Piston Cup Superstar Series

The **Piston Cup Superstar Series** was a racing series organised by the Piston Cup. It was originally the second-tier series behind the top level Piston Cup Racing Series. It lasted only 2 seasons. It consisted of 6 categories for racers to advance and those who finish in the top 3 in the Superstar Group might advance to the Piston Cup Racing Series. It was discontinued in 1982 in favour of the modern-day Xfinity Series.

## History

The series started in 1980 as a series to help racers advance to the main Piston Cup Racing Series. Racers would start in the Rookie category which contains 26 groups which contains 26 racers and 13 races in each group. The top 13 of each group would then advance to the Advanced category which contains 13 groups that contains 13 racers and 13 races in each group. The top 10 of each group would then advance to the Pro category, which contains 6 groups. 20 racers in group A to E and in order to accommodate more racers, Group F has 30 racers. Each group in Pro has 16 races. The top 10 of each group would then advance to Quarter-Finale which contains 20 racers in Group A to B and 30 racers in Group C to D and 20 races in each group. The top 10 of each group would then advance to Semi-Finale which contain 20 racers and races in each group. Then the top 10 of each group would then advance to Superstar in which the racers must finish in the top 3 in order to advance into the main Piston Cup Series.

Greg Locke won the inaugural championship with Taylor Bendy in second and Jeffery Bashman in third. Greg would race part-time in that series from 1981 until 1983 in which he would compete full-time from 1984 until his fatal crash at the BnL 500 in 1994. Taylor Bendy wouldn’t compete in the Cup Series until 1985 and he raced until 1988. Bashman competed in the Piston Cup from 1981 part-time and 1982 to 1983 full-time. After that he competed in CARCA from 1984 until 2012. He had a great career in that series.

In 1981, Denny Phabercar won the championship with Al Candyman in second and Dave Brady in third. Phabercar and Brady would compete in the newly formed Piston Cup Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series while Al would compete in the Piston Cup part-time from 1982 to 1983 and compete for time from 1984 until 1985. Brady at one point would compete in the Cup Series for 4 races as a part-time racer in 1988.

## Points

Racers are awarded points from 100000 to 1000 with the top 19 being awarded points. No bonus points were awarded in the series. Some Superstar Series racers and even the Piston Cup itself nicknamed it "The Inzane Points System" due to how big the numbers are when racers are awarded points.

## System

### Number Rule

Rookie and Advanced racers are allowed to use numbers 0-99. Single-digit numbers with a Zero in front of them aren’t allowed

Pro and Quarter-Finale racers are allowed to use numbers 0-199 and are allowed to use single-digit numbers with a Zero in front of them. Two-digit numbers with 0 in front are also allowed.

Semi-Finale is more different. Racers in this group are allowed to use numbers 0-500. 500 is the max number racers can use in Piston Cup sanctioned series.

Superstar racers are not allowed to use single-digit numbers and those who have might have to add an additional zero in front of them or use a different two-digit or three-digit number.

### Groups and advances.

The series is divided into 6 categories throughout the season. Rookie, Advanced, Pro, Quarter-Finale, Semi-Finale and Superstar.

#### Rookie

Rookie contains 26 groups, 26 racers in each group and 13 races. In order to advance to Advanced racers must finish in the top 13.

#### Advanced

Advanced contains 13 groups, 26 racers in each group and 13 races. In order to advance to Pro racers must finish in the top 10.

#### Pro

Pro contains 6 groups, 20 racers in Group A to E and 30 in Group F and 16 races. In order to advance to Quarter-Finale racers must finish in the top 10.

#### Quarter-Finale

Quarter-Finale contains 4 groups, 20 racers in Group A to B and 30 in group C to D and 20 races. In order to advance to Semi-Finale racers must finish in the top 10.

#### Semi-Finale

Semi-Finale contains 2 groups, 20 racers in both groups and 20 races. In order to advance to Superstar racers must finish in the top 10.

#### Superstar

Superstar is the top category which has a single group, 10 racers and and 30 races. Whoever finishes in the top 5 will advance from the series.

## Seasons

1. 1980 Piston Cup Superstar Series
2. 1981 Piston Cup Superstar Series