Trucks on Eldora 2013

[ShadowKnight508]

Now this....will be cool. Better build more seats smoke, I think everyone wants a piece of this.

Agreed. Smoke will be needing to up the seating capacity from 20,000 to 35,000 or so (perhaps more if needed).

 

[Relly]

I hope this works, I think the trucks will be able to put on a great show on dirt.

If this works out I'd like to see them take this different short tracks around the country, I know my biases say it's be great if they went to the Syracuse Fairgrounds or Rolling Wheels...but yet again not every dirt track has the capabilities of holding as many people as Eldora does/can.

 

[RP Motorsports]

Personally, I think this whole thing is an extremely stupid idea. This type of drastic move is something I would expect from a series that is more-or-less desperate (like an IndyCar) and just blindly throwing darts hoping one will hit. Something tells me this wouldnt have come to fruition (or maybe even be considered) if Stewart wasnt the owner of Eldora.

Having no Safer Barrier would be the first red flag. But then you couple it with stock cars not built for dirt, and the majority of the field with little to zero experience. Its like they're intentionally trying to put together some kind of freak-show spectacle. And on top of it all, its a points paying race.

You watch the Prelude and you can see some of the best stock car drivers struggling, and they're in dirt cars. Now you're going to put the series of developing drivers and older "has-been" drivers (again, most of which have no dirt experience) on dirt and in stock cars? Yea, they'll have dirt tires and they'll try to put together a setup for dirt, but still, those trucks wernt built to run dirt, and the experience isnt there.

The whole thing is borderline absurd in my opinion. Its probably going to be a whole bunch of spinning and wrecking, with one or two drivers (Ty Dillon) running away by himself. Hell, if you want a demolition derby, then bring out the disposable Cup cars, and put together an exhibition demolition derby. At the end of the day, I'm just hoping nobody gets hurt in this mess.

 

[MattSRD28]

I'm not believing it until the official schedule is released with Eldora on it.

 

[xtro]

This is moronic. As Kenny Wallace said " you'll like it for one race." This is a stupid idea, the cars today arent built for dirt, nor are about half the drivers. It will be a wreckfest.

 

[4WideRacing]

The only way it might be great would be if it was a non-points race. I believe that it will just end up costing the teams tons of money that most don't even have. It could also result in a lot more S&P'ing, at least for that race. I could also see many fines being handed down when the drivers and teams get mad at each other.

 

[B.McKeever]

I know ARCA races on dirt, do they slide in the turns? Have not been able to watch a race.

It will be interesting, to say the least. But RP was right, if Stewart was not the owner, would NASCAR even consider it?

I think it will be a 1-year deal. ISC should just buy Mansfield for the $300,000 or whatever they're asking at auction and turn it into a small Ohio track.

 

[K.Chuck]

I am gonna wait till I see them run on dirt to say anything. I love the trucks and I love dirt, never thought about them together before. This just seems weird to me, but I will reserve judgment and give it a chance.

 

[JWheels85]

The NASCAR Truck Series will race next season on the half-mile dirt track at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, multiple sources confirmed. An official announcement of the move could come as early as Wednesday. The race would be the first on dirt for any of NASCAR's three national series  Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Trucks - in its "modern era." The track, owned by Cup driver #14-Tony Stewart, does not have energy-absorbing SAFER barriers installed and no permanent medical facility on property. Sources said NASCAR is expected to waive its policy  adapted beginning in 2005  that SAFER barriers be installed at all oval tracks hosting its three national series. Why NASCAR is willing to make an exception in this case is unclear.(Charlotte Observer)(11-13-2012)

 

[Gwen Cole]

The NASCAR Truck Series will race next season on the half-mile dirt track at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, multiple sources confirmed. An official announcement of the move could come as early as Wednesday. The race would be the first on dirt for any of NASCAR's three national series  Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Trucks - in its "modern era." The track, owned by Cup driver #14-Tony Stewart, does not have energy-absorbing SAFER barriers installed and no permanent medical facility on property. Sources said NASCAR is expected to waive its policy  adapted beginning in 2005  that SAFER barriers be installed at all oval tracks hosting its three national series. Why NASCAR is willing to make an exception in this case is unclear.(Charlotte Observer)(11-13-2012)

Because Tony Stewart owns it?

 

[Frigus5]

The NASCAR Truck Series will race next season on the half-mile dirt track at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, multiple sources confirmed. An official announcement of the move could come as early as Wednesday. The race would be the first on dirt for any of NASCAR's three national series  Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Trucks - in its "modern era." The track, owned by Cup driver #14-Tony Stewart, does not have energy-absorbing SAFER barriers installed and no permanent medical facility on property. Sources said NASCAR is expected to waive its policy  adapted beginning in 2005  that SAFER barriers be installed at all oval tracks hosting its three national series. Why NASCAR is willing to make an exception in this case is unclear.(Charlotte Observer)(11-13-2012)

What I bolded is why I am seriously doubtful that this can even happen. Why would they even think about making an exception in the name of safety? There can be some very bad crashes on dirt tracks, and I'm very sure NASCAR would want to prevent those.

I want this to happen, but at the same time, I don't want safety to be sacrificed in the name of entertainment.

 

[Markfan]

Presumably, it's because of how wide and small it is. The straightaways are shorter than NASCAR has seen in nearly 10 years, so the trucks will have no time to build up dangerous speeds with their size.

This type of drastic move is something I would expect from a series that is more-or-less desperate

It's hard to say that they aren't with such a short schedule, lack of competition and sponsorship in both the Nationwide and truck series. I'm very curious about how this will play out, though I do fear it will be a wreckfest, as well.

 

[Mo Neenja31]

Shoulda just gave trucks a road course instead -.-

 

[Sgt Slaughter]

Shoulda just gave trucks a road course instead -.-

Or... a dirt-course. The lulz that would ensue from that XD

 

[David24]

Will there be testing?

Also I'm glad Nascar is branching out on tracks for the trucks. So would the people who think this is a horrible idea shut up, after all they could just stick them at the brickyard.

 

[flyersfan4888]

This is an awesome idea and will probably be a great show. And for all of you who say it won't work, if ARCA can do it and do it successfully with the budget's those teams have, why can't NASCAR?

 

[bigrolltide1877]

Will there be testing?

Also I'm glad Nascar is branching out on tracks for the trucks. So would the people who think this is a horrible idea shut up, after all they could just stick them at the brickyard.

Ive heard that they have already tested the trucks there but i think its a rumor.

 

[RP Motorsports]

The tracks ARCA races on (like So. Illinois, Springfield) have a very different makeup than Eldora. They have a certain manufactured clay that is compacted to the point where its alot closer to asphalt (obviously a slicker asphalt). Eldora is like grassroots dirt racing. You could bring mud buggies down in there a make all kinds of mess.

If they were talking about racing on a dirt track similar to ARCA, I'd still think it was stupid, but not quite as stupid. So unless they're planning to "resurface" Eldora for a truck race (which they obviously wouldnt), I'm not down with it at all.

I've already expressed that I think its a stupid idea, and yet, the more and more I think about it, the more and more stupid it sounds. Like Friggy said above, why make an exception in the name of safety? Even without the faster speeds they're accustomed to, anything can still happen. Never underestimate that. I've seen mods and late models flip over on a little flat quarter-mile bullring.

Any time you're talking about waiving safety protocol, its got "bad idea" written all over it.

 

[evan07]

I really hope they do this! I believe they can make it safe for the drivers, and it will no doubt be a huge hit with the fans. Super speedways, intermediates, short tracks, road courses and a dirt track. Now that's a good schedule folks.

Throw back alert!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCOEx9086aY&feature=related"]1983 eldora USAC 1 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOG6d82jSxI&feature=relmfu"]83 eldoa 2 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[MillsLayne]

Shoulda just gave trucks a road course instead -.-

Yeah, I'd agree with this, as enticing as Eldora sounds. Could you imagine the trucks at Montreal? Or Watkins Glen?