WIX Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, has created the WIX Challenge Award in partnership with the USARacing Pro Cup Series to award the ultimate success in qualifying and racing with cash prizes up to $20,000.

The WIX Challenge Award will provide $5,000 to any pole winner that also wins the race. With the prize money carried over from race-to-race until the achievement is made, as much as $20,000 could be on the line at the season-ending race at South Boston Speedway.

The WIX Challenge Award program begins at the Sept. 5, 2009 Concord 250 at Concord Speedway, in Concord, N.C., and runs through the Strutmasters 250 on Oct. 31, 2009 at the South Boston Speedway, in South Boston, Va. The WIX Challenge Award also will be up for grabs in the Iowa 200 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, and the Aaron’s 150 at Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.

“The new WIX Challenge Award and USARacing Pro Cup Series contingency programs provide us with a wonderful opportunity for rewarding success on the race track,” said Jeff Blocher, brand manager for WIX Filters. “We are excited about adding our support to the USARacing Pro Cup Series through 2010; the USARacing programs are a great addition to our racing endeavors, which include extensive NASCAR® partnerships and our Team WIX racing program that supports local race teams in communities across the country.”

The WIX contingency program will award $1000 per team to those teams that compete in at least 60 percent of the USARacing Pro Cup Series regular season.

“WIX Filters’ sponsorship of the WIX Challenge Award begins with our Championship Series this year, but will extend into 2010,” said Larry Camp, managing partner of the USARacing Pro Cup Series. “This typifies the type of partnership opportunities which exist with our Series. Our commitment to our teams and drivers, thanks to WIX's participation, is also demonstrated with this exciting program.”

USARacing Pro Cup Series is owned by Interstate Investment Group, incorporated in the State of West Virginia and operating from offices at 78 Buffalo Ave., Suite 200, Concord, NC 28025. For more information, visit www.usarprocup.com.

Since 1939, Wix® Filters has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks and off-road equipment. WIX, a member of the Affinia family of brands, is the number one filter in NASCAR and an exclusive NASCAR Performance Product. Its NASCAR relationship also includes the WIX Filters Lap Leader Award, which recognizes the drivers leading the most laps in each race. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com.

Affinia Group Inc. is an innovative global leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and marketing of industrial grade products and services, including extensive offerings of aftermarket parts for automotive and heavy-duty vehicles. With more than $2 billion in annual revenue, Affinia has operations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and India. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.