The grandstands at Eldora may be empty tonight but someone will still earn $50,000
Over the past several weeks and months we have all heard the phrase “the new normal” enough to do us for a lifetime as we have had to adjust our lives in order to fit in with the requirements placed on us and the businesses we frequent during the coronavirus pandemic. And that new way of doing things has absolutely touched the world of racing as mandated closures have caused postponements and cancellations of events that had originally been slated for much of the spring and summer months.
Some of those schedule adjustments have impacted the biggest events in all of Dirt Late Model racing. The most obvious example of that has been the Dirt Late Model Dream at the historic Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH. That crown jewel race had originally been scheduled to take place this very weekend with a payout of $126,000 to the victor. However, track officials opted not to hold the race due to the fact that Ohio’s strict COVID-19 policies would not have allowed the grandstands to be filled with fans.
As a result, one of the most prized trophies in all of racing will not be handed out on the stage located just in front of Eldora’s covered grandstand. But that does not mean there will be no celebration held at the half-mile clay oval this evening.
The 67-lap Dirt Late Model Stream feature race that will dole out $50,000 to its winner will in fact be contested on Saturday night at the ‘Big E’. The Tony Stewart-owned venue did not want to hold one of its premier events without patrons in the seats that ring the famous track but it did replace that race with a made-for-PPV race that will not include fans on the property but will be shown live on FloRacing.com to that website’s subscribers.
While the regular crown jewel event will not take place in 2020, this race does provide racers with a unique opportunity.
Tonight, someone will be crowned as a winner at Eldora Speedway. And while such glory may not fit in with the dreams that were originally envisioned by that driver as there will be no cheering crowds when he emerges from his race winning machine, it’s still going to be a win at Dirt Late Model racing’s most celebrated track. And more, it is going to come with a $50,000 paycheck in a season in which there almost certainly will not be as many of those as in other years.
Some may debate the definition of what gives a race the distinction of being a crown jewel. In reality, it really doesn’t matter whether anyone labels the Dirt Late Model Stream as a crown jewel of not. The fact of the matter is that, whether we like it or not, we are indeed having to adjust to a new normal. For now, this is what we have, which is better than the nothing that we had back in April.
As for this writer, I am considering this a crown jewel race. It is paying out a crown jewel purse, it has the biggest stars in the sport taking part, and it is on the sport’s biggest stage. That’s good enough for me.
And as far as the drivers are concerned, one of them will leave the corn fields of Ohio after tonight’s race with a trophy and the label of Dirt Late Model Stream winner that may very well never be issued again. It could be a unique opportunity to claim victory in this particular race.
At least we all hope we never have to go through a year like this again.
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