By: Ron Burt
History was made this month at Eldora Speedway. It was Kings Royal week with all the top sprint car drivers invading the ½ mile racing shrine. For the first time a winning sprint car driver won $1,002,023.00. The Eldora Million for sprint cars was the 2nd highest paying event in motor sports this year, just behind the Indy 500. It made me wonder why local media wasn’t covering it, since it received so much national attention.
83 cars showed up Wednesday night for qualifying. The cars were split into 2 groups with separate 25 lap features. Brad Sweet and Rico Abreu each won the two Twin 25-lap main events on Wednesday night and both pocketed $12,000 for their efforts. Carson Macedo was the top point man, earning him the pole of Heat 1 on Thursday for the Eldora Million.
The first heat race of the Eldora Million set the tone, it was every driver for himself as drivers made moves on the track they normally wouldn’t after all it was a million dollars on the line. In the first heat race there were lots of wrecks, cautions, and red flags. The remaining 5 heat races were competitive and didn’t take as long. Because of the high car count after the heat races there were two C features, a B feature, and the 50-lap main. When the dust cleared Logan Schuchart became racing’s newest millionaire. Finishing 2nd Carson Macedo, and 3rd Brad Sweet. The 50/50 jackpot for the winning ticket holder was $100,000.00.
Friday is always The Knight Before (The Kings Royal). Carson Macedo took the checked flag and $20,000.00. Brad Sweet was 2nd and Giovanni Scelzi 3rd.
The 40th Kings Royal didn’t disappoint. The biggest crowd in the track’s history showed up. Donny Schatz’ led the A Main wire to wire. The 46-year-old 10-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car champion put together a perfect race and won the Kings Royal for the sixth time in his illustrious career. He’s now only a single Crown away from matching “The King” himself, Steve Kinser’s record. The win earned him $175,000.00. Brent Marks and David Gravel finished behind the winner. The winning 50/50 ticket was worth $84,951.00.
At Anderson Speedway, Canadian driver, Cole Butcher won the 57th Annual Greg Hubler Automotive Group Redbud 400. This was an ASA race.
Oakshade Raceway had their Annual Birthday Race which is part of the DIRTcar Summer National Hell Tour. Georgia driver Ashton Winger took home the $10,000 check after claiming his second Oakshade Birthday Race win in three years. Colin Shipley finished 2nd, and Brian Ruhlman was 3rd. The win was the sixth this season on the Summer Nationals tour for Winger. Winger only needed to show up to the final race the following day at Wayne County Speedway to claim the five-week tour championship. The Summit Modified Nationals feature was won by Dalton Lane. He led all 20 laps to score his first-ever win at Oakshade and his first win with the Summer National tour. Kevin Reeve was 2nd followed by Garrett Rons.
This week starts Indiana Sprint Week for USAC, with the first two events at Gas City I-69 Speedway and Kokomo Speedway. Until next week, keep your wheels down, Ron out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
