ROSSBURG, Ohio (April 25) — Eldora Speedway officials announced today a restructured race format and increase in prize money for the $100,000-to-win Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers on Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9.
With the support of the Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group and its Ferris brand, the commercial mower industry leader, comes a new level of excitement for the marquee event; including posted awards of nearly $210,000 and an exciting enhancement to the already competitive race format.
At $100,000-to-win, the 18th annual event still remains the richest payday of the year and a lofty goal for dirt Late Model racers nationwide. Now, through the Ferris partnership, over one-half of the starting field in the 100-lap main event will see an increase in prize money, including a hefty $1,750 for 24th position.
However, while the longtime Eldora staple of Friday night time trials, the Saturday 100-lap chase and the $100,000 paycheck remain constant, the pursuit towards that rewarding payday will take on a decidedly different look in 2012.
Friday night’s (June 8) time trial runs will now lock just 60 entrants into Saturday’s traditional 15-lap heat races, with the balance of those 20-car line-ups to be determined by the results of the newly designed Friday night qualifying features.
Each qualifying feature will pay $1,000-to-win and will carry full United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) DIRTcar points; one of the many opportunities throughout the weekend that entered drivers will be able to add tallies towards their 2012 UMP DIRTcar cumulative points chase.
The excitement and drama carries over to Saturday’s time honored heat races, with inversion of the heats to be determined via the fan favorite ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ by Friday’s quickest driver.
Three drivers will advance into the Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers from each of the heats. Finishers 4-6 will go into the B-Feature, while heat race finishers 7-10 will be lined up into the C-Feature, with both events having advancing rights, increased purses plus yet another new innovation.
At the end of the advertised distance for the C-Feature, the top-six finishers will have earned starting slots into the B-Feature and retire to the pit area to prep. Cars not making that cut will remain on the racing surface and run a five-lap scramble for $1,000-to-win and full UMP DIRTcar points. That same concept will hold true for the B-Feature which serves as the final opportunity for six drivers to to earn a spot in the Dream line-up before another five-lap scramble also paying $1,000-to-win and full UMP DIRTcar points.
Tickets and campsites for the Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers, the Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream two nights prior (June 6) and other Eldora Speedway events are available by calling the track office (937) 338-3815 or online 24 hours a day at www.EldoraSpeedway.com.
