Gearing Up for Eldora

The Truck Series will be hitting the dirt later this month in likely the most anticipated truck race in their history. Racing on dirt hasn’t been done in NASCAR since 1970, making this race even more special. Dirt racing experts along with many current Nationwide and Cup Series drivers have expressed interest in the event so the field will surely be stacked. With the race approaching, fans have been wondering what’s going to be happen on race night? Well, I lay out all the detail we know as of now below.

Who’s Racing, Who’s Not

Some of the notable drivers (non Truck regulars) who officially will be in the race include Austin Dillon (RCR), Ryan Newman (TSM), and Dave Blaney (BKR). Those guys have dirt experience and know that this event will be a never-seen-before show so they want in and hope to be going after the checkered flag.

Despite wanting to race, there are a few drivers who have said no to Eldora. Those drivers include Kenny Wallace, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch. The thought of competing had to cross those drivers’ minds, but they either couldn’t find a ride or didn’t want to pay their way into the race.

The Format

When the Trucks hit the track for the race, it won’t be your typical 150 lap event. A dirt-track racing format will be in place to truly make this feel like your local Friday Night dirt track race. To determine the field, heat races will be run to see who will be slinging dirt under the lights. The top-20 trucks in owner points will be locked in and four of those trucks will be placed in each heat race. Five trucks will advance from each heat race to race the main event and in the last chance race, the top four trucks will move on to the feature race along with a past champion or the fifth place finisher in the last chance race.

-Regular qualifying session to determine the lineups for the heat races

-Five Qualifying Races (Heat Races) (Eight green-flag laps)

-A last chance race to make the main event (15 Laps, Top 4 advance)

-150 Lap Feature Event, 3 Segments of 60, 50, and 40 laps (30 Trucks)

Those details above outline the race and what will be happening during the event. For being an inaugural race, some things may not work out as planned, but overall, if it’s successful, it’ll return next year with probably even more drivers coming in. The Mudsummer Classic is right around corner and the dirt at Eldora is patiently waiting for the arrival of NASCAR. It’ll be one wild, muddy, and crazy event on Wednesday Night July 24, but it will be one that fans will be talking about more than any race this season.