ROSSBURG – In late 2014, Eldora Speedway officials came up with an idea so odd, people thought the staff was nuts.
For the first time in automobile racing history, two sanctioning bodies who battled each other for years would race on the same night and the same track. And they would do it for two straight days.
The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car series and the national sprint cars from the United States Auto Club (USAC) put on quite a show in 2015 and now will return on Friday and Saturday to showcase their national winged and non-winged sprint car tours on the same track on the same nights.
Tickets are $28 each night with kids 12 younger getting in for free. Admission gates will open at 2 p.m. with hot laps 6 p.m. and a complete racing program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be bought at www.EldoraSpeedway.com, by phone at 937-338-3815 or at the box office at the race track.
Fans of both divisions loved every second of last year’s event as seven-time Craftsman World of Outlaws series champion Donny Schatz swept both races last year while Robert Ballou and Justin Grant split the USAC events.
The USAC show promises to be spectacular as seven different drivers have won the last seven USAC National Sprint Car events at the half-mile clay oval.
Chase Stockon of Haubstadt, Indiana, is expected to participate as he leads the national points standings after finishing the top 10 of all seven events thus far in 2016.
Dave Darland is also expected to participate and has 14 career Eldora victories, which is second behind Jack Hewitt’s 24. Darland, from Atlanta, Indiana, has five Eldora Sprint Car wins.
On the Craftsman World of Outlaws side, Schatz, from Fargo, North Dakota, is always a threat as he has five victories in 2016, but he hasn’t found victory lane since April 2. He will be challenged by Brad Sweet, who has five wins this year and Daryn Pittman, who has taken three checkered flags.
Some drivers will enter both divisions, looking for a sweep.
Brady Bacon, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Tyler Courtney, from Indianapolis and Bryan Clauson, from Noblesville, Indiana are scheduled for both series. Clauson also is preparing for the 100th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race on May 29.
Just four drivers, Jac Haudenschild, Steve Kinser, Danny Smith and Sweet have won in both divisions over the years at Eldora.