The ink has barely dried on the $10,000 divisional checks of Gary St. Amant and Brad Rogers for winning the Miller Lite Rookie of the Year in their respective divisions during the regular season. Now the duo along with the rest of the rookie class is fighting for the $25,000 check that will go to the overall Miller Rookie of the Year. It will undoubtedly be a fight to the finish, but it may fail to compare to the dash-for-cash expected from 2005 Miller Lite Rookie of the Year candidates.

Gene Cox, president of USAR, announced that the Miller Lite Rookie of the Year program would be increased by $15,000 for the 2005 season.

"In the past few years, we've seen an influx of high-caliber drivers coming into the Hooters ProCup Series," said Cox. "I believe a lot of that has to with the growth of the series, but it also has to do with the growth of the Miller Lite Rookie of the Year program. During the span of two seasons, with help from Hooters of America and Miller Lite, we have been able to increase our payout in the rookie program by 150 percent."

This season, St. Amant and Rogers were awarded $10,000 for winning their divisions. In addition, St. Amant has won an extra $9,000 during for being the highest-finishing rookie in nine races, and Rogers has won an extra $6,000 for winning being the Miller Lite Rookie of the Race six times.

In 2005, the highest-finishing rookie driver in the North and South will again receive $10,000 for being division winners, and Miller Lite will also offer $1,000 per race for the top-finishing rookie in all 30 events. But instead of receiving a $25,000 check for being the overall winner, the 2005 Miller Lite Rookie of the Year will receive a check for $40,000.

"I wish I could be a rookie again," said Brad Rogers. "This year's rookie bonus was really big for us because we're not one of the bigger budget teams, and it meant a lot for us to have that extra money. Miller Lite has done a good job with the rookie program. Extra money is always good to have, and it gives you incentive to work hard. With this amount of money up for grabs, it's just going to draw more and more people to the series."



**From USAR Release