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.

Larson started the second segment in the lead, but just past the halfway point in the 50 lap segment, Austin Dillon took the lead for the first and last time. Dillon finished the middle part of the race up front and that’s where he started the last segment.

The last segment of the race wasn’t five laps in before the eagerness to get to the front caused a wreck. Going down the backstretch, Jared Landers spun out and down into Ty Dillon, sending Dillon into the wall. Johnny Sauter also had damage along with the second place driver in the standings, Jeb Burton.

Other than that wreck, it was a fairly clean night. There was some rubbing for positions, but as it turned out that was the only yellow-flag for a wreck.

A few debris cautions stacked up the field with 11 laps remaining and then with three, and the last caution set up a green-white-checkered finish. Letting the trucks loose with two laps remaining on dirt was a call for disaster, but disaster never struck. Austin Dillon pulled away while Larson was left with a windshield full of dust as Dillon crossed the line to make history.

Dillon did more than just win the race; he made history by winning NASCAR’s return to dirt. He’s likely the only driver to ever make that claim. Last time NASCAR was on dirt, Richard Petty won and his career turned out pretty well, so this win could be a sign of what’s to come for Dillon.

Results via ESPN.com