Rossburg,OH — When the United States Census Bureau released its latest data in 2000, Rossburg, Ohio was reported to have a population of just 224 citizens.
Embedded in a rural area amongst country roads with little atlas mention, the nearest place to catch a commercial airline flight is 50 miles to the south in Dayton, Ohio. The nearest Burger King is 16 miles away in Greenville, Ohio.
Put more simply, NASCAR.com senior writer Joe Menzer once wrote, “To get to Rossburg, site of Eldora Speedway, go to the sticks and then go seven more sticks.”
So, despite being in the middle of nowhere, countless race fans throughout the past 50 years have come to know exactly where Rossburg is and all the back roads that will ultimately get you to the world-famous Eldora Speedway.
Because of that, Rossburg’s population will swell nearly 100 times over on Wednesday, June 3 (a midweek date, no less), when race fans from all over the United States will flock to the half-mile dirt oval for the Fifth Annual Prelude to the Dream.
The Prelude to the Dream, which drew more than 23,000 people to Eldora in 2008, is an all-star dirt Late Model race featuring 25 world renowned drivers battling for dirt supremacy which is also broadcast live to the entire nation on HBO Pay-Per-View.
The fifth annual event will feature such racing icons as Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer and more. All will pilot 2,300-pound dirt Late Model stock cars capable of putting out over 800 horsepower.
To date, ticket orders for the Prelude to the Dream have been filled from 47 states, two Canadian provinces and from as far away as Australia. With the event just one month away, Eldora owner and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart would love to see that statistic swell to include all 50 states.
“I’m amazed, but not at all surprised that we’ve got fans coming from 47 of the 50 states,” said Stewart, who is a two-time and reigning winner of the Prelude to the Dream. “The only states we are missing are Alaska, Hawaii and Wyoming and I’d love for someone from each of those three states to come to Eldora for the Prelude so we can hit the magic number of 50.”
For those who want to see the Prelude to the Dream in person, especially from the aforementioned three states, tickets are available online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. That said, interested fans better act fast as the race has sold out in each of its four previous years.
If fans wait too long and find that the event is sold out, the live, commercial-free broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT), with an immediate replay following at midnight (EDT) and 9 p.m. (PDT). HBO Pay-Per-View’s racing telecast has a suggested retail price of $24.95 and is available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming in the pay-per-view industry. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at www.hbo.com.
Unlike past years, there will be no replay on cable television later in the summer, so your only chance to see the biggest race of the summer is either in person or on HBO Pay Per View on June 3.
