Sliding Into History: Austin Dillon Takes Eldora

Austin Dillon, driver of the #39 American Ethanol Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag from NASCAR official Kim Lopez after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013  Photo - Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Austin Dillon, driver of the #39 American Ethanol Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag from NASCAR official Kim Lopez after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013
Photo – Tom Pennington/Getty Images

“This is real racing…”

is how history-maker Austin Dillon described the inaugural MudSummer Classic in victory lane after the race. Dillon put on a show by leading just about the second part of the race. He held off many charges by Kyle Larson, but Larson couldn’t get to the front on the final restarts. Eldora’s first race was a spectacular one and NASCAR’s return to dirt was undoubtedly successful.

The oldest pole-sitter in NASCAR history, Ken Schrader at 58 years old, started the race on the pole and led until lap 16 with Timothy Peters taking the lead. Peters showed that dirt experience was not necessary to do well by leading 23 laps until Larson slid to the top spot. Continue reading

Jason’s Journey: Missing the Track

JasonJourneylogo400x300For the most part, the media workers within NASCAR get to travel to the track every weekend. They get to take in the sights, take in the views, and have the track feeling week after week. I have always wanted to travel the NASCAR circuit and something struck me after New Hampshire. I found myself disappointed that I wasn’t traveling to the next race when the weekend came around, and that proved to myself that traveling the circus show called NASCAR is something I could do.

After sitting home and reflecting on my weekend at New Hampshire, I thought about how everyone I met there would be going to the next track soon and that sadly, I would not be part of the entourage. I know that I could be doing that one day, but all I wanted at that moment was to do it now. Getting the chance to visit cities across the country every weekend seems like an awesome thing to do and it’s something I hope to do someday.

By traveling with the sport, I would be able to smell the rubber, fuel, and so much more, every week. Those aren’t just the smells of NASCAR; they’re the smells that inspire me to keep chasing my dream so I can come home to those smells at the race track every weekend.

What I really proved to myself after New Hampshire was that traveling the schedule is something I would want as part of my life. Since I desperately missed it after doing it once, I knew at that point, that doing it for about 36 weeks can be done and comfortable for me. That eagerness of being at the track will return in three short weeks when I go to Watkins Glen, but between now and then, all I want to do is be at my home away from home, the race track.

 

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NASCAR and NBC Sports Group Reach Landmark Media Rights Agreement

288331Ten-Year Agreement Returns NASCAR to NBC Family of Networks Beginning in 2015,

Further Underscores Strength of NASCAR’s Live Racing Product

And Positions Industry for Continued Growth

NASCAR and NBC Sports Group announced Tuesday, they have reached a comprehensive agreement that grants NBCUniversal exclusive rights to the final 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, final 19 NASCAR Nationwide Series events, select NASCAR Regional & Touring Series events and other live content beginning in 2015. Financial terms of the agreement, which runs through the 2024 season, were not disclosed.  Continue reading

MudSummer Classic at Eldora Preview

mudsummer2013_carcash_4c20copyIt is the most anticipated NASCAR race in years. The MudSummer Classic isn’t just another race; it’s a race that writes its own chapter in the history books. NASCAR’s return to dirt isn’t just a small thing, it’s a huge deal and that huge deal is arriving tonight.

On Wednesday Night, July 24, 2013 the Camping World Truck Series will take to Eldora Speedway for a night of trucks going all slideways across the track. The action starts at 8:00 PM EST with five heat races determining the field along with an extra last chance race, to decide the last four positions in the main event. The main event will consist of three segments with 60, 50, and 40 laps and 30 trucks will be in it altogether. Continue reading