What is the IRLs relationship to USAC?
From the beginning of the IRL series in 1996 through June 1997, USAC performed most of the technical functions for the IRL: rules enforcement, race direction, and scoring. However, after a scoring fiasco at the Texas race in 1997 resulted in the wrong driver being declared the winner, the IRL dismissed USAC and assumed these functions itself. At that point there was no official relationship between the IRL and USAC. However, about six months later, the IRL and USAC entered into an agreement to cross-promote each other’s series; among other things, some USAC events began to be scheduled as support events for IRL races. This is where things stand as of this writing.
