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ELDORA TO HOST FRIDAY TIME SLOT FOR OUTLAW LATE MODELS
ROSSBURG, OH (July 21) – While Eldora Speedway’s time slot may be rare this weekend, the line-up of participants will take on a familiar look. The massive one-half mile clay oval will depart from its traditional Saturday time slot to host the traveling World of Outlaw (WoO) Late Model series on Friday night as part of the four-night Alltel Speedweek tour and the Subway 50.
With valuable cumulative points on the line towards the season title, WoO championship contenders, many of whom will be returning to Eldora in September for the time honored World 100, will be out in force. They will be joined by a bevy of Eldora regulars, along with NASCAR’s Tony Stewart.
Headlining the WoO Tour into Eldora is current series points leaders Darrel Lanigan. Hailing from Union, KY, Lanigan is no stranger to Eldora’s victory lane, with several American Late Model Series (ALMS) wins to his credit, along with a $100,000 Dirt Late Model Dream victory on his resume. Lanigan has picked up two wins thus far in 2008 WoO action and hopes to use his Eldora savvy to increase that total.
Following him in the WoO chase is Josh Richards, with four wins earned thus far in 2008. Richards is amongst the youngest drivers on the tour, but having grown up around racing, his knowledge is vast and quickly adapts to any racing surface. He has always been fast at Eldora and has tasted Eldora triumph in the past.
The balance of the WoO top five also has heavy Eldora influence.
Third place Chub Frank and fourth place Steve Francis both have World 100 titles under their belt, while fifth place Rick Eckert has tasted Eldora sweetness via the Dirt Late Model Dream.
Friday’s Subway 50 will mark the second WoO Late Model appearance at Eldora. Earl Pearson, Jr. captured the inaugural appearance in 2007, after early race contenders Stewart and Chub Frank collided midway through the chase, while battling for the lead. Stewart was eliminated from the fray, while Frank limped home seventh.
Stewart, who admitted afterwards that Mark Richards had prepared one of the best handling Late Models he had ever driven, will be out to seek revenge. Earlier this year, Stewart had used the machine to master the nationally televised Old Spice Prelude to the Dream.
Eldora’s leg of the Alltel Speedweek, will follow a Thursday night showing at Muskingham County Speedway, and will precede Sharon Speedway on Saturday and Eriez Speedway on Sunday.
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