RACING Series to Compete With NASCAR

<br>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ A new stock-car racing series is planned, hoping to compete with NASCAR and draw more fans to the sport. <br><br>The founders of the Team Racing Auto Circuit want to attract

Tuesday, May 15th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) _ A new stock-car racing series is planned, hoping to compete with NASCAR and draw more fans to the sport.

The founders of the Team Racing Auto Circuit want to attract a national TV package and plan to race on at least some of the tracks where Winston Cup cars run.

``We are not going to go after the drivers who are in NASCAR,'' said Jon Pritchett, president and chief operating officer of Maxx Motorsports, a Greenville, S.C., company that is part of the group backing the new series.

``We believe firmly that we can serve markets that are underserved by stock-car racing. We believe there is a lot of room to grow. We see our concept as a way to create new fans and to give current fans something else.''

TRAC races on ovals would be scheduled with an eye toward avoiding conflicts with Winston Cup dates, Pritchett said. He said the circuit's season would not be as long as the 36-race Winston Cup schedule but would include enough events to be a ``significant product.''

NASCAR spokeswoman Danielle Humphrey declined comment on the group's plans.

At least two former Winston Cup team owners, Cale Yarborough and Michael Kranefuss, are among those involved in the TRAC project.