the country, Eldora Speedway added to it's impressive history this past> Tuesday when it announced the NEXTEL PRELUDE to the dream set for Wed.

continue with this event. Nextel really stepped up in being the title> sponsor and has already shown phenominal commitment in helping us give the> local, grassroots fans a special and memorial evening. We'll have some of> the best racecar drivers in the world competing right here at Eldora.

"diddy" <diddy@nospam.diddy­.net> wrote in message> news:Xns964AA912425­C9danny@216.196.97.1­42...>> NASCAR Nextel Cup series drivers to compete at half-mile Clay oval>> June 8 Greenville Daily Advocate>> ROSSBURG, Ohio- Already one of the premier grassroots motorsports>> venues > in>> the country, Eldora Speedway added to it's impressive history this>> past Tuesday when it announced the NEXTEL PRELUDE to the dream set>> for Wed. > June>> 8.>> Owned by NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Tony Stewart- the 2002>> series >> champion who pilots the #20 Home Depot Chevrolet for Joe Gibbs>> Racing - Eldora will welcome many of Stewart's brethren for a round>> of dirt track style competition, Late Model style.>> The unique event is sandwiched between the june 4 World of>> Outlaws >> Sprint Race and the $100,000 to win Dirt Late Model Dream, June>> 10-11. >> For some NASCAR drivers, the June 8 Nextel Prelude to the Dream>> on >> Eldora's Clay surface will be a return to their roots. For other's it> could>> mean their first foray away from the traditional pavement races of>> NASCAR. >> Stewart, a multi-time race winner at the legendary Eldora>> Speedway, >> will headline the list of entrants on June 8. Joining Stewart will be>> Bobby Labonte, Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing Teammate and the 2000>> Nextel Cup Series Champion; Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Nextel Cup Series>> Champion; Kevin Harvick the recent Bristol (TN) race winner and five>> time Nextel Cup race victor, Kyle Petty, an eight time winnner in>> Nextel Cup; a pair of Kenny's in Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace,>> who will showcase their collective dirt track experiences at the>> NEXTEL PRELUDE, and finally, Ohio native > Dave>> Blaney , who compiled an impressive Eldora record in winged sprint>> cars before heading South to NASCAR, most notably with two wins in>> the prestigious $50,000 to win KINGS ROYAL, six overall World of>> Outlaw Sprint feature victories and three All-star Circuit of>> Champions main event triumphs.>> "This is going to be A great event", said Stewart. "Eldora has>> always >> tried to go above and beyond for it's fans, and that's something we>> plan > to>> continue with this event. Nextel really stepped up in being the title>> sponsor and has already shown phenominal commitment in helping us>> give the local, grassroots fans a special and memorial evening. We'll>> have some of the best racecar drivers in the world competing right>> here at Eldora. > There>> won't be a better way to spend a Wednesday evening in June.">> Additional Nextel Cup Drivers are being recruited for the Nextel>> Prelude to the Dream, as well as some of the top names from within>> the World of Outlaws.>> The busy night will also mark the debut of the Fastrack Champions>> Series to Eldora.>> Organized by Stan Lester and based out of Carnesville, Ga,>> Fastrack >> was designed to offer a cost -conscious alternative to the escalating>> expenditures of dirt Late Model racing.>> On the outside, a Fastrack car resembles what has become the>> accepted >> form of standard dirt Late Model, as it features a tube-frame,>> enclosed cockpit and full fenders.>> However, the power plant is restricted to General Motors crate>> engines, which are factory produced and sealed. Cost modifications>> are not permitted, which maintains a level playing field for all>> competitors in regards to engine development.>> The Nextel Prelude event for Fastrack will be a non-points event,>> but >> Lester and his staff have indicated that the legacy of competing at>> Eldora has prompted immense interest from within the Fastrack>> membership. >> Tickets for the Nextel Prelude to the Dream go on sale at 9:00AM>> (EDT) >> on Monday, May 2. Ticket Orders can be placed at that time., by>> calling (937) 338-3815 or by going online to>> <http://www.eldoras­peedway.com> . >

I love it. A couple of years ago, while at an Eldora event, I first> heard the rumor of Stewart wanting to buy the joint. Quite a few of> the locals were concerned, since Tony, with his exclusively open wheel> background, was feared to drop late model racing at the track in favor> of sprints, midgets and champ cars. There is a huge following in the> area for the dirt late models, and with good reason. The late model> racing there is incredible, and the cars are as fast as the non-wing> sprints. Now, with some of the Cup drivers, particularly those> without a dirt background like Labonte, Petty and Harvick; combined> with the WoO guys, this is a big bonus for the track and the related> series. Now, if Tony can just get a Cup race scheduled there. . . .> .. >

Carey in Manvel>

Did you know there IS a mile dirt track there now currently? It's never> been opened. I'm not sure if that was a part of the purchase deal with> Tony or not. Earl made the mile track, with NASCAR dreams in mind. Then he> found out it wasn't to be, and never finished the track. Perhaps with Tony> in charge, things might change? The newspaper adds an article every week> with Nascar having more and more interest in that track. Time will tell.