Eldora Speedway
Fast Facts: Eldora Million and Dream XXVIII
By Robert Holman
DirtonDirt.com weekend editorDates: June 8-11 (Twin $12,000-to-win features Wednesday and Friday; heats, consolations and a $1,002,022-to-win main event Thursday; heats, consolations and $128,000-to-win main event Saturday).
Track: Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (high-banked half-mile clay oval).
Purse: Total purse of $1,907,950 includes Thursday’s $1,002,022-to-win, 101-lap feature with at least $5,022 to all 24 starters and Saturday’s $128,000-to-win, 100-lap feature with at least $5,028 to all 24 starters.
Sanction: DIRTcar (non-touring points)
Previous winners: Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, won the first Eldora Million on June 9, 2001; Brandon Overton of Evans, Ga., swept last year’s back-to-back Dreams.
Tickets: Wednesday and Friday general admission $34 (13-and-under free); Thursday general admission $74 (13-and-under free); Saturday general admission $45 (13-and-under free). Add $5 for adult reserved seats; Add $19 for reserved seat for ages 13-and-under.
Pit pass options: Four-day (Wednesday-Saturday) $220; Three-day (Thursday-Saturday) $180; Two-day (Friday-Saturday) $95; Wednesday only $40, Thursday only $90, Friday only $40, Saturday only $60.
On the web: eldoraspeedway.com
Track phone: (937) 338-3815
Live streaming: FloRacing with multiple announcers, multiple cameras, on-screen race lineups and a live timing and scoring feed.
Notes: With the success of hosting a pair of Dreams in the same week last season (the 2020 edition was pushed to 2021 by pandemic restrictions) and the desire to bring back the historic Eldora Million, Eldora Speedway officials scheduled another double weekend this season. … The second-ever Eldora Million and Dream XXVIII will be two separate programs with prelims and a $1,002,022-to-win, 101-lap main event on Wednesday-Thursday, followed by a new show including prelims and a $128,000-to-win, 100-lap feature on Friday-Saturday. … All four nights will be streamed live on FloRacing. … It’s the sport’s most lucrative weekend ever, topping the 2001 Eldora Million. … Eldora’s posted $1,907,950 in prize money over the four days of competition includes winnings from Thursday’s and Saturday’s 100-lap finales, two preliminary features each on Wednesday and Friday, consolations all four days, the weekend-long rookie of the race program and hard-charger award in the Million and its two consolation races. … Eldora uses an every-lap-matters format, with driver accumulating points each time they are on track for competition, including qualifying, heats, last chance showdowns and the preliminary features. … For Wednesday and Friday preliminary nights — each featuring twin $12,000-to-win programs — entrants will be split into Groups A and B at the conclusion of the draw. … Provisionals for the 10th row on both Thursday and Saturday will be based on points rather than qualifying times. … Because of the continued tire shortage, teams will be allowed four tires (except in rare instances) from time trials through the 25-lap preliminary features on Wednesday and Friday. For Thursday and Saturday’s programs, teams are allowed four tires for heats and consolations races. Drivers advancing to the features can use up to three new tires for the 100-lap main events. … Brandon Overton and Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tenn., are the only back-to-back dream winners. Bloomquist won his seventh and eighth Dreams in 2017-’18. … Bloomquist (eight), Billy Moyer (two), Freddy Smith (two) and Overton (two) are the only drivers with multiple victories. … DIRTcar points are awarded to all drivers throughout the weekend. … Tyler Erb of New Waverly, Texas, won this year’s Johnny Appleseed Classic. No driver has ever won the Appleseed and the Dream in the same season. … The last Ohio driver to win the Dream was Waterville’s Matt Miller in 2005.
Million winners
Year: Driver, hometown
2001: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
Dream winners
Year: Driver, hometown
2021: Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.
2020: Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.*
2019: Brandon Sheppard, New Berlin, Ill.
2018: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2017: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2016: Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2014: Dale McDowell, Chickamauga, Ga.
2013: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2012: Shane Clanton, Fayetteville, Ga.
2011: Don O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2010: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
2009: Jimmy Owens: Newport, Tenn.
2008: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2007: Steve Casebolt, Richmond, Ind.
2006: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2005: Matt Miller, Waterville, Ohio
2004: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2003: Darrell Lanigan, Union, Ky.
2002: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2001: Replaced by Eldora Million
2000: Freddy Smith, Knoxville, Tenn.
1999: Rick Eckert, York, Pa.
1998: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1997: Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, Wis.
1996: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1995: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
1994: Freddy Smith, Baton Rouge, La.
*2020 Dream postponed to 2021
Weekend purses
Wednesday and Friday twin preliminaries
1. $12,000
2. $6,000
3. $3,500
4. $2,800
5. $2,500
6. $2,300
7. $2,200
8. $2,100
9. $2,050
10. $2,000
11. $1,600
12.$1,400
13. $1,200
14. $1,100
15. $1,050
16.-24. $1,000
Thursday feature
1. $1,002,022
2. $100,000
3. $50,000
4. $25,000
5. $15,000
6. $12,500
7. $10,000
8. $8,750
9. $7,500
10. $7,000
11. $6,500
12. $6,000
13. $5,875
14. $5,850
15. $5,822
16. $5,800
17. $5,675
18. $5,622
19. $5,600
20. $5,475
21. $5,450
22. $5,422
23. $5,400
24. $5,022
Saturday feature
1. $128,000
2. $25,000
3. $15,000
4. $12,500
5. $10,000
6. $8,750
7. $7,500
8. $7,000
9. $6,500
10. $6,000
11. $5,875
12. $5,850
13. $5,828
14. $5,800
15. $5,675
16. $5,650
17. $5,628
18. $5,600
19. $5,475
20. $5,450
21. $5,428
22. $5,400
23. $5,228
24. $5,028
(Drivers failing to transfer from heats $175)
Million and Dream lineup structures
Row 1: Sixth heat winner, fifth heat winner
Row 2: Fourth heat winner, third heat winner
Row 3: Second heat winner, first heat winner
Row 4: First heat runner-up, second heat runner-up
Row 5: Third heat runner-up, fourth heat runner-up
Row 6: Fifth heat runner-up, sixth heat runner-up
Row 7: First heat third place, second heat third place
Row 8: Third heat third place, fourth heat third place
Row 9: Fifth heat third place, sixth heat third place
Row 10: Provisional starters
Row 11: First consy winner, second consy winner
Row 12: First consy runner-up, second consy runner-up
Event schedule
(For camping and other details, visit eldoraspeedway.com)
Wednesday
10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Turn-three race registration opens (pit passes and media credential sign-in)
10 a.m.: Main gate ticket office opens (tickets, pit passes and will call)
10 a.m.: Turn-four ticket office opens (tickets and pit passes)
10 a.m.: All ADA parking opens (permit required)
11 a.m.: Grandstand cleared and secured for grand opening
Noon-6 p.m.: Showers open (front of Lot 2)
Noon-4:30 p.m.: Technical inspection for Late Models
Noon: All admission gates/suites/concessions open
Noon-end of event: Turn-one camping load in
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m.: Hot laps
7:30 p.m.: Racing begins
Thursday
6 a.m.-6 p.m.: Showers open (front of Lot 2)
7-11 a.m.: Breakfast at turn four concessions
10 a.m.: Turn-three race registration opens (pit passes and media credential sign-in)
10 a.m.: Main gate ticket office opens (tickets, pit passes and will call)
10 a.m.: Turn-four ticket office opens (tickets and pit passes)
10 a.m.: All ADA parking opens (permit required)
11 a.m.: Grandstand cleared and secured for grand opening
Noon: All admission gates/suites/concessions open
Noon-end of event: Turn-one camping load in
3:30 p.m.: Driver autograph session (midway)
4:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
8 p.m.: Racing begins
Friday
6 a.m.-6 p.m.: Showers open (front of Lot 2)
7-11 a.m.: Breakfast at turn four concessions
10 a.m.-8 p.m.: Turn-three race registration opens (pit passes and media credential sign-in)
10 a.m.: Main gate ticket office opens (tickets, pit passes and will call)
10 a.m.: Turn-four ticket office opens (tickets and pit passes)
10 a.m.: All ADA parking opens (permit required)
11 a.m.: Grandstand cleared and secured for grand opening
Noon-end of event: Turn-one camping load in
Noon: All admission gates/suites/concessions open
Noon-4:30 p.m.: Technical inspection for Late Models
5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m.: Hot laps
7:30 p.m.: Racing begins
Saturday
6 a.m.-6 p.m.: Showers open (front of Lot 2)
7-11 a.m.: Breakfast at turn four concessions
10 a.m.: Turn-three race registration opens (pit passes and media credential sign-in)
10 a.m.: Main gate ticket office opens (tickets, pit passes and will call)
10 a.m.: Turn-four ticket office opens (tickets and pit passes)
10 a.m.: All ADA parking opens (permit required)
11 a.m.: Grandstand cleared and secured for grand opening
Noon: All admission gates/suites/concessions open
Noon-end of event: Turn-one camping load in
3:30 p.m.: Driver autograph session
4:30 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting
6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
8 p.m.: Racing begins
Correction: Fixes Eldora Million purse throughout.