Proceeds from pay-per-view event will go to charity
By Official Release
April 27, 2007
04:40 PM EDT
type size: + -TALLADEGA, Ala. -- The old-school dirt upon which professional stock-car racing was built will play host to today's racing stars when the third annual Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice takes place June 6 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
And for those not lucky enough to grab a seat for the dirt late-model race featuring 25 world renowned drivers as they battle for dirt supremacy, HBO Pay-Per-View will present the event live to the entire nation. Proceeds from this ground-breaking telecast will support the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Tony Stewart Foundation.
The all-star race will feature such racing icons as Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte and more. All will pilot 2,300-pound dirt late-model stock cars capable of putting out more than 800 horsepower.
The live broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. ET, with an immediate replay and subsequent replays throughout the week and the following weekend. HBO Pay-Per-View's first racing telecast has a suggested retail price $24.95 and available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming in the pay-per-view industry. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at www.hbo.com.
"This is going to be a fun, but unbelievably competitive race," said Stewart, a multi-time racing champion and proud owner of Eldora Speedway. "Eldora has always tried to go above and beyond for its fans, and that's something we plan to continue with this event being offered live on HBO Pay-Per-View to racing fans across the country.
"Nextel continues to back the event as title sponsor, and Old Spice has stepped up to present the live broadcast of this year's race to ensure substantial charitable support toward the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Corporate involvement, along with the commitment of the best racecar drivers in the world, has allowed us to create an event that is as exciting as it is charitable. Experience is everything when it comes to dirt-track racing, and there won't be a better way to spend a Wednesday night in June."
In addition to the aforementioned drivers, Ryan Newman, Bill Elliott, Clint Bowyer, Dave Blaney, Kyle Petty, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch, Ron Capps, Ray Evernham, Red Farmer, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace and J.J. Yeley have also committed to the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice.
Drivers from all types of disciplines, some with lots of dirt-track experience and others with hardly any, will participate in hot laps, qualifying, heat races and the 30-lap feature on the half-mile clay oval, all of which will be presented by HBO Pay-Per-View.
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"Since 1991, HBO Pay-Per-View has been associated with the biggest stars and the best events the sport of boxing has had to offer," said Mark Taffet, HBO senior vice president of Sports Operations and Pay-Per-View. "In that same tradition of excellence, we are delighted to feature the world's greatest drivers in such a unique race from legendary Eldora Speedway in support of Victory Junction."
With no points and no pressure, the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice is a throwback race, allowing drivers to step back in time and compete for the reasons they all went racing in the first place -- pride and a trophy. And they'll do it on the same surface that such racing legends as A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti competed on nearly 50 years ago.
Other interesting story lines include:
• Gordon's return to dirt: Gordon hasn't raced at Eldora in 16 years, when he won the Midget portion of the 1991 USAC Four Crown Nationals.
• Montoya's trifecta: Montoya could become the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500, the Grand Prix of Monaco and the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice.
• Dirt veterans vs. dirt neophytes: Stewart, Gordon, Kahne, Newman, Blaney, Bowyer, Elliott, Farmer, Schrader, Yeley and the Wallace brothers grew up on dirt tracks while Montoya, Busch, Harvick, Almirola, Hamlin, Kenseth, Labonte, Martin, Petty and Sadler spent the majority of their racing upbringing on asphalt.
• What happens when a drag racer has to turn the steering wheel?: Capps is a 12-year veteran of the NHRA, where straight-line runs of more than 300 mph are commonplace. He'll have to turn right to go left as he slings his dirt late model around Eldora.
"Having Tony's support has been huge for Victory Junction," said Petty, who together with wife Pattie founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in memory of their late son, Adam. "Tony was one of the first drivers to get on board with us, and beyond the money he and his foundation has donated to the camp, he's brought notoriety, which has helped fuel interest in the camp.
"It's just one more example of how when we're on the track we're fierce competitors, but off the track we're all united in trying to improve the lives of others, especially children. I've always admired his charitable work and it's an honor to again be a part of this year's Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice."
For those who want to see the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice in person, tickets are available online at www.eldoraspeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. Act fast -- the race has sold out the past two years.
By Official Release
April 27, 2007
04:40 PM EDT
type size: + -TALLADEGA, Ala. -- The old-school dirt upon which professional stock-car racing was built will play host to today's racing stars when the third annual Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice takes place June 6 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
And for those not lucky enough to grab a seat for the dirt late-model race featuring 25 world renowned drivers as they battle for dirt supremacy, HBO Pay-Per-View will present the event live to the entire nation. Proceeds from this ground-breaking telecast will support the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Tony Stewart Foundation.
The all-star race will feature such racing icons as Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, Bobby Labonte and more. All will pilot 2,300-pound dirt late-model stock cars capable of putting out more than 800 horsepower.
The live broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. ET, with an immediate replay and subsequent replays throughout the week and the following weekend. HBO Pay-Per-View's first racing telecast has a suggested retail price $24.95 and available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming in the pay-per-view industry. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at www.hbo.com.
"This is going to be a fun, but unbelievably competitive race," said Stewart, a multi-time racing champion and proud owner of Eldora Speedway. "Eldora has always tried to go above and beyond for its fans, and that's something we plan to continue with this event being offered live on HBO Pay-Per-View to racing fans across the country.
"Nextel continues to back the event as title sponsor, and Old Spice has stepped up to present the live broadcast of this year's race to ensure substantial charitable support toward the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Corporate involvement, along with the commitment of the best racecar drivers in the world, has allowed us to create an event that is as exciting as it is charitable. Experience is everything when it comes to dirt-track racing, and there won't be a better way to spend a Wednesday night in June."
In addition to the aforementioned drivers, Ryan Newman, Bill Elliott, Clint Bowyer, Dave Blaney, Kyle Petty, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch, Ron Capps, Ray Evernham, Red Farmer, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace and J.J. Yeley have also committed to the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice.
Drivers from all types of disciplines, some with lots of dirt-track experience and others with hardly any, will participate in hot laps, qualifying, heat races and the 30-lap feature on the half-mile clay oval, all of which will be presented by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Page 1
Page 2
"Since 1991, HBO Pay-Per-View has been associated with the biggest stars and the best events the sport of boxing has had to offer," said Mark Taffet, HBO senior vice president of Sports Operations and Pay-Per-View. "In that same tradition of excellence, we are delighted to feature the world's greatest drivers in such a unique race from legendary Eldora Speedway in support of Victory Junction."
With no points and no pressure, the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice is a throwback race, allowing drivers to step back in time and compete for the reasons they all went racing in the first place -- pride and a trophy. And they'll do it on the same surface that such racing legends as A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti competed on nearly 50 years ago.
Other interesting story lines include:
• Gordon's return to dirt: Gordon hasn't raced at Eldora in 16 years, when he won the Midget portion of the 1991 USAC Four Crown Nationals.
• Montoya's trifecta: Montoya could become the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500, the Grand Prix of Monaco and the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice.
• Dirt veterans vs. dirt neophytes: Stewart, Gordon, Kahne, Newman, Blaney, Bowyer, Elliott, Farmer, Schrader, Yeley and the Wallace brothers grew up on dirt tracks while Montoya, Busch, Harvick, Almirola, Hamlin, Kenseth, Labonte, Martin, Petty and Sadler spent the majority of their racing upbringing on asphalt.
• What happens when a drag racer has to turn the steering wheel?: Capps is a 12-year veteran of the NHRA, where straight-line runs of more than 300 mph are commonplace. He'll have to turn right to go left as he slings his dirt late model around Eldora.
"Having Tony's support has been huge for Victory Junction," said Petty, who together with wife Pattie founded the Victory Junction Gang Camp in memory of their late son, Adam. "Tony was one of the first drivers to get on board with us, and beyond the money he and his foundation has donated to the camp, he's brought notoriety, which has helped fuel interest in the camp.
"It's just one more example of how when we're on the track we're fierce competitors, but off the track we're all united in trying to improve the lives of others, especially children. I've always admired his charitable work and it's an honor to again be a part of this year's Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice."
For those who want to see the Nextel Prelude to the Dream presented by Old Spice in person, tickets are available online at www.eldoraspeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. Act fast -- the race has sold out the past two years.
