In the Field: Prelude

You all know that last week I was worried about being invited back to Tony Stewart's Prelude to the Dream at Eldora.

Not only am I already planning on going back -- I want to have my own car when I do it!

• Driver Page: Stats, videos, etc
• Store: Everything Elliott Sadler

Competing in Tony's charity event at Eldora Speedway for the first time, and the first time I'd raced on dirt -- right before we went to Pocono -- was a blast, just like I knew it would be.

I had never been to Eldora, and three-quarters of a mile before we got to the racetrack, it was like Woodstock. They had some people there, and we weren't even close to the racetrack.

The people who were there had a great time, I know the people who watched it on HBO saw a great show and as far as all the drivers who competed, we loved it! And it raised a lot of money for the Victory Junction Gang Camp -- so no matter how it turned out for us, individually, it was great.

But I've already figured out something for next year.

Like I said, I want to have my own dirt car. I've already talked to the guy and I'm hoping to get one built."

I know a guy back home that owns a dirt track, so I'm going to go there and practice a bunch and have my stuff together for next year.

I think it's going to get bigger. The first year, I don't think nobody had their own car, then the next year, four or five guys did -- but this year, I bet there were 10 or 11 guys who had their own dirt late models, and their own teams.

I couldn't believe all the guys that brought brand-new cars, which had never seen a track; just brand-smacking new, just to race that 30-lap feature. It was pretty cool.

Kevin Harvick said it was the most competitive charity event he'd ever been to, in his life. I mean, they had inspection and you had to weigh-in after qualifying, after the heat races and after the feature.

So it was serious -- and very competitive between the guys. But I see it in two or three years where everybody will bring their own cars and their own teams. I can really see that happening. (Continued)