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ChampCar Endurance Series

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ChampCar Endurance Series
CategoryEndurance racing
CountryUnited States United States
Inaugural season2009 (as ChumpCar World Series)
2017 (as ChampCar Endurance Series)
Official websitehttps://ChampCar.org
ChumpCar logo

The ChampCar Endurance Series is a budget class Endurance Racing Series held on paved road race courses across North America, formerly known as the ChumpCar World Series, run by ChumpCar International Inc. Founded in 2009, the group changed its name in 2017, with registered trademark granted by the USPTO on August 28, 2018. ChumpCar was a parody of the now defunct Champ Car World Series, an open wheel professional racing series that has since merged into the IndyCar Series. The initial concept was an endurance racing series for cars of $500 in value or less similar to the 24 Hours of Lemons endurance racing series. The series has a different overall philosophy, however, placing more emphasis on racing and less on decorations, costumes, and themes.[1]

ChumpCar's slogan is "Real Racing, Real Tracks, Real Cheap Cars", and its stated mission, as stated on its website, is "It's all about racing. It's all about tearing down those high-dollar roadblocks that, in the past, have restricted people with a passion for cars and racing from getting fully engaged and involved in motorsports. It's about enjoyment, friends and bringing road racing back to where it was fifty years ago - when racing was fun, cheap and nobody cared whether you had Snap-On tools or a mix-match of hand-me-downs in your toolbox."[2]

In 2015, ChumpCar Canada was split off as a separate entity, although there is still close coordination between the US ChampCar Endurance Series and the Canadian ChumpCar organization.[3] ChumpCar World Series began referring to itself as ChampCar Endurance Series in November 2017.[4][5]

History

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ChumpCar World Series founder John Condren[6] was the owner of Altamont Raceway Park in California when the first 24 Hours of LeMons events were held at the track.[7] Condren entered a team in the early LeMons races, but was dissatisfied with the party atmosphere and tongue-in-cheek mockery that continues to characterize the LeMons series.[8] After finding that other racers were interested in cheap endurance racing and shared his dissatisfaction with LeMons, Condren formed the ChumpCar World Series and organized the first ChumpCar race in October 2009 at Portland International Raceway. In the first full year of the series, ChumpCar hosted nine events across the United States at tracks that included Texas Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Portland International Raceway, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, and Putnam Park.[9]

ChumpCar races resembled LeMons races in the beginning, as many LeMons teams participated in lavishly decorated cars and costumes. Likewise, many of the rules in ChumpCar mirrored those in LeMons to allow teams to easily switch between the two race series. Over time, ChumpCar's rules evolved to form a more coherent, distinct series unlike any other in North America. ChumpCar's popularity grew, and as of 2013 the series scheduled over 40 events across North America at some of the best-known road racing venues on the continent, including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Sonoma Raceway (Sears Point), Road America, Virginia International Raceway, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta and Daytona International Speedway.[10]

Notable ChumpCar competitors include NASCAR Sprint Cup champion driver Tony Stewart, well known NASCAR teams Hendrick Motorsports and Roush Fenway Racing,[11] and Ars Technica contributing writer Jonathan Gitlin.[12]

In July 2014, ChumpCar reformed as a membership driven club, and 501(c)7 tax exempt organization.[13] Robert Mink is the CEO and board chair.[14]

In June 2017, the CCWS BOD resigned and Micheal Chisek was made President of ChumpCar International, Inc.[15]

In 2017, the ChumpCar World Series (ChumpCar International Inc.) adopted the name ChampCar Endurance Series. According to the organization, the open-wheel series that had previously used the "Champ Car" name abandoned it in 2008 and allowed the trademark to lapse in 2013, after which ChumpCar trademarked the name for its own use.[16] A registered trademark was granted in August 2018.[17]

Preparation and rules

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To enter an event, competitors select a vehicle from the Vehicle Performance Index (VPI) list published by ChampCar, which assigns each eligible make, model, and model year a point value based on the stock vehicle's performance potential.[18][19] The system is designed so that any car in the field can be competitive for the overall win.[18] If a vehicle's base value is below 500, a team may add performance parts as long as the car's total point value does not exceed 500; required safety equipment and the replacement of worn parts with original-equipment (OE) or OE-equivalent components do not count toward the total.[18][19] Cars whose total value exceeds 500 points may still compete, but receive one penalty lap for every 10 points over the limit.[18][20] ChampCar estimates that a typical car costs from about $3,000 for an entry-level build to $10,000 or more for a front-running car, with much of the budget devoted to safety- and reliability-related items such as the roll cage, brakes, tires, racing seat, fire-suppression system, and fuel cell.[21]

The races are run for a fixed length of time, and the team that completes the most laps, after penalty laps are tabulated, is declared the winner.[19]

ChampCar requires a full roll cage whose design and construction meet typical Sports Car Club of America and National Auto Sport Association standards, along with other mandatory safety equipment.[19]

To be assigned a Vehicle Performance Index value, a car must generally be at least 15 years old; vehicles less than 15 years old are not assigned a VPI value, while older vehicles may be added to the index at the discretion of ChampCar's board of directors.[19]

Race format

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Events are held at major road racing tracks across the US. Tracks like Daytona International Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, and Laguna Seca In the past, events were also held at major road racing tracks in Canada, along with a street race in Mexico.[22] The most common event format is a two-race weekend, with one eight-hour race each on Saturday and Sunday. However, a variety of other formats are used, with lengths ranging from 10 to 24-hours. Starts are picked by a random number generator utilizing the pit stall number. The order is reversed for the following days' race. Teams are scored and ranked by the number of laps completed during the time allotted for the race net of penalty laps.

Teams are required to include at least two drivers (more for longer events). Each driver is required to complete at least one hour in the car. No stint is allowed to exceed two hours, with a minimum one hour rest. Pit stops where fuel is added to the car are required to be at least five minutes in length to ensure safe refueling.

Awards

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Trophies awarded to podium finishers at the 2011 National Chumpionship.

The top three finishers on laps in each race are recognized with a trophy and a credit toward future participation in the series. Top finishing teams are awarded "Race Credits" for discounts to future races. Additional awards may be given for notably good (or bad) driving, especially dedicated repair work, or good overall spirit. Overall spirit is specially recognized by the Spirit of ChampCar Award, given to the team in the race that the organizers feel best exemplifies the competitive spirit of the series.

In the past, drivers were awarded a scrip known as "ChumpChange". However, as of 2016, scrip are no longer handed out, due to counterfeiting.

Awards are made from repurposed automotive parts.

National Championship

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ChampCar holds a National Championship race. Its rules and regulations are as follows.

1.5.1. An annual National Championship event will be held at a track designated by the CEO.

1.5.1.1. To qualify for the National Championship, a ChampCar team must:

A. Finish in the top 75 in points for the previous season.

B. Teams must compete in at least three (3) event weekends.

1.5.2. The winner of the National Championship:

A. All qualified teams carry their top three (3) season finish points into the Championship, which will be used for seeding purposes.

B. The championship is a winner-take-all event. Win the race to win the Championship.

1.5.3. Bring the same car you raced to qualify for the Championship.

1.5.3.1. If a Championship-qualified car is totaled during the season, a replacement car can take its place in the Championship, provided the new car is the same generation, make, model, and options as the original qualified car. The new car must be inspected by ChampCar tech and approved as a qualified replacement.

1.5.4. A minimum of TWO (2) original team drivers from one or both qualifying races must complete at least one championship race lap.

1.5.5. Championship events are NOT exclusive; anyone can enter.

1.6. National Championship Points System

1.6.1. One point per finishing position will be awarded to all competing teams. For example, 1 point for 1st, 2 points for 2nd, 3 points for 3rd, etc.

1.6.2. Points will be calculated based on the top two (2) finishes for each team. All other finishes will be dropped.[19]

National Championship winners

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YearVenueNational ChampionCar No.Vehicle
2025NCM Motorsports ParkRockwell Autosport Development121999 Porsche Boxster[23]
2024NCM Motorsports ParkAtlanta Speedwerks9961999 Porsche Boxster[24][25]
2023Road AtlantaRockwell Autosport Development121999 Porsche Boxster[26]
2021Ozarks International RacewayVisceral Racing Group9591988 Porsche 944RSR [27]
2019Charlotte Motor SpeedwayDamSon Racing3461999 BMW E46[28]

The 2021 National Championship (for the 2021 season) was held on April 29 – May 1, 2022 at Ozarks International Raceway.[27][29][30]

2026 season schedule

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Schedule[31]
DateEventVenueFormat
February 6–7The PartsBadger 14-Hours at Road AtlantaRoad AtlantaTest + 14 Hour
February 28-March 1RaceRx at G2 Motorsports ParkG2 Motorsports Park8 Hour + 7 Hour
March 14–15The Old Dominion EnduroDominion Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
April 11SILICONSKY 14 Hours of DaytonaDaytona International Speedway14 Hour
April 18–19Cookie Cutter ClassicGingerman Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
May 2–3Harris Hill Spring DoubleHarris Hill Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
May 22–24SILICONSKY Twin 7's at the GlenWatkins Glen International7 Hour + 7 Hour
June 13–14The Joliet Grand Prix at Autobahn Country ClubAutobahn Country Club8 Hour + 7 Hour
June 27–28Sebring Under the Stars 12-HourSebring International Raceway12 Hour
July 24–25The New England EnduroLime Rock Park7 Hour + 8 Hour
July 31-August 2The Rollercoaster Revival at VIR FullVirginia International Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
August 22The Thompson 12Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park12 Hour
September 4–6The Fast Parts Grand Prix at Mid-OhioMid-Ohio Sports Car CourseTest + 8 Hour + 7 Hour
September 19–20The Eye of the Storm Sebring EnduroSebring International Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
September 26–27The Gauntlet: Come and Take ItHarris Hill Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
October 10–11The Tricky Triangle EnduroPocono Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
October 24–25The Landjager CupRoad America8 Hour + 7 Hour
October 31-November 1AMPed Up DualsAtlanta Motorsports Park8 Hour + 7 Hour
November 7–8Show-Me State ShowdownOzarks International Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
December 5–6The 2026 TireRack.com National Championship at VIRVirginia International Raceway8 Hour + 7 Hour
December 29–31The Lone Star Double Down at COTACircuit of the AmericasTest + 8 Hour + 8 Hour

References

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  1. ↑ Gitlin, Jonathan. "Hit the track for the ChumpCar World Series". Autoweek. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ "What We're About". Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ Fournier, Frederick. "Event Coverage: ChumpCar Canada". MotoIQ. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ "ChumpCar become ChampCar". Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ "ChampCar shines under overcast skies at Sebring". Sports Car Illustrated. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ Lerner, Preston (September 19, 2012). "Busman's Holiday". Automobile Magazine. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2021. John Condren got it. A longtime racer and racetrack owner who promoted the first three LeMons races, he wanted to put a different spin on the LeMons model. So he drew up a new rule book that retained the $500 limit on the race cars while bringing the track experience in line with what competitors would expect from the Sports Car Club of America. "I think LeMons is a neat concept for people who want to drive fast and party hard," Condren says. "But real racers want to do real racing. Contact is inevitable. There's not a car here that wouldn't look better with a new paint scheme, and you're not going to notice a little dent on the rear bumper. But I try to make ChumpCar as professional as the next series. The idea is to let Joe Racer run $500 cars on world-class racetracks, and I think people want what we're offering." Since the first event in October 2009, ChumpCar races have drawn a total of about 8000 entries. The 2012 race calendar features forty-five endurance events on classic tracks ranging from Sebring and Road Atlanta to Road America and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
  7. ↑ Krider, Rob. "Racer Boy: ChumpCar Claimer Road Racing". Speed:Sport:Life. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  8. ↑ Swann, Tony. "The Junkyard Doge: How the 24 Hours of LeMons Became a Sensation". Car and Driver. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "ChumpCar Event Results". Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  10. ↑ Farah, Matt. "So, You Want to Race Cheap Cars. Which Series Do You Choose?". The Smoking Tire. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  11. ↑ Krider, Rob. "Tony Stewart races ChumpCar, no really he did!". Jalopnik. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  12. ↑ Gitlin, Jonathan. "Can you really learn to race by playing racing games? Ars takes to the track". Ars Technica. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Bylaws" (PDF). Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Board of Directors" (PDF). Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  16. ↑ Sutton, J.G. (December 14, 2017). "ChumpCar Becomes ChampCar". Grassroots Motorsports. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ Meyers, Michele (April 6, 2023). "ChampCar: a day of competition, camaraderie and good old-fashioned racing". Observer Local News. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Going The Distance". Performance Racing Industry. May 1, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2026 Basic Club & Competition Rules (BCCR), v1.4" (PDF). ChampCar Endurance Series. December 17, 2025. §1.5–1.6. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  20. ↑ "The ChampCar choice". RACER. March 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  21. ↑ "ChampCar Build Guide: How to Build an Endurance Race Car". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ Vendler, Alex. "Low Budget Race Report International Edition: Ensenada Grand Prix". MotoIQ. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  23. ↑ "TireRack.com National Championship – Overall Results (Event #547)". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  24. ↑ "TireRack.com National Championship at NCM – Overall Results (Event #527 )". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  25. ↑ RTD Media. "Caleb Gafrarar wins for Atlanta Speedwerks at NCM Motorsports Park". Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  26. ↑ "The TireRack.com National Championship – Results (Event #498 )". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  27. 1 2 "The TireRack.com National Championship in the Ozarks – Results (Event #465 )". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  28. ↑ "The Racing Radios National Championship – Overall Results (Event #371 )". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Past Event Information". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  30. ↑ "ChumpCar/ChampCar All-Time Winners". ChampCar Endurance Series. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
  31. ↑ "2026 ChampCar Endurance Series Schedule" (PDF). October 9, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
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