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STATE OF OHIO & TONY STEWART TO HONOR EARL BALTES JULY 27
ROSSBURG, OH (July 16) -- In recognition of his tireless efforts to promote Eldora Speedway and the sport of auto racing, the State of Ohio and Tony Stewart will honor Earl Baltes on Friday evening, July 27, just prior to the start of the Subway 50.
The Ohio Legislature adopted and passed a law that has designated a portion of State Highway 118, which passes directly in front of the fabled speedway, as “Earl Baltes Highway”. While the law became effective July 1, 2007, the signed proclamation will be presented by Stewart, who purchased Eldora from Baltes in November of 2004, along with representation from the State of Ohio.
The “Earl Baltes Highway” will extend from State Route 47 in Ansonia North to State Route 119 in Saint Henry, and will be earmarked with special signage prepared by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
A special ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4:30 on July 27 and that will be followed by a reception at the Eldora Ballroom prior to the on-track presentation that evening.
Baltes, usually never short of words, was flattered and nearly speechless when told of the legislative action. “I’m deeply honored. Never in a million years would I have expected something like this.”
Commented Stewart, who will also be racing in the World of Outlaw (WoO) Late Model Subway 50 that night, “Earl has single handedly advanced the sport of auto racing more than anyone else in this business. We have all known that for a long time, and now the State of Ohio has stepped up to the plate, this is just great. I wouldn’t miss this opportunity to help commemorate Earl’s accomplishment.”
Baltes, with no previous racing experience, began carving Eldora Speedway out from a cornfield in the fall of 1953, with first race taking place that following year. His keen sense of entertaining people and promoting the unexpected quickly escalated the prominence of Eldora, to the point that it became recognized as one of the leading short track operations in the entire Nation.
That flare continued right through the sale of the facility to Stewart, who Baltes hand-picked among those seeking a purchase of Eldora. “I knew all along that Tony was the right man to buy Eldora, and he hasn’t let me down. His schedule is very busy, so it means a great deal to me that he will be on hand to celebrate this road dedication with me”, concluded Baltes.
Baltes and the dignitaries have indicated their desire to stay and watch the WoO Late Models as they make their first-ever appearance on Eldora’s legendary high-banked one-half mile clay oval.
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