Nascar announces Eldora Truck race format

[Trash Inturn4]

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NASCAR announces Eldora race format: NASCAR announced today the qualifying and race procedures for the inaugural "Mudsummer Classic" the highly anticipated Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday, July 24. Unlike asphalt tracks, dirt tracks have historically used a format much different than typical races and that will be the case for this event, the first NASCAR national series race held on dirt in more than 40 years. The race will feature a traditional two-lap qualifying session, five qualifying races, one last-chance race and a champion's provisional to determine the 30-truck starting field. The top-20 in owners' points entering the race event will have a guaranteed starting position. Here are additional details for each round of qualifying: Two-lap qualifying determines starting position for the qualifying races. Qualifying Races: Five qualifying races; Eight laps each; only green flag laps count; Five trucks transfer from each qualifying race; Lineup for the qualifying races will be based on qualifying speeds with four locked-in trucks (trucks in the top 20); The top-five trucks in qualifying will start on the pole for their respective qualifying race; Highest finishing non-locked-in truck will transfer to race from each qualifying race; At the completion of the qualifying races, 25 trucks will have earned spots into the feature. Last Chance Race: 15 laps; only green flag laps count; The top-four finishers will transfer to the feature and start in positions 26-29; The lineup will be based on the finish from the qualifying races. Starting position No. 30 will go to the most recent past series' champion who has not already qualified. If the 30th starting position is not filled by an eligible champion, it will be assigned to the next highest finishing truck in the Last Chance Race. The race length and format are also new for the series. The race will be 150 laps divided into three segments. The segments will be 60, 50 and 40 laps. There will be pit stops between each segment, with teams having the opportunity to change tires and work on their trucks. More details on the event schedule will be released later this spring. The "Mudsummer Classic" will be the first NASCAR national touring series event held on dirt since NASCAR's premiere series competed on September 30, 1970 in Raleigh, N.C. Richard Petty won the Home State 200 at the one-mile State Fairgrounds Speedway.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(4-9-2013)

[zerofor]

Yeeeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaaaw!!!!!!!!!

It sounds like it's time to watch the truck guys do it in the dirt.I love everything about that format EXCEPT all the breaks in the feature race.Feels like that was wrote in to appease the big money teams who were scared an outside invader with more dirt experience could leave them all laps down if they encountered problems along the way.Wish they would have run the feature straight through.

[Jimmy McKinley]

As of today, Bloomquist is the only dirt guy I know that's entered (can't recall who he's gonna be driving for, though).

Kyle Busch usually does pretty good there in the Late Model (Prelude). Since it's a Wednesday night show, he might make an appearance.

[andre]

Bloomquist will be driving a Kyle Bush Motorsports truck.

[Frasson118]

This could be VERY cool as far as the talent that could be there.

Bloomquist is THE master of his Dirt LM background.
Tony Stewart OWNS the place, and you know he will get around there as good as anyone.
Somebody WILL be smart enough to put Kyle Larson in their truck.
As Stewarts teammate, don't be surprised to see Ryan Newman in something. He has a dirt background, and a lot of successful laps around Eldora.
Kyle Busch NEVER seems to back down from a brand new challenge. I believe he finished 2nd in his first Prelude race, his first EVER on dirt.
On an outside-of-the-box thought..... Adrian Carriers already has a Truck, and their driver, our own Jeff Choquette was an EXCELLENT dirt racer before switching to asphalt..... and he's accomplished a bunch there too.

The possibilities are endless..... most won't come to be. But I'm sure it will be interesting, it will gain a TON of attention, and maybe open the doors to a whole new thinking at the top levels of racing. Face it, NASCAR in general NEEDS some new blood and excitement.

I hope for HUGE success for this event..... which is already sold-out by the way. When's the last time ANY NASCAR race sold out this early?

[egspeedway]

This could be a huge step forward for NASCAR. The paved tracks shorter than one mile could easily employ the same or similar format. Having been around short tracks all my life as fan and car owner I much prefer a this format as you seldom have time to get bored. It could even lead to shorter sprint type features which would (God forbid) reduce the cost of racing. The TV guys would still get all the add time due to the break between each heat and there will be more real racing meaning more yellows. You won't have long green flag runs while they plan strategy or hunt for dance partners. In short I can only envision good coming out of this.

[Matt Albee]

Now that's a pretty sad statistic, no NASCAR Touring Series has run on dirt since 1970. Dirt tracks were a regular part of every NASVCAR championship UNTIL 1970. ARCA manages to fit a couple of dirt track races into it's championship schedule every year. A couple of dirt track races would be just the thing to spice up the current Cup series. Eldora could be one, ( Tony would increase the seating capacity for a Cup race i'm sure ) and maybe a big track like Springfield. Better yet, Bruton could lay down dirt again at Bristol once a year for the second Cup dirt race. Put one of the dirt races in the last ten, that would make for an interesting championship.

[egspeedway]

Now that's a pretty sad statistic, no NASCAR Touring Series has run on dirt since 1970. Dirt tracks were a regular part of every NASVCAR championship UNTIL 1970. ARCA manages to fit a couple of dirt track races into it's championship schedule every year. A couple of dirt track races would be just the thing to spice up the current Cup series. Eldora could be one, ( Tony would increase the seating capacity for a Cup race i'm sure ) and maybe a big track like Springfield. Better yet, Bruton could lay down dirt again at Bristol once a year for the second Cup dirt race. Put one of the dirt races in the last ten, that would make for an interesting championship.

While dirt is a desirable change to the format I feel they also need to go with the heat race consy and a shorter feature. The traditional Saturday night format is much more dramatic than simply watching a bunch of laps run. I have never fallen asleep at the track and I can't stay awake watching 400/500 laps or miles.