NASCAR takes to the Dirt Track

            For the first time in over 40 years, a NASCAR race will be run on a dirt track.  Where will it be run?  Ohio’s Eldora Speedway owned by Tony Stewart.  When will it take place?  Wednesday night, July 24^th.

            The last time a NASCAR race was run on dirt was September 30^th, 1970 at State Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Richard Petty won that race driving a Plymouth. The CarCash Mudsummer Classic is the first time NASCAR has returned to the surface since that time.

            The ½ mile dirt oval is owned by Tony Stewart where he talked to NASCAR almost half-jokingly asking to see if there could be a race held there.  Eventually talks commenced and the end result is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will run the race in two days under the lights.  The standard lineup of cars for the Truck Series is 36 trucks, but due to the track not being able to accommodate all 36 trucks, the lineup was trimmed to 30.

            The qualifying procedures for the race will be very different compared to the standard qualifying routine for NASCAR.  It will start off with a standard two lap qualifying session to determine the starting order for the qualifying heat races.  There will be five qualifying races, each consisting of eight laps each.  Five trucks will transfer from each race.  At the end of these qualifying races, there will be 25 trucks locked into the show. The next five trucks will qualify for the race in a Last Chance Race.  This race will be a little bit longer and the top four advance to the race.  The last person to start will be a champions provisional.  If all the past series champions entered have already qualified, the driver finishing 5^th in the Last Chance Race will start the race.

            Will this be a success for NASCAR?  We all will find out Wednesday night.

Matthew Colan

Handy Chevrolet