The 1974 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship was the eighth running of the Sports Car Club of America's premier open wheel racing series.[1] It was the first to be sanctioned jointly by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the United States Auto Club (USAC),[2] and the first to be held under the "SCCA /USAC Formula 5000 Championship" name.[1] Sponsorship by the L&M cigarette brand was not carried forward from the 1973 championship.[3]
The championship was open to SCCA Formula 5000 cars and, for the first time, to USAC cars powered by 161 cid turbocharged, 255 cid double overhead camshaft or 305 cid "stock block" engines.[3] It was won by Brian Redman driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet.[3]
The championship was contested over seven races.[4]
| Race | Date | Name | Circuit | Race distance | Winning driver | Winning car | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 2 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 42 laps |  Brian Redman | |||
| 2 | June 15 | Mosport Park | 40 laps | David Hobbs | |||
| 3 | July 14 | Watkins Glen International | 30 laps |  Mario Andretti | |||
| 4 | July 28 | Road America | 25 laps | Mario Andretti | |||
| 5 | September 1 | California Grand Prix | Ontario Motor Speedway | 34 laps | Brian Redman | ||
| 6 | October 13 | Monterey Grand Prix | Laguna Seca Raceway | 50 laps | Brian Redman | ||
| 7 | October 27 | Riverside Grand Prix | Riverside International Raceway | 40 laps | Mario Andretti |
Championship points were awarded on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis for the first ten positions at each race.[3]
