Could dirt racing in lower premier series give up-and-coming drivers important experience?
Eldora might help up-and-coming drivers gain valuable experience... experience no other track on this circuit can give them: Dirt racing experience. Why would this be important when they will only drive on asphalt in the future? Dirt experience can give you better control of your car. Many top drivers in the Sprint cup have raced on dirt: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, and Kasey Kahne just to name a few. Jimmie, for one, likes a really loose race car. The reason why is probably because he raced dirt trucks for an amount of time in his career. All three have credited their dirt experience to them have better control of their car. In dirt racing, you slide through the corners, which, when on asphalt, can make you more accustom to a loose race car. Driving loose can be a benefit, if you can handle it. Many of the up-and-coming drivers have already had dirt track experience, which shows that this can be a beneficial skill. Giving all of these new drivers, though, a taste of dirt racing, with a truck that weighs about as much as a Sprint Cup car, provides them with a unique opportunity. Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing the Nationwide drivers eventually run a dirt race. Nationwide and Truck cars have different bodies, but I don't see why they couldn't both race on dirt. Maybe we will see this in the future. I would enjoy it… and I don’t think I’m the only one!
Who will win? Who are the favorites?
Of course I had to talk about everyone’s favorite question coming to a highly anticipated track: who will win? Who knows, especially with this being an inaugural race. So who are the favorites? Again, hard to tell, because of the same reason. It is incredibly hard to find dirt track stats so I will rely a lot on the three practice sessions. The 2nd and 3rd practice sessions are more accurate pictures of who to watch than the 1st session was, because the dirt had been “worn in”. This resembles more of what the track will be like at the end of the race. I'll try my best though, to highlight a few potential picks, including mine.
Scott Bloomquist
Most NASCAR fans wouldn’t know who Scott is, but he is widely known by dirt fans. He has won multiple championships across dirt racing, and has actually been inducted in the National Dirt Racing Hall of Fame! He is said to have 500 wins across dirt, but has never raced in NASCAR. During the practice sessions yesterday, he said that this is the heaviest car he has ever raced, which is probably a true statement since traditional dirt race cars are fairly small and probably half the weight of the truck he will be driving tonight. In 2nd practice, he placed 14, which is actually down a few spots from his 1st practice run. In the final practice session, he was 6th. We will have to see how he handles that heavy truck tonight.
Most NASCAR fans wouldn’t know who Scott is, but he is widely known by dirt fans. He has won multiple championships across dirt racing, and has actually been inducted in the National Dirt Racing Hall of Fame! He is said to have 500 wins across dirt, but has never raced in NASCAR. During the practice sessions yesterday, he said that this is the heaviest car he has ever raced, which is probably a true statement since traditional dirt race cars are fairly small and probably half the weight of the truck he will be driving tonight. In 2nd practice, he placed 14, which is actually down a few spots from his 1st practice run. In the final practice session, he was 6th. We will have to see how he handles that heavy truck tonight.
Dave Blaney
Both NASCAR fans and dirt fans know this driver. He has a long time career in dirt, but also in NASCAR as well. The NASCAR side was lack-luster, but in dirt, he won a USAC Silver Crown championship, a World of Outlaws championship, and the Knoxville Nationals, which is a premiere event on dirt. In 1st practice, he was 3rd and in 2nd practice, he was in 2nd. He dropped a little, though, in the 3rd practice, placing 12th. His dirt experience, combined with NASCAR experience, makes him one of the top contenders of this event.
Both NASCAR fans and dirt fans know this driver. He has a long time career in dirt, but also in NASCAR as well. The NASCAR side was lack-luster, but in dirt, he won a USAC Silver Crown championship, a World of Outlaws championship, and the Knoxville Nationals, which is a premiere event on dirt. In 1st practice, he was 3rd and in 2nd practice, he was in 2nd. He dropped a little, though, in the 3rd practice, placing 12th. His dirt experience, combined with NASCAR experience, makes him one of the top contenders of this event.
Ryan Newman
Ryan is the only Sprint cup regular who will be racing at Eldora today. Naturally this makes him a threat; but he does have dirt credentials to back him up as well. Like Dave Blaney, he is also a USAC Silver Crown champion. In addition, he has 100 feature wins in midget cars (a type of dirt race car), which should include many dirt track wins. In 2nd practice, he was 6th, but in 3rd practice, he dropped 10 positions. Ryan, to me, would be a good “dark horse” pick.
Ryan is the only Sprint cup regular who will be racing at Eldora today. Naturally this makes him a threat; but he does have dirt credentials to back him up as well. Like Dave Blaney, he is also a USAC Silver Crown champion. In addition, he has 100 feature wins in midget cars (a type of dirt race car), which should include many dirt track wins. In 2nd practice, he was 6th, but in 3rd practice, he dropped 10 positions. Ryan, to me, would be a good “dark horse” pick.
Austin & Ty Dillon
Austin and Ty are two "young guns" who have raced on dirt. I put them together in the same paragraph because I think there both evenly matched. In 1st practice, they were 4th and 5th, and in 2nd practice, they were 1st and 2nd! They did break their togetherness in the 3rd practice, though, being 5 positions apart. If one of them has the small advantage, it would be Austin, naturally, since he was ahead of Ty in all three practices. When it comes to their dirt history, in my opinion, Ty has the small advantage. Both have raced Legend cars, Bandolero cars, and Late-model cars. Austin won 3 premier events in 2007, including the All-star Shootout at “The Dirt Track” just outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway, but I can’t find any other stats, concerning wins. Ty also won the All-start shootout (the next year), and has more than 15 feature wins. With equal amount of talent, it will be interesting to see which one places better in the race.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson has to be the #1 pick for Eldora this week. Kyle has stellar stats on dirt, so much so, that he was even complemented by Tony Stewart. He has raced USAC midget cars, silver crown cars, sprint cars, and the World of Outlaws Series. In 2011, he became the 2nd driver in history to win the 4-crown Nationals at Eldora in all three types of USAC cars, all in one night. Impressive stat. He also has won many dirt races across the four series. Yesterday at Eldora, Kyle came out of the gate strong, finishing 1st in 1st practice, but did fall back to 3rd and 9th in 2nd and 3rd practice. Still, that’s not that bad. I fully expect Kyle to be in the top 5 as the finals laps go down.
Austin and Ty are two "young guns" who have raced on dirt. I put them together in the same paragraph because I think there both evenly matched. In 1st practice, they were 4th and 5th, and in 2nd practice, they were 1st and 2nd! They did break their togetherness in the 3rd practice, though, being 5 positions apart. If one of them has the small advantage, it would be Austin, naturally, since he was ahead of Ty in all three practices. When it comes to their dirt history, in my opinion, Ty has the small advantage. Both have raced Legend cars, Bandolero cars, and Late-model cars. Austin won 3 premier events in 2007, including the All-star Shootout at “The Dirt Track” just outside of Charlotte Motor Speedway, but I can’t find any other stats, concerning wins. Ty also won the All-start shootout (the next year), and has more than 15 feature wins. With equal amount of talent, it will be interesting to see which one places better in the race.
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson has to be the #1 pick for Eldora this week. Kyle has stellar stats on dirt, so much so, that he was even complemented by Tony Stewart. He has raced USAC midget cars, silver crown cars, sprint cars, and the World of Outlaws Series. In 2011, he became the 2nd driver in history to win the 4-crown Nationals at Eldora in all three types of USAC cars, all in one night. Impressive stat. He also has won many dirt races across the four series. Yesterday at Eldora, Kyle came out of the gate strong, finishing 1st in 1st practice, but did fall back to 3rd and 9th in 2nd and 3rd practice. Still, that’s not that bad. I fully expect Kyle to be in the top 5 as the finals laps go down.
Ryan Blaney
I was leaning toward Kyle Larson, but I wanted to pick someone a little different for Eldora: Ryan Blaney. Being the son of an accomplished dirt racer, Ryan has raced on dirt as well. He raced quarter midgets, Bandolero cars, legend cars, and late models, and found quick success. He has won races in all four types of cars, and even won the PASS South Super Late Model Series Championship in 2011. In the 1st practice session, Ryan was right behind his father in 3rd. In the 2nd and 3rd practice sessions, he finished 9th and 20th. I think he'll be another driver that is in the top 5 as the final laps approach.
I was leaning toward Kyle Larson, but I wanted to pick someone a little different for Eldora: Ryan Blaney. Being the son of an accomplished dirt racer, Ryan has raced on dirt as well. He raced quarter midgets, Bandolero cars, legend cars, and late models, and found quick success. He has won races in all four types of cars, and even won the PASS South Super Late Model Series Championship in 2011. In the 1st practice session, Ryan was right behind his father in 3rd. In the 2nd and 3rd practice sessions, he finished 9th and 20th. I think he'll be another driver that is in the top 5 as the final laps approach.
The winner of the
inaugural Mud-Summer Classic might not be any of the drivers I just
highlighted. One thing I do know, though, is that this race will be interesting,
exciting, and a little crazy!
NASCAR's safety at dirt tracks
Dirt track safety came up a while back when Jason Leffler tragically passed away after injuries he sustained during a dirt racing crash. Is NASCAR safe racing at a dirt track? Eldora doesn't have any SAFER barriers, which might come as a shock to some people. The truth is, Eldora isn't any different than any other dirt track. The reason dirt tracks usually don't have SAFER barriers is this: Low budget. Most dirt tracks are "local tracks" that have small budgets. SAFER barriers are very expensive and to put them around the track would not be affordable for most dirt tracks. Therefore, they go to the next cheaper option. Usually, this is just metal, or concrete. Not very comforting, isn't it? The good thing is most race cars never go over 145mph at these tracks. It's still dangerous, but not as much as it would be if they were going the speeds of a regular NASCAR track (170-180mph). Also, almost all the vehicles that race on dirt tracks have HANS devices, and a very strong steel roll cage around them. With NASCAR cars, they have both of those as well, and thankfully much, much more. I will still be a little nervous, knowing the walls are concrete, but they'll be going at slower speeds (no more than 125mph) and the cars have incredible safety built in, which makes me feel better. There is one more question though, as I conclude: If this race at Eldora becomes a regular on the Truck Series schedule, will they put SAFER barriers in then? I honestly don't know. I think if bad wrecks concerning the walls become a problem, they will, but if it doesn't, I doubt it. Even with the Truck race, I still don't know if they would have the money for it. NASCAR would probably have to help them. The good thing is, I don't think the walls will be a concern in the end.
Now, with all of that said, “Let’s go dirt track racing, boys!”
NASCAR's safety at dirt tracks
Dirt track safety came up a while back when Jason Leffler tragically passed away after injuries he sustained during a dirt racing crash. Is NASCAR safe racing at a dirt track? Eldora doesn't have any SAFER barriers, which might come as a shock to some people. The truth is, Eldora isn't any different than any other dirt track. The reason dirt tracks usually don't have SAFER barriers is this: Low budget. Most dirt tracks are "local tracks" that have small budgets. SAFER barriers are very expensive and to put them around the track would not be affordable for most dirt tracks. Therefore, they go to the next cheaper option. Usually, this is just metal, or concrete. Not very comforting, isn't it? The good thing is most race cars never go over 145mph at these tracks. It's still dangerous, but not as much as it would be if they were going the speeds of a regular NASCAR track (170-180mph). Also, almost all the vehicles that race on dirt tracks have HANS devices, and a very strong steel roll cage around them. With NASCAR cars, they have both of those as well, and thankfully much, much more. I will still be a little nervous, knowing the walls are concrete, but they'll be going at slower speeds (no more than 125mph) and the cars have incredible safety built in, which makes me feel better. There is one more question though, as I conclude: If this race at Eldora becomes a regular on the Truck Series schedule, will they put SAFER barriers in then? I honestly don't know. I think if bad wrecks concerning the walls become a problem, they will, but if it doesn't, I doubt it. Even with the Truck race, I still don't know if they would have the money for it. NASCAR would probably have to help them. The good thing is, I don't think the walls will be a concern in the end.
Now, with all of that said, “Let’s go dirt track racing, boys!”
