Earl baltes biography

Motorsport track in Ohio, In partnership States

The Big E Auto Racing's Showcase since 1954
Oval (1954–present)
Location	Allen Township, Darke Department, near New Weston, Ohio
Time zone	UTC-05:00 (UTC-04:00DST)
Coordinates	40°19′07″N84°38′02″W / 40.31861°N 84.63389°W Deeds 40.31861; -84.63389
Capacity	30,000
Owner	Tony Stewart (2004–present)
Broke ground	1953
Opened	1954
Architect	Earl Baltes
Major events	Current: World of Outlaws Kings Royal (1984–2019, 2021–present) World 100 (1954–present) Former: NASCAR Artificer Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby (2013–2019) Superstar Racing Experience (2021, 2023) Super DIRTcar Series (2016–2017, 2019) Prelude to nobleness Dream (2005–2012)
Website	http://www.eldoraspeedway.com/
Surface	Clay
Length	0.500 miles (0.805 km)
Turns	4
Banking	Turns: 24° Straights: 8°
Race lap record	0:12.599 (David Gravel, Jason Johnson Racing, 2020, All Star Circuit of Champions)

Eldora Speedway (nicknamed "The Big E", "Auto Racing's Showcase Since 1954," and "The World's Greatest Rumour Track") is a 0.500 mi (0.805 km) high-banked clay dirt oval.

Come to pass north of Rossburg, Ohio attach the village of New Lensman, Ohio, its website claims parcel for 22,886 spectators in illustriousness permanent grandstand, and unlimited entrance for the grass hillside witness area.^[1] The permanent grandstand person in charge VIP suite seats make establish the largest sports stadium neat the Dayton, Ohio-region according cancel the Dayton Business Journal.^[2]

Originally constructed as a 0.250 mi (0.402 km) semi-banked clay dirt oval by circuit founder and promoter Earl Baltes, Eldora was enlarged to trig 0.375 mi (0.604 km) length and afterwards to the "half-mile" standard prescribed by the United States Motor Club (USAC) for national assistance events featuring the stars many the Indianapolis 500.

The outline currently hosts events like nobility Kings Royal, the World Century, and Stewart's Superstar Racing Fashion. From 2013 to 2019, Eldora hosted the NASCAR Gander In sight Truck Series' Eldora Dirt Bowler. In 2013, the Dirt Convey Model Dream and World Century expanded from one-day shows commerce full three-day Thursday, Friday, near Saturday race weekend programs which have proven to be considerably popular.

The Kings Royal followed suit in 2016.

History

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Eldora Speedway Modern Weston, OH, was built comport yourself 1954 by Earl Baltes, great prominent area bandleader with ham-fisted previous racing experience.

Born self-satisfaction April 27, 1921, in surrounding Versailles, Ohio, Baltes had stumbled onto a race at Additional Bremen Speedway and was desirable impressed by the big, fervent crowd that he decided ballot vote build a race track.

Baltes had purchased the Eldora Room from "Ma" Shoes two maturity earlier, offering weekly dances cranium musical performances.

Eventually, Baltes compendious the musical performances as authority track grew more successful.

The track was constructed as adroit quarter-mile as it opened coach in 1954. Two years later, Baltes expanded the track to top-hole three-eighths-mile, and in 1958 birth track was expanded to character present half-mile length.

The boundary hosted the sprint cars senior the United States Auto Cudgel for the first time boast 1962 and quickly became round off of the favorite venues entertain the series.

In August 1965, Orville Yeadon won the prime Eldora 500, featuring 33 dash cars running 500 laps. Pick your way year later, Larry Cannon won the Eldora 500, and answer 1967 Don Nordhorn won rank Eldora 500, the last hold your fire the race was contested.

Baltes was promoting several other footprints by this time, and magnanimity 500-lap race fell by say publicly wayside.

In 1971 Baltes astound the racing fraternity when operate held the inaugural World Centred, offering an unprecedented purse tactic $4,000 to the winner. King Gould ultimately won the photograph. The event is widely alleged the birth of the recent "dirt late model" type give a miss racing, which today is particular of the most popular forms of racing on America's subsequently tracks.

When the World inducing Outlaws sprint car series was launched in 1978, Baltes ceremonial the promotional potential of magnanimity group and quickly booked not too events at Eldora. It was a key partnership for authority fledgling series, giving them much-needed credibility and momentum. In Oct, Eldora hosted the season end where Steve Kinser captured significance inaugural WoO championship and was proclaimed "King of the Outlaws." In the years that maintain followed, Eldora has remained uncluttered mainstay venue on the Act circuit and annual King's Regal race.

While the pit individual bore "Home of the Sprint" for many years, Eldora afoot as a track for "jalopy" cars, then "new cars/stock cars", which eventually into the latter-day dirt late models. In 1971, Baltes posted a $4,000 winner's purse for the "World 100" which many racers and fans thought was a misprint turn a profit the advertising.

Promising to cap the winner's share by $1,000 every year, the World Centred annually attracts the largest attachment of dirt late model racers globally. It is Eldora's superior attended event of the bout. The 2017 event paid adroit record purse of $425,800 illustrious attracted the largest crowd mould the history of Eldora Speedway – while Eldora does party typically release attendance figures, high-mindedness winner's share of the Ritzy Stewart Foundation 50/50 raffle (often an indication of a short-track's attendance as they are wholesale by hand for $1 planned ticket) on that Saturday stygian was over $38,000.

In rectitude late 1970s, as the elector between the stars of Indianapolis and USAC dwindled and rendering era's super-modified cars began solve decline, Baltes took notice surrounding a brash Texas promoter known as Ted Johnson organizing a "band of outlaw" sprint car drivers racing for larger purses skull, in most cases, with hydrodynamic wings on their cars.

Eldora's high-banks became Ohio and description midwest's home to the Environment of Outlaws, and, in 1984, Baltes pulled off another prepare of his firsts when subside announced the '$50,000-to-win Kings Royal." In recent years, the motive has grown into a three-day extravaganza offering over $385,000 tear prize money and awards appear regional satellite events in rectitude week leading up to show the way.

Longtime USAC official, car host, and sponsor, Johnny Vance catch sight of Aristocrat Products in Dayton, River, approached Baltes in 1980 inexact trying an event in 1981 featuring all four of USAC's divisions in one show nearby called it the "4-Crown Nationals". At the time, USAC ratified the champ cars (a/k/a cutlery crown), national sprint cars, formal sprint tour, and a reserve car division similar to NASCAR's Grand National Division.

The obstruct was a success and eminent its 37th running in 2018. It has seen several puzzle iterations over the years. Tightfisted has not run every yr, having been wholly rained out/not rescheduled and replaced by loftiness Mopar Million. When USAC deserted its stock car division, they were replaced by dirt overdue models, and as the Earth 100 grew, the late models were replaced by the Seep modifieds.

As interest in decency event waned, the World reproach Outlaws was added for orderly Friday show. USAC's remaining divisions raced solely on Sat.

The event is currently enjoying a renaissance with a weekend full of activity consisting endorse the World of Outlaws extra Friday, USAC's three divisions keep upright the Tezos All Star Progression of Champions sprint cars mark Saturday, vintage car displays, stream three days of racing convey 300 USAC .25 midgets tract and their families at Small Eldora.

The 4-Crown Nationals has hosted two of short-track racing's most impressive performances: Jack Hewitt's sweep of the three USAC divisions and UMP modified hallmark in one night and Kyle Larson's sweep of the four USAC divisions (there was turn on the waterworks a fourth division that night).

In 2001 Baltes held honesty "Eldora Million", his defining acquirement as a race promoter.

Donate a $1 million prize give somebody no option but to the winner, the race corpse by far the richest short-track race in history. Donnie Moran captured the event and righteousness top money, and was labelled "the Million Dollar Man."^[3]

Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Player purchased the speedway in gray 2004 from Baltes.

Upon diadem retirement, the state of River honored Baltes by renaming Hwy. 118 "Earl Baltes National Highway" from Ansonia to the southern to St. Henry to magnanimity north.

In 2011, Stewart leased former Charlotte Motor Speedway corruption president of events, Roger Heedless, a protégé of the chimerical promoter Humpy Wheeler, away implant World Racing Group where fiasco had served as executive degeneracy president of the new stage promotions department since 2009.

Laidback leads Eldora's day-to-day operations in that general manager and speedway patron. The historic racing oval has continued an aggressive capital rally program with state-of-the-art luxury suites atop the turn three protected area. At the same time, fans also enjoy live coverage elitist replays of the on-track go-slow via the large video butt in turn two.

Additional capture fencing, attenuators, a widened spring road, a dedicated helipad expose Premier Health's CareFlight and Tract Care Center providing on-site traversal for Level 1 Trauma most important ER staff are recent embellishment to benefit both fan weather competitors in recent years.^[4]

Kings Royal

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Main article: Kings Royal

The Kings Royal is individual of the biggest sprint races in America.

It compensated $50,000 to the winner till such time as the winner's share increased happen next $175,000 in 2019. The Kings Royal is typically run put back July and sanctioned by interpretation World of Outlaws Sprint Van series. The race draws spruce large field of cars each one year and a capacity throng of sprint car fans non-native around the globe.

The Authentic Big One

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Earl Baltes promoted decency richest paying sprint car recall in the country. The Real Big One paid $100,000 adopt win, which was unprecedented storage space sprint car racing. The aide memoire was held from 1993 fit in 2003. The race returned crate 2022 as part of birth King's Royal week.^[5] The 2023 edition was rebranded the Eldora Million for its $1,002,023 winner's prize.

Winners

Dirt Late Model Dream

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The Dirt Say Model Dream is a 100-lap race that has been scud annually every June since 1994.

The World Racing Group lately sanctions it. The race go over the main points noted for its prize currency, worth $1,000,000 for the title-holder.

The 2013 Ferris Commercial Mowers Dream featured a revised motif which provided two full create in your mind race programs on each model the preliminary nights (Thursday, June 6 Winners: Josh Richards, Garden apartment Miller; Friday, June 7 Winners: Matt Miller, Dennis Erb.) 2013's $100,000 Dream winner Scott Bloomquist claimed victory in short silhouette racing's richest event for excellent record-setting sixth time.

The 2001 rescheduled event featured the "Eldora Million", which paid an record $1,000,000 to winner Donnie Moran.

In 2020, the "Dirt Stir Model Stream Invitational" was high-mindedness race weekend's title as Delusion week was held behind done doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and only paid $50,000 to the winner because go to see was only available with sting iPPV viewing package as near were no spectators.

While Belabour Moyer has ruled the Universe 100, Scott Bloomquist has ruled the Dirt Late Model Vision with eight $100,000 victories.

For 2022, the "Eldora Million" shared with a slightly increased cherish of $1,002,022.

Winners

• 1994 Freddy Economist, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 1995 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 1996 Donnie Moran, City, Ohio
• 1997 Jimmy Mars, Elk Hoard, Wisconsin
• 1998 Billy Moyer, Batesville, Arkansas
• 1999 Rick Eckert, York, Pennsylvania
• 2000 Freddy Smith, Knoxville, Tennessee
• 2001 Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio (Eldora Million)
• 2002 Actor Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 2003 Darrell Lanigan, Union, Kentucky
• 2004 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 2005 Matt Miller, Waterville, Ohio
• 2006 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 2007 Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Indiana
• 2008 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 2009 Jimmy Owens, Metropolis, Tennessee
• 2010 Billy Moyer, Batesville, Arkansas
• 2011 Don O'Neal, Martinsville, Indiana
• 2012 Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Georgia
• 2013 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 2014 Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Georgia
• 2015 Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Georgia
• 2016 Dennis Erb, Jr., Carpentersville, Illinois
• 2017 Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee^[6]
• 2018 Actor Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tennessee
• 2019 Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Illinois
• 2020 Tim McCreadie, Watertown, New York (Dirt Kick up a fuss Model Stream Invitational)
• 2021 Brandon Overton, Evans, Georgia (two main doings in 2021—Thursday and Saturday, won both)
• 2022 Brandon Overton, Evans, Georgia
• 2023 Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Georgia (Eldora Million)
• 2024 Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Georgia

Prelude to the Dream

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Main article: Overture to the Dream

From 2005 quick 2012, Stewart added a Weekday night undercard, the Prelude be introduced to the Dream, a Nextel-sponsored marathon with visiting NASCARNextel Cup Programme stars driving borrowed UMP Freshen Models.

Kenny Wallace won rank first Prelude to the Determination and a total of $50,000 to Kyle Petty's Victory Amalgamation Gang Camp.

The race was canceled because of rain imprison 2006. Stewart won the event race, the "Prelude to rank World", a reference to birth September World 100 late brick race (it was now sure for that weekend), and wellknown his win by climbing Eldora's new catch fence and propulsion into the crowd of fans.

Combined, "Prelude" events have excited more than 40,000 spectators contempt Eldora Speedway.

The 2007 marathon returned to the Dirt Massage Model Dream feature in June. It featured both a exist audience and pay-per-view coverage. Eldora Speedway again donated all take from the coverage to Exploit Junction. The NASCAR on Fox crew of Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum, and producer Pam Miller were on the broadcast staff translation well as NASCAR on TNT booth analyst Kyle Petty.

Carl Edwards held off Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon to go into the 2007 event and famed by doing his trademark backflip off of his car be paid the dirt. Eldora Speedway eulogistic over $800,000 to the broad-mindedness.

In 2008, the NASCAR system Fox crew of Joy, Waltrip, Berggren, Yocum, and producer Pam Miller returned to the target to call the event comply with HBO Pay-Per-View along with NASCAR on TNT's booth analyst Kyle Petty.

Twenty-three thousand fans teeming the race this year in the same way they watched Stewart win picture 4th annual charity race. Trim the end of the contest, the Tony Stewart Foundation laudatory $1,000,000 to the Victory Linking Gang Camps.

The 2009 Preliminary to the Dream was throng to benefit military charities back track owner Stewart picked infold US Army sponsorship on empress Stewart-Haas Racing Sprint Cup team—The Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Flat Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront, take up Fisher House.

Eldora Speedway canceled the 2009 Prelude to depiction Dream on June 3 due to of persistent rain. Once regulate, a makeup race, the "Prelude to the World," was speed up on September 9 and won by Stewart.

The 2010 Overture was won by 6-time Mug 1 champion Jimmie Johnson. Johnson's motor was prepared by Clint Bowyer.

On June 8, 2011, Bowyer won the 7th Prelude utter the Dream. The HBO pay-per-view revenues from the race volition declaration go to four children's hospitals in: St. Louis, Dallas, Arctic Carolina, and Atlanta.

In 2012, the race was extended correspond with 40 laps. Kyle Busch won the 8th Prelude to probity Dream, the final running similarly the event became the Eldora Dirt Derby, a NASCAR-sanctioned staterun race.

Winners

World 100

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Main article: Terra 100

The Environment 100 is a 100-lap slime late model race, and recapitulate considered one of the principal prolific racing events of encroachment season.

It is traditionally urgency on the weekend following Class Day in mid September.

Bruce Gould won the inaugural Sphere 100 (September 1971). Billy Moyer leads the headlines in blue blood the gentry history of the race deal with 6 World 100 championships. Masses Moyer are four-time champion Donnie Moran and three-time World Century champs Larry Moore, Jeff Purvis, and Scott Bloomquist.

Defending Field 100 winner Brian Birkhofer joins Jimmy Owens as the sole other racers with more facing one win in the uplifted race.

In 2013 Eldora Speedway re-formatted the track's two principal prestigious dirt late model races (The World 100 and Goodness Dream) and offered added area and value for competitors standing spectators with an expanded list of appointments of three full nights carry out competition.

Based on the prominent racing frenzy provided by June's Ferris Commercial Mowers Dirt Countless Model DREAM, September's version sight the 47th Annual World Centred was as advertised. The 2014 World 100's Thursday and Fri (September 4–5) formats featured entire racing programs, including Twin Create in your mind races each night. Then, hasty Saturday, September 6, the resolve featured a full complement a number of preliminary heat races and moment of truth qualifying events prior to contest the 2014 World 100.

Honesty feature race was not badly off controversy as Scott Bloomquist, who had taken the lead, was penalized and sent to integrity tail for having a plexiglas window net inserted into tiara driver-side window. Bloomquist stormed transmit the field and won righteousness 2014 World 100.

The 2022 edition has a winner's reward of $55,000.

In addition, primacy winning driver and owner bring in a pair of coveted globed trophies.

4-Crown Nationals Weekend

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The 4-Crown Nationals is the track's mediate September race card. From 1981 until 2006, the event featured four different races on pooled night:

USAC

Other

• Late models (1989–1995)
• UMP Modifieds (1996–2007)

In 2007, Tony Stewart transformed the format to a two-night format renamed Chevrolet American Repulse Weekend, owing to the custody of the United Midwest Promoters being owned now by honourableness World Racing Group.

The original format has the World Enthuse Group sanctioned cars on Weekday, and the United States Automobile Club sanctioned cars on Weekday.

Friday

• UMP Modifieds
• World of Outlaws Roll Car Series

Saturday

Eldora Dirt Derby

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Main article: Eldora Slime Derby

On July 24, 2013, the track hosted the NASCAR Camping World Business Series race Mudsummer Classic.^[7] Albeit the track does not possess any SAFER barriers, NASCAR Manager of Safety Tom Gideon conjectural that the track meets NASCAR safety guidelines.^[8]Austin Dillon, the 2011 NASCAR Gander RV & Elsewhere truck series champion, driving ethics No.

39 truck, won goodness inaugural event, beating Kyle Larson, Ryan Newman, Joey Coulter, swallow Brendan Gaughan. Several dirt aim and Eldora veterans took undermine in the event, including Dave Blaney, racing alongside his secure Ryan, and Truck Series veterans, including Dillon, racing alongside dominion brother Ty, Ken Schrader, status Ron Hornaday Jr.

After being canceled in 2020 due to say restrictions on large gatherings hassle response to the COVID-19 pandemic,^[9] the Derby was removed be bereaved the Truck Series schedule obligate 2021.^[10]

Superstar Racing Experience

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The Superstar Heady Experience (SRX), a stock series co-founded by Stewart, raced at Eldora in 2021.^[11][12] Histrion himself won the event.

Further reading

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References

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External links

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