to offer a fantastic way for road-racing enthusiasts to compete in our ultimate American sports car,” said SRT CEO Ralph Gille – President and CEO, SRT and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “The 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X is designed and built specifically for the race track by taking all the performance attributes of Viper to an even higher level for a wide range of drivers starting with the grassroots racer all the way up to the professional. And with the rule changes for the 2012 season such as the inverted race field for Sunday races along with the continuation of our celebrity driver program, the next chapter of Viper racing looks to be better than ever.”

Celebrity Driver and Charity Payout Program: SRT selects each celebrity driver and professionally trains them for the competition. As many as two celebrity drivers will be invited to participate each race weekend. Guaranteed payouts to celebrity drivers of $2,000 for the highest finishing celebrity and $1,000 for the next highest will be donated directly to the series’ official charity of the series: the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Donations will be made following all 10 series races.

“We are exceedingly grateful to the SRT brand for selecting the National Breast Cancer Coalition as the official charity for its SRT Viper Cup Series in 2012,” said Fran Visco, president of the coalition. “These grassroots racing efforts play an important role in helping bring more national attention and support to Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®, our strategic plan of action to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020.”

Since the inaugural 2010 season, the celebrity driver program has donated close to $80,000 to various charities.

Making a return to the series in 2012 is the Lux Performance Group, which will once again be the “works” team behind the scenes managing the celebrity driver program.

“Our successful SRT Viper Cup Series celebrity driver program will continue in 2012 by offering Viper ACR-X rides to select media and celebrities for them to experience one of the best factory-built race cars out there,” Gilles added. “We’re lucky to have the Lux Performance Group managed by Cindi Lux back with us to not only safely convey the special message of what it’s like to race a Viper, but to expertly provide the best race car and driver instruction possible every weekend.”

Series Contingency Program: The series contingency program sponsored by SRT, Mopar and Michelin provides a number of payouts to the top-10 drivers. Drivers from each race will earn the following payouts in cash, Mopar vouchers for the purchase of Mopar parts and accessories, and Michelin Tire Bucks good for the purchase of Michelin tires.

The 2012 SRT Viper Cup Series champion will win an additional $10,000 cash award. Series entry fees will remain unchanged from last season at $800 per car, per race.