Short track racing , the grassroots of NASCAR , began experimenting with ideas to help the entry-level racer . In 2001 , the United Speed Alliance Racing organization , sanctioning body of the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series , a short-track stock car touring series , devised a five-race system where the top teams in their Hooters ProCup North and Hooters ProCup South divisions would participate in a five-race playoff , the Four Champions , named for the four Hooters Racing staff members ( including 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion and pilot Alan Kulwicki ) killed in an April 1 , 1993 plane crash in Blountville , Tennessee . The system organized the teams with starting points based on the team 's performance in their division ( division champions earn a bonus ) , and the teams would participate in a five-race playoff . The five races , added to the team 's seeding points , would determine the winner . The 2001 version was four races , as one was canceled because of the September 11 terrorist attacks ; however , NASCAR watched as the ProCup 's Four Champions became a success and drivers from the series began looking at NASCAR rides . The idea was to give NASCAR , which was becoming in many areas the fourth-largest sport ( after Major League Baseball , the NFL , the NBA and surpassing in some regions the NHL ) attention during baseball 's road to the World Series and the outset of the pro and college football , NHL and NBA seasons
September 11 terrorist attacks
September 11 attacks
NASCAR playoffs