In three days, NASCAR stars will test their skills against Eldora Speedway’s intimidating and unforgiving high-banked, half-mile dirt track in the Prelude to the
Dream. Will the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing &mdash a circuit that got its start in dirt racing &mdash ever dare to do the same Adding a dirt track or two to the NASCAR schedule, a popular idea among Prelude drivers, might be destined for a dirt nap. “Nah, there’s not a chance,” three-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson said. “In today’s world with all that’s going on, it’s a fantastic idea, but I don’t think it’ll ever happen. “It’s not just NASCAR, the other partners have to agree and want to change. We have a hard enough time just getting rid of some of the older tracks on the schedule that should go because of the long-term contracts that exist. Granted it’s a dirt track that seats 23,000, but we need stadiums that seat 100,000-plus. There are some unfortunate factors that would never allow it, but I think it’s a great idea and love thinking about it. But I just don’t see it.” Dirt is ‘awesome’ Nearly 39 years have passed since NASCAR’s top series ran a race on dirt. Richard Petty won the Home State 200 on Sept. 30, 1970, at the one-mile State Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh, N.C. Petty said after the race, “I hope a few dirt tracks are kept on the schedule. This is where our brand of racing started.” The grassroots racing that sprouted NASCAR has since been paved over with superspeedways and asphalt short tracks. For now, dirt-racing fans will have to settle for watching the Prelude. The star-studded event is for charity &mdash this year four military themed organizations benefit &mdash but the racing is real. NASCAR driver and SPEED channel broadcaster Kenny Wallace said it could be even better.
“Dirt racing is the most exciting form of racing in the United States. Asphalt, NASCAR, is a relatively boring sport,” Wallace said. “We all know that. But it’s such a popular sport because it’s on TV. If we could have all the races at Eldora like the Dream or the Kings Royal, if we could have them televised like we do NASCAR it would simply take over in a heartbeat as the most popular form of motorsports in the United States.