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Action from the
Prelude to the Dream at Eldora brings out the best in NASCAR. Photo by
nascar.com
Nascar...
Eighth annual
Prelude to the Dream on tap
CONCORD, N.C.- On June 6 in Rossburg, Ohio, stars representing NASCAR,
NHRA, IndyCar and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series align in a big
way with the Prelude to the Dream.
Eldora Speedway once again will be host to the all-star dirt late-model
race featuring more than 25 world renowned drivers as they battle for
supremacy on the half-mile clay oval where HBO Pay-Per-View will
present the event live in high-definition to the entire nation. Net
proceeds from the telecast will support Feed The Children, a U.S.-based
charity that domestically has helped more than 365,000 families since
2009 through its Americans Feeding Americans Caravan
The eighth annual event joins racing luminaries from all disciplines at
one track, on one night as they drive 2,300-pound dirt late-model stock
cars capable of putting out more than 800 horsepower.
Tony Kanaan of the IndyCar Series again will compete against
Danica Patrick, who in 2012 has made the full transition from IndyCar
to NASCAR. They’ll rub fenders with straight-liners Ron Capps and Cruz
Pedregon of the NHRA Drag Racing Series. Dirt regulars Steve Kinser and
Donny Schatz, who collectively have won 24 World of Outlaws
championships, will race for the first time in dirt late models. All
will join NASCAR stars such as Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Clint
Bowyer, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte and many others,
including a band of brothers: the Busch brothers -- Kurt and Kyle --
and the Dillon brothers -- Austin and Ty.
The commercial-free, high-definition broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET
with an immediate replay. The Prelude to the Dream has a suggested
retail price of $24.95 and is available to more than 92 million
pay-per-view homes. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing
information is available at either www.PreludeToTheDream.org or
www.HBO.com. Updates also can be found on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/PreludeToDream and on Twitter at
twitter.com/PreludeToDream (@PreludeToDream).
The 2012 edition of the Prelude to the Dream includes hot laps,
qualifying, heat races and a 40-lap feature with double-file
“shootout-style” restarts. New participants include Patrick, Kinser,
Schatz and Ty Dillon, who will join Stewart, Capps, Kenny Wallace and
Ken Schrader as drivers who have participated in every Prelude to the
Dream since 2005, where Wallace was the inaugural winner.
“We have the most diverse group of drivers we’ve ever had for the
Prelude, and for the first time, the Prelude will be broadcast in
high-definition,” said Stewart, owner of Eldora Speedway and a
three-time winner of the Prelude to the Dream. “This year’s event is
going to be a can’t-miss show. We’ve added 10 laps to the feature and
partnered with a great charity in Feed The Children. You’re going to
see some intense racing by everyone, including some drivers completely
out of their comfort zone. We’ll all be racing for a trophy, but also
to make an impact with the more than 16 million children who are at
risk of going hungry right here in America.”
For the top-10 finishers in the Prelude to the Dream, Feed The Children
will send a food truck to each driver’s hometown or city of their
choice.
“This is an excellent opportunity to bring attention to the nationwide
problem of child hunger by working with these world-class drivers,”
said Rick England, chairman, Feed The Children board of directors.
“Their efforts will allow more families to put food on the table and
help us provide a solution to those hard hit by the current economy.”
The seven previous Prelude to the Dream events collectively have raised
more than $3.5 million. With each year’s event gaining significant
stature and mainstream interest, Stewart’s ultimate goal is to have the
2012 Prelude to the Dream raise $1 million.
“It’s an ambitious goal,” admits Stewart, “but if we don’t set the bar
high, we’re not pushing ourselves the way we should. That’s our goal,
and me and everybody else associated with this event is going to do
everything we can to meet that goal. Now, we just need everyone out
there to purchase the event, enjoy all the action going on at Eldora,
and know that their dollars are going to a very worthy cause.”
“Each year we are thrilled to bring the exciting live action from
Eldora into living rooms across the country,” said Tammy Ross, vice
president, HBO Pay-Per-View and Sports. “This year’s benefiting
organization, Feed The Children, charities’ mission is that no child
should go to bed hungry, and the HBO Pay-Per-View team is thrilled to
bring the Prelude to the Dream to fans everywhere to help further that
mission.”
With no points and no pressure, the Prelude to the Dream is a throwback
race, allowing drivers to step back in time and compete for the reasons
they all went racing in the first place -- pride and a trophy. And
they’ll do it on the same surface racing legends A.J. Foyt and Mario
Andretti competed on nearly 50 years ago.
For those who want to see the Prelude to the Dream in person, tickets
are available online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track
office (937) 338-3815. Act fast -- the race has sold out in previous
years.
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