Eldora Speedway Truck Series Qualifying Explained

 

 

If you've ever seen a race from Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway, you know how much fun this dirt track oval can be with the right drivers on the surface, duking it out.  If you haven't, and you're a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series fan, boy are you in for a treat, coming up on Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 as the Truck Series visits this stories facility for a scheduled stop on their schedule.

 

But being a dirt track, qualifying at Eldora is a bit different than an asphalt track.  And having NASCAR coming back to dirt in the first time in 40 years doesn't change that.   And this is going to be the track's 60th race season.  My bet is that this telecast will break records for the racing series...  this is going to be fun!

 

THIS, is how qualifying for the Mudsummer Classic will be handled at Eldora Speedway, via this press release from NASCAR:

The race will feature a traditional two-lap qualifying session, five qualifying races, one last-chance race and a champion’s provisional to determine the 30-truck starting field. The top-20 in owners’ points entering the race event will have a guaranteed starting position.

 Here are additional details for each round of qualifying: 

Qualifying

Two-lap qualifying determines starting position for the qualifying races

Qualifying Races

·         Five qualifying races

o    Eight laps each; only green flag laps count

o    Five trucks transfer from each qualifying race

·         Lineup for the qualifying races will be based on qualifying speeds with four locked-in trucks (trucks in the top 20)

·         The top-five trucks in qualifying will start on the pole for their respective qualifying race

·         Highest finishing non-locked-in truck will transfer to race from each qualifying race

·         At the completion of the qualifying races, 25 trucks will have earned spots into the feature.

Last Chance Race

·         15 laps; only green flag laps count

·         The top-four finishers will transfer to the feature and start in positions 26-29

·         The lineup will be based on the finish from the qualifying races 

Starting position No. 30 will go to the most recent past series’ champion who has not already qualified. If the 30th starting position is not filled by an eligible champion, it will be assigned to the next highest finishing truck in the Last Chance Race. 

“NASCAR and Eldora Speedway have collectively worked together to come up with a format that embraces the history of dirt track racing while also ensuring that full-time competitors have an opportunity to be a part of this special event,” said Chad Little, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series director. “This will also add an exciting element for the fans and we look forward to putting on a great show at this unique venue.” 

The race length and format are also new for the series. The race will be 150 laps divided into three segments. The segments will be 60, 50 and 40 laps.

There will be pit stops between each segment, with teams having the opportunity to change tires and work on their trucks. 

More details on the event schedule will be released later this spring. 

The “Mudsummer Classic” will be the first NASCAR national touring series event held on dirt since NASCAR’s premiere series competed on September 30, 1970 in Raleigh, N.C. Richard Petty won the Home State 200 at the one-mile State Fairgrounds Speedway.

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The NASCAR Truck Series Race at Eldora is Sold Out

I know you find that shocking... but yes, Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway has sold out for the inaugural Camping World Truck Series race on July 24th, 2013.

I mean, wow, a dirt race back in the NASCAR circuit?  I'm surprised the race took this long to sell out!  The Truck Series race is called the "Mudsummer Classic" and July 24th is a Wednesday night.

But wait!!!  Just because the grandstand is sold out doesn't mean they don't still have a few tickets left.  Turns out they still have around 300 general admission tickets for the event, where you can hang out around the hillside, if you're up for it.

Of course, in the amount of time it took me to write that, they probably just sold out!

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The format of the race is still shaping up, but it looks like they'll have heat races leading up to the main event, which will probably include 30 trucks.  Plus, with no pit road, there might be new methods for giving the teams a chance to make adjustments during the race, like an intermission.

And yes, splitters will be removed for this dirty event at Eldora!

[Sporting News]

2012 Prelude to the Dream - Images

The old-school dirt upon which professional stock car racing was built played host to today’s racing stars in the Prelude To The Dream last night at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. 


The eighth annual dirt Late Model race featured more than 25 world renowned drivers as they battled for dirt supremacy. 

The event was presented live to the entire nation on HBO Pay-Per-View with net proceeds from the telecast supporting 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.

Kyle Busch won the event and if you head on over to my Facebook photo album, you can catch several images from the event!  (It's a public album and you don't need to have a FB account to view it.)

-Bruce

Eldora Charity Event Results

Carl Edwards strikes again!!

Results of the NEXTEL Prelude to the Dream Presented by Old Spice Dirt Late Model event June 6 at the half-mile Eldora Speedway:

1. Carl Edwards,
2. Kyle Busch,
3. Jeff Gordon,
4. Ken Schrader
5. Clint Bowyer,
6. Kasey Kahne,
7. Matt Kenseth,
8. J.J. Yeley,
9. David Reutiman,
10. Mark Martin

The rest can be found at http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/results.html