Top 10 Stories of '05

USAR ProCup, Paul Warner (December 29, 2005)     (Click Here for Original Article)

Longs, SC—The 2005 Hooters Pro Cup season will be one that’s remembered for a long time. On paper, it was the biggest and best season in the Pro Cup annuals. But on the track, it was just as good.

With the 2006 season less than 60 days away, it’s time to remember the special moments that defined the banner campaign.

Below is a list of the Top 10 stories that stood out during the year.

5. Lavender Steps Up

After finishing 28th in points in 2004, Jody Lavender wasn’t on most people’s radar when 2005 rolled around. But Lavender quickly went from a blip to a blob on the Hooters Pro Cup screen. And it all started at Ace Speedway.

Jody Lavender tracked down Shane Huffman to take the lead late in the race and held off a feverish charge by Jay Fogleman to win his first Pro Cup race. Fueled by the win, Lavender reeled off six top-10 in the final seven races, including four top-five finishes, and moved from 18th to fifth in final Southern Division standings.

Lavender backed up his regular season in the Championship Series, racking up four top-10 finishes and finishing sixth in the overall standings.

"It really was a great year overall," said Lavender after finishing ninth in the season finale. "I brought on Steve Bird this year, and he made such a difference in our performance. I couldn’t do this without my dad, Heritage Bank or H&R Block, so it was great to run well for them."

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