Allgaier, who was 15 when then-Eldora owner Earl Baltes put up dirt racing’s richest prize ever, takes on a line-up full of NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series drivers, as well as from IndyCar, the NHRA and the World of Outlaws sprints.
With considerable dirt late model experience, Allgaier is considered a driver to beat at the Prelude ... as long as the track doesn’t beat him first.
“You look down the front straightaway and think I have to drive into that corner wide open? That’s not happening. It’s a cool feeling for sure,” said Allgaier, who turns 26 today.
His first racing action at Eldora came as a 16-year-old in 2002. It’s uncertain if he drove faster on the speedway’s dirt or the highway’s asphalt in his effort to get to the speedway in time.
“I turned 16 the day before the Dirt Late Model Dream,” Allgaier said. “I had to wait at home to get my license and drive as hard as I could drive all the way to Eldora to race the Dream. I have some really fond memories of that place.”
Racing for charity
Feed the Children serves as the beneficiary of this year’s Prelude. The nonprofit organization based in Oklahoma City, according to its website, “delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters.”
Net proceeds from the Pay-Per-View broadcast will be donated to Feed The Children.
“That’s a great cause,” said Prelude driver Bobby Labonte. “In our county, there are a lot of kids that go home on the weekends and their parents can’t afford food. I think that’s definitely something we can do within our borders and that’s a good thing.”
For drivers finishing in the top 10, Feed the Children will send a loaded truck to their hometown or city of their choice.
For fans, those donating five cans or more of nonperishable food upon entry will receive a complimentary Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream poster.
Hot laps
Two sets of brothers will race in the Prelude: Austin and Ty Dillon and Kyle and Kurt Busch. “We haven’t talked about it much yet, but I’m sure the bets will be on as soon as we get there,” Austin said of racing against Ty. ... Tony Stewart, Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon, Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader are the only drivers to appear in every Prelude. ...The late models won’t be the only cars in action. The modifieds and stock cars that regularly run at Eldora will race as the undercard show. ... For the first time in Prelude history, the race will be 40 laps ( 10 more than previous years) and use double-file restarts.
He said it
“Just going to Eldora is a treat in itself. And then the racing on the dirt, pulling tear-offs, just hanging out with the fraternity of drivers, doing something like this is fun. But then, doing it for charity, making a difference, that’s what Tony Stewart’s always been about.” — Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch, who makes his second Prelude appearance and first since finishing 15th in 2006.
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