Located in Harrisburg, N.C., U.S. Legend Cars, Inc. is the largest manufacturer of race cars in the world, and is the exclusive producer of the Legend Car and Bandolero.
In 1992, the officials at Charlotte Motor Speedway began noticing a great need all across North America. This need was very simple: an affordable racecar with a unique design that requires little maintenance time and cost. This was brought about because many short tracks have allowed the cost of their competing racecars to escalate out of control with "loose" rules.
Car counts began to drop drastically, and at that moment, track officials estimate that 30% to 40% of the racecars in North America were not in competition because of cost. After further research, track officials noticed that when car costs went over $20,000, participation dwindled. Tracks featuring cars in the $10,000 to $15,000 price range with low maintenance expenses (cost of racing a car per race) had significantly increased car counts.
As a result of this research, in January 1992, U.S. Legend Cars International was launched, then known as 600 Racing, and began a highly-accelerated R&D program of a new race car that would be affordable, race on smaller tracks and have low maintenance costs.
It was then in April of 1992 that the first Legend Car was unveiled at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The concept of creating a fun and affordable "spec" class of racing for anyone to participate in was born.
Since that time, the Legend Car has become one of the fastest growing segments of motorsports today. With drivers being classified into four different divisions, the Legend Car is THE racing opportunity that is available to anyone! The Pro Division is for the experienced drivers. The Masters Division features drivers 40 years and older. The Semi-Pro Division is the novice class, featuring the drivers that are new to the sport or have been active in other forms of racing. Then there is the Young Lions Division which is designated for the drivers between the ages of 10 and 16. While the car stays the same from division to division, it is the driver that makes the difference!
The above mission statement is the foundation that the Legend Car has grown from and will continue to grow from in the future. It is also very important to note, that while we are undertaking the task of advancing the sport of Legend Car racing, we will not forget that we are promoting a "family-oriented" sport.
U.S. Legend Cars International and its sanctioning body INEX is proud to be a stepping stone for drivers climbing the ladder to NASCAR and has many notable alumni who have driven Legend Cars and Bandoleros!
With the help of Elliott Forbes-Robinson, the Legend Car is unveiled to the public at Charlotte Motor Speedway and U.S. Legend Cars International is born as 600 Racing.
The first Summer Shootout takes place at Charlotte Motor Speedway, becoming a staple on the CMS and U.S. Legend Car calendars.
In just five years, 1900 Legend Cars had been produced, raced in 42 U.S. States and five countries. Additionally, INEX debuts new dirt and road course specific national championships that include their own national races. The Clay National and Road Course Nationals, now known as the Legend Car Dirt Nationals and Road Course World Finals.
The Bandolero makes its debut with the first race run in May 1997 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The first race is held on the quarter-mile at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16.
The inaugural Bandolero Nationals are held at Texas Motor Speedway.
The newly reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway, equiped with a quarter-mile on the frontstretch, introduces its very own summer series named Thursday Thunder for Legend Cars and Bandoleros.
Styled after the open-wheel roadsters from the 1950s and 60s, the Thunder Roadster joins the Legend Car and Bandolero on U.S. Legend Cars International's car lineup.
The 2001 Legend Car Dirt Nationals are held at the newly built Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Kurt Busch (pictured right) becomes the first U.S. Legend Cars International alumni to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2004. His brother, Kyle (pictured left), would later win the 2015 and 2019 NASCAR Cup Championships, making them the first USLCI alumni brothers to win Cup championships.
As popularity for the Legend Car grows, INEX makes the Young Lions Legend Car Division, for drivers ages 12-16, an official national division with the first Young Lions National Champions celebrated at the end of the season.
For the start of 2010, 600 Racing is rebranded as U.S. Legend Cars International.
The largest purse money race in Legend Car history, the Legends Million is held on July 17 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Daniel Hemric captures the victory in the 100-lap feature.
For the first time in event history, the 2015 Road Course World Finals is held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Hoosier Racing Tires becomes the official tire supplier and partner of U.S. Legend Cars International.
U.S. Legend Cars International celebrates its 30th anniversary during 2022. During the year, the 9,000th chassis was built, cementing USLCI as the world's largest manufacturer of race cars.