Viper Cup Series Returns for 2012 with a New Name and Rules

It’s back! Chrysler will once again bring the Dodge Viper Cup Series to five of the most challenging and famous road courses across the country for the 2012 race season, according to Allpar.com. Although the series has been renamed the SRT Viper Cup Series to reflect Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand involvement, it promises to bring just as much fun and even more excitement than ever with new rules for the coming season.

The series sponsored by Penzoil Ultra is entering its third season of competition with a bang. Not only will you see the use of the amazing Viper ACR-X race cars again this year, a new rule package is also promising to bring more intense races.

Among the rule changes are the elimination of qualifying races and the introduction of reverse order starts for Sunday races. This means that teams will race as usual at the five Saturday races and their finishing order will then be reversed for the start of the following Sunday races. This will create more track action as faster drivers will have to maneuver their way through the entire field to regain their leading positions from the previous race.

Image: MotorAuthority

Although some new rules have been implemented for 2012, Chrysler will continue their celebrity driver program for the upcoming season. This program selects up to two celebrities or media personnel per race, professionally trains them and then allows them to race in the field among the professional drivers.

The celebrity or media professional that finishes first will have $2,000 donated to the series’ charity, the National Breast Cancer Coalition, in their name. The other celebrity driver program participant will have $1,000 donated to the same charity. The National Breast Cancer Coalition will receive up to $30,000 this season thanks to the celebrity driver program.

The series will also maintain its contingency program. The top ten finishing teams will receive prizes ranging from $100 to $4,000 in cash and Mopar vouchers worth $200 to $1,000. The top three finishing teams will also receive Michelin Bucks worth $250 to $1,000 to purchase new tires with. The SRT Viper Cup Series winner will also receive an additional $10,000 cash.

If you’re a fan of the Viper Cup Series or just looking to have a fun race weekend this year, be sure to check out the SRT Viper Cup Series races at the following locations.