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Eldora Speedway
Eldora’s 60th
Season Launches April 13
ROSSBURG, OH (April 5) – When the green flag waves over Eldora Speedway
on Saturday, April 13 it will be a historic moment as it will launch
the start of the 60th consecutive season of racing action at the
historic speed plant.
Conceived in the fall of 1952 by area farmer/band leader Earl Baltes,
Eldora was unveiled to the world on June 6, 1954 as a .250-mile mile
clay oval. Two years later, the ingenious Baltes increased the
size to three-eighths mile before configuring the present day .500-mile
shape in 1958.
From its humble beginning as a place for area speedsters to gather and
chase for bragging rights, Eldora Speedway has become an industry
leader that has become known worldwide for its high-speed competition,
lucrative payouts and time-honored events.
By introducing clever & unique promotions, Baltes spurred the
growth and popularity of Eldora.
As the phenomenon known as Eldora grew, so did the size of the historic
events, many of which remain on the annual menu. Kicking
off the long line of spectacles was the World 100 for Late Models in
1971, an event that will see its 43rd annual running this year
September 5, 6 & 7.
The annual USAC (United States Auto Club) Four Crown Nationals was
created in 1981 (32nd annual September 20 & 21) while the Sprint
Car world was rocked with the $50,000 to win Kings Royal in 1984 (30th
annual July 12 & 13). Joining the World 100 as a prolific
Late Model event was the $100,000 to win Dirt Late Model Dream in 1994
(19th annual June 6, 7 & 8).
Other high profile creations included the Eldora Million in 2001 that
witnessed Late Model driver Donnie Moran becoming $1,000,000 richer and
the Mopar Million for non-winged Sprint Cars in 2003 as Jac
Haudenschild drove to a $200,000 pay day.
Baltes stepped away in the fall of 2004 when he sold the facility to
three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. Stewart has
continued with the pace established by Baltes by introducing the
Prelude to the Dream in 2005 and again this year (July 24) when he will
bring NASCAR back to dirt for the first time since 1971 with an
invasion by the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Stewart’s vision into the next 60 years is simply to continue building
upon the famed Eldora Experience.
Sunoco Sponsored American Late Model Series Celebrates 19th Year with
Eldora Opener
ROSSBURG, OH (April 5) – It was back in 1995, and with an alphabet soup
of Late Model sanctioning bodies travelling throughout the country,
that Eldora Speedway’s Earl Baltes decided local racers needed a series
in their back yard. One that didn’t involve intensified
travelling. He joined forces with Gene Frankart (Attica Raceway
Park) and Ken Langhals (Limaland Speedway) to establish the American
Late Model Series (ALMS) as a taste of chasing a series title for local
Late Model racers.
That theory continues to this date, as the Sunoco sponsored and UMP
DIRTcar sanctioned Late Model tour continues into year number 19 at
Eldora on April 13 in a tripleheader program joined by the UMP DIRTcar
Modifieds and Eldora Stock cars. The original trio of founders
has since bowed out, leaving UMP DIRTcar as the driving force behind
the unique and popular series.
Over the past 18 years, 67 ALMS races have been contested up Eldora’s
.500 mile clay oval, with 31 drivers placing their names upon the win
list. Heading that list is Jeep VanWormer with six checkered
flags, while perennial contenders Matt Miller and defending champion
Brian Ruhlman are in close pursuit with their five victories. All
three are expected to be in the fold April 13 in Eldora’s lid-lifting
event for ALMS.
Modifieds Continue Strong Presence on Eldora Schedule
ROSSBURG, OH (April 5) – Continuing to run under the UMP DIRTcar
sanctioning eye, the Modified division will again see plenty of
competition in 2013 at Eldora Speedway; with 13 being the common
denominator. That number not only represents the year (2013) and
date (April 13) of the first Modified invasion, but it is also the
number of scheduled race meets this year for the popular division.
Since their debut in 1991, the open-wheeled Modifieds have contested
232 events on the .500 mile Eldora clay oval; producing 58 different
winners.
Five-time champion Scott Orr heads up that list with his 34 triumphs,
but has not visited victory lane since 2010. That dry spell has
allowed fellow past champions Brian Ruhlman (28) and Jerry Bowersock
(24) to advance closer to the top of the all-time win list. Each
of those three is expected to be in the field April 13, with Ruhlman
and Bowersock also wheeling UMP DIRTcar Late Models in double-duty
efforts.
Trio of Defending Champions to Take On 2013 Challengers
ROSSBURG, OH (April 5) – Saturday’s (April 13) kick off to the 60th
season of racing at Eldora Speedway also serves as the initial points
race of the season for teams chasing the UMP DIRTcar Late Model, UMP
DIRTcar Modified and Eldora Stock Car 2013 titles. Entering the
race meet as defending champions will be Jeep VanWormer (Late Model),
Joey Kramer (Modified) and Barney Craig (Stock Car). All three
are expected to be in attendance.
Last year’s chase for the crowns produced one of the most competitive
battles seen in recent history, as the respective titles were in
question right through the checkered flag of the final feature events.
Track Time Valuable for Late Model Teams
ROSSBURG, OH (April 5) – Eldora Speedway’s marquee events, the Dirt
Late Model Dream (June 6, 7 & 8) and the World 100 (September 5, 6
& 7), rank as two of the nation’s most respected Late Model races
and drivers consider any track time obtained prior to them to be
valuable track time.
The first 2013 opportunity for Late Model teams to capture Eldora track
time will be with the 60th Season Opener this Saturday (April
13). Headlining the tripleheader program will be the Sunoco
American Late Model Series (ALMS) and their chase for a $2,000 payday
in the 25-lap A-Feature event. Joining the UMP DIRTcar Late Model
sanctioned series will be the Modified (also under the UMP banner) and
Stock Car divisions.
With the opportunity to get some laps around Eldora and knowledge
towards chassis set-up, the field of entries at any Late Model event
nearly always brings in some surprise entries. A reflection upon
previous ALMS runs at Eldora demonstrates the value of participating
and running more laps around the .500 mile clay oval. The ALMS
feature win list includes such notables as Billy Moyer (Dream and World
100 winner), Darrell Lanigan (Dream winner), Brian Birkhofer (World 100
winner), Donnie Moran (Dream, World 100 and Eldora Million winner),
Josh Richards (World of Outlaws Late Model champion) plus Dennis Erb,
Jr. and Rusty Schlenk, both of who have captured UMP National
Championship titles.
Complete event information, along with ticket and campsite purchase
opportunities, may be obtained by visiting the track’s website
www.EldoraSpeedway.com, or by calling the speedway office at (937)
338-3815. Additionally, race fans and race teams can get
behind-the-scenes access by following @EldoraSpeedway on Twitter,
hitting ‘Like’ at Facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway and view video highlights
at YouTube.com/EldoraSpeedwayInc. The new Eldora Speedway app for
the iPhone, iPad and Android is now available for download via iTunes
and Google Play.
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