Hello all welcome back again after another few weeks of yet more rain. As you all know last weekend was the 2nd Annual Firecracker 100 at the Lernerville Speedway and with all the rain that drenched drivers and fans it allowed me to talk to some of the fans and drivers more than normal so for this issue I’m going to talk about what some of the drivers and fans had to say about the weekend.

 

            While walking through the pits I caught up with a many drivers one in particular that is a good friend of mine, known as the “Big Brother” it is none other than Dan Stone from Thompson, PA. Dan just coming off of a successful Canadian swing headed to Lernerville in hopes of making the show and giving it his all to win the $40,000 to win main event. When I asked him what he’d do if he won this year’s Firecracker 100 and brought home the money, he replied “I’d probably take a week off and rest after a week full of racing, it would just be nice to have a week off.” I also talked to Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY who over heard me talking to Dan and said that he would call everyone he knew and would tell them the he just won the Firecracker 100 and $40,000.

 

            I also got to talk to Scott Bloomquist, winner of last year’s Firecracker 100, and was able to ask him a few questions. He was happy to talk for a little seeing as the drivers had nothing to do while under rain delay. I asked him if he was upset with having to run the B-Main after so easily making it into the race last year and he replied saying “Eh I don’t mind just makes it more of a challenge to make it in via the B-Main and it’s fun to start in the back I get to race my way to the front” and starting in the back is no problem with Scott as he recently won the “Show-Me 100” from the last starting position.

 

            After talking with the drivers it was only right for me to talk to the people that make racing possible and that is the fans that come out to watch and cheer on their favorite drivers. As I walked around I seen many different shirts worn by people of all ages but the 4 shirts I seen the most were the shirts of Scott Bloomquist, Chub Frank, Mike Blose and Lynn Geisler. After talking to a large amount of people it seemed to me that the fans wanted to see the “Voodoo Child” Scott Bloomquist or the hometown hero Mike Blose bring home the win on Saturday night.

 

            When talking to some fans the topic of whether the Firecracker 100 will ever have the prestige of the World 100 or the Dirt Track World Championship, and most people think in the coming years the race will continue to grow and bring both more cars and fans. I myself believe that the Firecracker 100 is on its way to becoming a crown jewel event in the eyes of the dirt late model drivers of today. Some people compared this years rain filled event to last years World 100 or the 2006 DTWC because of the “fun in the mud” that was had by the fans in the campground Saturday afternoon.

 

            All in all the weekend was fun in my books, the racing Friday was nothing but spectacular, the fans and drivers willingness to stick around and try to wait out the rain show’s the dedication of the people in this sport. I can speak for the thousands of people that were in attendance and stayed until the event was finally called off, that they can not wait until July 29^th, the rescheduled date for this year’s Firecracker 100. That’s all for now, good luck to the drivers competing in the coming weeks and Mother Nature please stay away!- Dustin Leverknight  

 

            Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway, 25 drivers who drive on dirt only once a year and over 23,000 screaming fans can only equal one thing and that is “The Prelude to the Dream”. This past Wednesday the half mile, high banked dirt oval was the place to be if you are a dirt fan or a fan of any other form of racing. Drivers from all aspects of racing came together at Eldora Speedway to run the 30 lap Prelude to the Dream. Some of the huge names in attendance were Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, and Jeff Gordon from NASCAR; also from NHRA were Cruz Pedgragon and Ron Capps all trying to win the 30 lap main event.

           

            This event is like none other, there are no points on the line, no prize money, just a bunch of guys getting together to put a show on for the fans and raise money for the Victory Junction Gang. The goal of raising $1,000,000 to help build a new Victory Junction Camp in Kansas City was achieved with the help of the thousands of fans that supported this event.

 

            Drivers like Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader, and last years winner Carl Edwards have their own car and any time they can throughout the summer when they are away from the NASCAR circuit. Yet some drivers are just simply coming back to where they started like Jeff Gordon and J.J. Yeley who got there starts on the dirt back in there younger days. Yet for driver Jimmie Johnson the Prelude was his first time ever on dirt as he got his start on the local asphalt tracks.

 

            With the threat of storms all day the chances of getting the race in were slim but Mother Nature held off letting this race be ran. After two sets of hot laps the drivers took to the track for there time trials which ended with Dave Blaney turning a lap of 15.436 seconds breaking Tony Stewards past record and giving him quick time for time trials. Clint Boyer, Tony Stewart, and Robby Gordon were the winners of the 3 heat races that also ended the night for Mark Martin after he was involved in a 3 car wreck in turns 3 and 4.

 

            Concluding the night was a 30 lap main event with Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth leading them to the green but Stewart who was taken out of the event last year due to a wreck wasted no time getting to the front taking the lead from his 3^rd starting position on the first lap and never looked back. Robby Gordon came up through the field but was no competition for Stewart who led all 30 laps and won for the second time in this event.

 

            After the event Tony and his crew climbed the front stretch fence in front of 23,000 screaming fans, Stewart jokes afterward saying,” I wish people would forget I started that tradition.”

 

            This event is truly special to the fans bringing together many different forms of racing and making it one. Tony has made this event bigger and bigger each year and will surely continue. I really enjoyed being there to witness this event and meet with some of the drivers and all I can say is “How many days until The Prelude to the Dream 2009?” That’s all for now until next time good luck all drivers and crews. – Dustin Leverknight