Tony Stewart - Dirt Track Owner - A Different Hat

Here were a number of significant races during the early years of Eldora Speedway. For example, during the '60s, there were a number of ARCA races at the track, including two that were 500 laps in length. There were also some USAC races at the track when that organization was one of the major stock car sanctioning bodies.

But in the early '70s, Earl Baltes decided that he wanted to have a large stand-alone event on his own. Since open wheel and stock cars were popular at the track, Baltes had a tough choice to make.

"To make the final decision, I ended up flipping a coin and it came up stock cars," Baltes says.

In restrospect, Baltes has to be glad that stock cars won because the resulting race has become the biggest national Dirt Late Model event. He named it the World 100, and it was the first of the big-dollar events. And even today, it's still a career-maker and the race to win.

Former winner Mike Duvall says, "The best cars from all over the country are always there. I think Earl could pay $500 to win and everybody would still be there."

The first World was in 1971, and Earl paid $4,000 to win. Every year since, he's added a thousand dollars, making this year's event worth $40,000. The prestige of the event can be measured in two ways. First, there are the throngs of fans that make the scene every year, packing every viewing position in the place.

Next, there is the unbelievable car count, with a high of well over 200 racing machines. With that many cars battling to make the 24-car starting field (26 cars today), the odds of any particular racer starting the feature have been about 1 in 10.

Even superstars have to worry about making the race. And every year a number of the sport's big guns have to load up and go home.

The World 100 has been a showcase for many of the members of the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame. Some of those members include Donnie Moran, Scott Bloomquist, Pat Patrick, Charlie Swartz, Jeff Purvis, Larry Moore, Chub Frank, Charlie Hughes, Ed Sanger, Doug Kenimer, and Duvall.

With the fastest cars inverted for the heat races, you better believe that there is furious racing as those quicker cars try to get up to the front. In fact, many think the heats are more exciting than the feature itself.

So if you are a Dirt Late Model fan, this is the event to mark on your calendar. It's something that you will never forget. By the way, it's always held the second weekend in September, this year September 7-8. It's the biggest event at Eldora, crowd-wise, with the track's campgrounds taking on the look of a small town.

With the World 100 having so much prestige, Baltes decided he needed another big-time event. It was called The Dream, and the first race took place in 1994, paying $100,000 to win, which was huge money for the time period.

Getting much of the excitement from the World, that first event drew an unbelievable 234 entries. The Dream continues to be one of the preeminent events today, with this year's show taking place June 8 and 9. It's still not too late to get over there and see it. Like the World 100, The Dream attracts a majority of the heavy hitters.

Eldora is right in the middle of UMP (United Midwest Promoters) country, an organization that sanctions a huge number of races at dozens of tracks in mid-America.

Baltes decided in 2001 to end the UMP season at Eldora with a big event, hosting UMP Dirt Late Models and Modifieds. In 2006, the event attracted a stellar field of over 200 entries from both classes.

Stewart will continue this gathering, as he's doing with all the classic stock car events at the track. This year's UMP weekend will take place on October 5 and 6.

Even though Stewart has only been in charge since the '05 season, he already has established a classic race of his own: The Prelude, which was first held during his inaugural year as owner.

The Prelude is held on the Wednesday before the Dream race and brings Stewart's NASCAR environment to the venerable dirt track. The exhibition brings in a number of Nextel Cup drivers, some with and some without dirt stock car experience, and puts them all in Dirt Late Models for an actual race.

The cast of characters has been impressive through the event's two years. This year, the third annual Prelude will be staged on June 6.

Here are some of the drivers who showed up for the first two Nextel Preludes: Bobby Labonte, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Dave Blaney, Ken Schrader, Kyle Petty, Kevin Harvick, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, and the ageless Red Farmer. Of course, Stewart is out there competing as well.

Most of the guest drivers drive borrowed cars. And a number of the owners of those cars detailed them in the drivers' NASCAR color schemes. -B.H.