ChumpCar and ChampCar History

ChumpCar World Series founded by John Condren with the goal of making endurance auto racing affordable for all. ChumpCar was a play on words named after the defunct Champ Car World Series. The initial concept was an endurance racing series for cars of 500 dollars in value or less similar to the 24 Hours of LeMons endurance racing series.

ChumpCar's first race event

Portland International Raceway was the venue for the very first ChumpCar race weekend. 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. ChumpCar's first promo video

First east coast race at Rockingham Speedway. Homestead-Miami, first appearance of the fan favorite, the Infiniti Shark Car.

ChumpCar holds the first 24-hour race at Virginia International Raceway. NASCAR racing legend Tony Stewart races his Chevy, but the ExFed VW wins overall by 14 laps. John Condren implements MOV after the VIR event.

ChumpCar’s popularity grows, and the series schedules over 40 events across North America at some of the best-known road racing venues on the continent. John Condren’s idea of a simple path to real affordable road racing is exceeding expectations.

ChumpCar gets its first title sponsor with Optima Batteries.

2014 marks the end of the ever popular AIV and the 500 dollar formula. The new value is changed to points with a max zero lap car being 500 points. A point value is assigned to each vehicle based on its performance by the CEO. Additional performance parts are also given point values.

ChumpCar reforms as a membership driven club and 501(c)(7) tax-exempt organization. Robert Mink is the CEO and Board Chair.

Mike Chisek becomes the COO of ChumpCar and starts off by making his first video, what would later become known as the Rad Flag videos.

New title sponsor

Long time ChumpCar racers RVA Graphics and Wraps join ChumpCar in 2017 as the new title sponsor for the series. ChumpCar promo video

ChumpCast.live is born when Paul Veltum, Bill Strong, and Aaron Lester stream the 14 Hours of Road Atlanta from start to finish. ChumpCar is featured in //Drive on NBC.

Change

ChumpCar World Series adopts the name ChampCar Endurance Series and files for trademark rights after receiving the blessing from the IRL to use the name. A registered trademark is granted by the USPTO on August 28, 2018. Change video released Thanksgiving weekend.

2018 BCCR goes into effect. 2018 ChampCar BCCR

TireRack becomes the title sponsor of ChampCar. With 29 events on its calendar, the 10th season of the ChampCar Endurance Series is gearing up to be the best one yet. The biggest addition of the year: TireRack.com announces that they will be the title sponsor for this year’s ChampCar Endurance Series.
ChampCar 2019 BCCR

ChampCar races at Indy

The TireRack.com ChampCar Endurance Series races at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event sells out in 19 minutes. Team Jackie Ickx Mitsubishi takes the checkered flag of the first 10 Hour race while Premium Dudes BMW wins Sunday’s 10 Hour.

ChampCar starts the 2020 year off with 4 of its first 6 events sold out.
ChampCar 2020 BCCR

The world stops for the pandemic

After the Harris Hill Spring Double 8+7 Hour Enduro comes to a finish, and as staff is flying and driving home, the world begins to shut down. The COVID-19 pandemic causes auto racing everywhere to come to a halt.

eRacing gains traffic as tracks shut down

The three year old ChampCar iRacing League comes into its own. With racing shut down, the CCiRL is packed with racers trying to keep their driving skills up to date while struggling with having to stay away from real tracks.

Return to racing as IMSA opens Daytona for ChampCar

ChampCar returns to racing at Willow Springs in California, and then a week later IMSA opens the July 4 weekend with ChampCar at Daytona. No one dares to tell IMSA that ChampCars now have fenders.

New leadership. Long time event director Dana Morrison takes over as CEO and President of ChampCar.

In memory of Richard "Doc" Waldrop

Richard "Doc" Waldrop, Board Secretary, ChampCar Live color commentator, and Brew Krewe BMW team owner passes away. ChampCar Forum tribute - PDF version

Inside ChampCar Podcast begins with Brian Bielanski and Bill Strong as hosts. CEO Dana Morrison is the first guest.

Chelsey Vickery is named Executive Director after Dana Morrison resigns. Bill Strong is named Director of Operations.

The ChampCar Board of Directors welcomes Michael Chisek as Chief Executive Officer, with Bill Strong continuing as Director of Operations and Chelsey Vickery taking on the role of Senior Events Director.