Eldora in spotlight as greats take to the dirt

June 4, 2008
09:56 AM EDT

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Wednesday night's renewal of the dirt late model all-star race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio -- featuring the likes of Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne -- will have a significant charitable impact, as the funds generated by the live HBO pay-per-view broadcast will benefit the construction of Victory Junction Gang Camp-Kansas City for chronically ill children, as well as the Tony Stewart Foundation.

Prelude to the Dream

Tickets	www.eldoraspeedway.com or call (937) 338-3815
PPV info	www.hbo.com Cost: $24.95

• Video: The history of Eldora

PRELUDE TO THE DREAM

WHERE: Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (Half-mile dirt oval)
WHEN: 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 4, 2008
DISTANCE: Feature consists of 30 laps (preceded by hot laps, qualifying and heat races)
CARS: Dirt late-model stock cars
PAST WINNERS: 2007-- Carl Edwards; 2006 -- Tony Stewart; 2005 -- Kenny Wallace
TV: HBO Pay-Per-View, 7 p.m. EDT, June 4, 2007
• Announcers: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty
• Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum
THE TRACK: Half-mile dirt oval
• Banking: 24 degrees in the corners; 8 degrees on the straightaways
• Capacity: 17,905 permanent seats plus hillside seating

Eldora Speedway is a half-mile dirt racing facility owned by two-time Cup Series champion Stewart. A native of Indiana, Stewart purchased Eldora in 2004 from legendary promoter Earl Baltes, who built the track in 1954 and had been the sole owner of the facility. Eldora plays host to some of the largest dirt racing events in the country, including the Prelude, Kings Royal and World 100 -- all of which attract more than 20,000 spectators on an annual basis.

RACE NOTES

• Six Cup Series champions are scheduled to participate in the Prelude to the Dream presented: Bill Elliott (1988), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001), Bobby Labonte (2000), Tony Stewart (2002, 2005), Matt Kenseth (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007).

• Five Daytona 500 winners are scheduled to participate in the Prelude: Elliott (1985), Gordon (1997, 1999, 2005), Jimmie Johnson (2006), Kevin Harvick (2007) and Ryan Newman (2008).

• Drag racing standouts Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon will compete in the Prelude. Capps has 25 career NHRA victories and has finished second in Funny Car points three times (1998, 2000, 2005). Pedregon won the 1992 NHRA Funny Car title and has 27 career victories.

• The drivers in the Prelude have combined for 639 victories in NASCAR, Indy-style, NHRA and IROC competition: Cup -- 325; Nationwide -- 197; Truck -- 31; Indy-style -- 5; NHRA -- 52; IROC -- 29.

• We could not obtain a computer from NASA to compute the amount of short-track wins that Red Farmer has compiled in more than 50 years of racing. Basically, it's a lot. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Entry List

Driver	Owner	Notes

Aric Almirola	Wendell Wallace	NASCAR driver whose only experience on dirt came in last years Prelude to the Dream.
Dave Blaney	Tim Fuller	1995 World of Outlaws champion. 1997 Knoxville Nationals titlist. Won at Eldora in The Historical Big One in 1997 and the Kings Royal in 1993 and 1995.
Clint Bowyer	Clint Bowyer	Grew up on dirt and won the 2002 track title on dirt at Kansas Lakeside Speedway.
Kyle Busch	Scott James	Current point leader in the Sprint Cup Series grew up on asphalt, but adapted quickly to dirt, as he finished second in 2007 Prelude.
Ron Capps	Brian Ruhlman	NHRA star will have to get used to turning left -- and doing it on dirt, but experience from last years Prelude should pay dividends.
Carl Edwards	Stacey Holmes	Began racing career on dirt tracks and showcased his dirt track lineage by winning 2007 Prelude.
Bill Elliott	Ray Cook	Plenty of dirt experience for the 1988 Cup champion, who since retiring from running NASCAR full-time, has been a dirt track fixture.
Ray Evernham	Ray Cook	Former NASCAR Modified Tour driver turned crew chief turned car owner trades ownership hat for a helmet and steering wheel at Eldora.
Red Farmer	Stacey Holmes	A legend that at more than 75 years of age is still unafraid to mix it up on dirt with drivers half his age.
Jeff Gordon	Clint Smith	Four-time Cup champ raced at Eldora for the first time since 1991 in 2007 Prelude and finished third.
Robby Gordon	Scott Bloomquist	Versatile driver tackles Eldora for the first time, but his car is provided by four-time Dream winner and three-time World 100 victor Bloomquist.
Denny Hamlin	Dale McDowell	Not a lot of dirt experience, but plenty of late model experience from running asphalt bullrings in home state of Virginia.
Kevin Harvick	Mike Dillon	Made his dirt-track debut two years ago at the Prelude and has been testing extensively in the lead-up to this years race.
Jimmie Johnson	Clint Bowyer	Prelude will mark dirt late model debut, but the two-time and reigning Cup champion began racing career running off-road and stadium trucks.
Kasey Kahne	Dale Beitler	Cut his teeth on dirt in USAC competition and maintains his dirt track ties by owning World of Outlaws team with driver Joey Saldana.
Matt Kenseth	Ernie Davis	2003 Cup champ continues to develop as a dirt track driver by running extra-curricular races whenever his schedule permits.
Bobby Labonte	Bobby Labonte	Owns a dirt late model team with driver Earl Pearson Jr., and occasionally gets behind the wheel for some dirt driving fun of his own.
Mark Martin	Billy Moyer	While he doesnt have much dirt experience, has proven time and time again his unparalleled adaptability.
Ryan Newman	Steve Francis	Like Kahne, cut his teeth on dirt in USAC competition and has become a threat when competing in dirt late models.
Cruz Pedregon	Jim Bernheisel	Like Capps, this NHRA star will have to get used to turning left -- and doing it on dirt, but he also has experience from last years Prelude.
David Reutimann	Ivedent Loyd	Third-generation driver began racing dirt modifieds throughout home state of Florida before breaking into NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Series in 1997.
Ken Schrader	Ken Schrader	Could be the favorite as he will race anywhere, anytime -- especially on dirt, and has proven victorious at Eldora in USAC competition.
Tony Stewart	Mark Richards	Liked Eldora so much he bought it in 2004, and in first full season of ownership, debuted the Prelude in 2005, and then won own event in 2006.
Kenny Wallace	Ed Petroff	2005 Prelude winner grew up on dirt, and after two decades in NASCAR, has again made dirt late model racing a staple of his routine.
J.J. Yeley	Jeep Van Wormer	Like Kahne and Stewart, cut his teeth on dirt in USAC competition and won multiple USAC races at Eldora.