Austin Cindric leads Johnny Sauter during Camping World Truck Series final practice at Eldora Tuesday.
Eric Young/The SuperSpeedway

Rossburg, Ohio — The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will take to the dirt Wednesday night once again as the green flag waves at Eldora Speedway for the fifth-annual Eldora Dirt Derby.

Thirty-four trucks will take the green flag Wednesday night, and the crowd has a good chance to see a first-time winner in the event, as the only returning winner will be the one who took home the jar of dirt from the front stretch in 2015, Christopher Bell. Bell told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio this week that while his ultimate goal is to keep improving on asphalt, he would like to get another win on the famed dirt track.

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ROSSBURG, Ohio — Final practice is over for the Camping World Truck Series for the Eldora Dirt Derby, and a new name was at the top of the board with Caleb Homan leading the pack with the fast time.

Homan ran an average speed of 90.068, which was slower than Stewart Friesen’s fast lap of 92.086 in the first practice.

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While we’re not here covering the Super DirtCar Series, they are running between practice sessions here at Eldora today and between races tomorrow as well. Here are a few photos from the heat races tonight.

Stewart Friesen led the first practice for the Camping World Truck Series’ Eldora Dirt Derby Tuesday night. Friesen ran a lap of 92.066. Ty Dillon was second with an average speed of 91.570, Christopher Bell was third (91.384), Ben Rhodes was fourth (91.042) and Rico Abreu rounded out the top five. Scroll down for full practice results.

Here are a few shots from the first Camping World Truck Series practice for the 2017 Eldora Dirt Derby.

Matt Crafton tries out the low line in turn four during the first practice.

Noah Gragson runs up near the cushion.

Ty Dillon runs through turn two. Dillon was the second fastest in the first practice session.

The only former winner of the Dirt Derby in the field, Christopher Bell, takes his truck down the backstretch early in the first practice.

I will be reporting live from Eldora Speedway Tuesday and Wednesday for the Edora Dirt Derby Camping World Truck Series race. I have arrived at the track and will be posting updates and stories here and on Twitter — Follow me @eric8199.

Truck series practice kicks off tonight with two 55-minute practice sessions at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday night. Below is the “weekend” schedule:

Tuesday, July 18:
7 p.m. — NCWTS First Practice
9 p.m. — NCWTS Final Practice

Wednesday, July 19
1 p.m. — Garage opens
4:30 p.m. — NCWTS Drivers Meeting
5 p.m. — NCWTS Qualifying (Single Vehicle/Two Laps)
7:30 p.m. — NCWTS Qualifying Race 1 (10 laps)
7:39 p.m. — NCWTS Qualifying Race 2 (10 laps)
7:48 p.m. — NCWTS Qualifying Race 3 (10 laps)
7:57 p.m. — NCWTS Qualifying Race 4 (10 laps)
8:06 p.m. — NCWTS Qualifying Race 5 (10 laps)
8:45 p.m. — NCWTS Last Chance Qualifying Race (15 laps)
9:10 p.m. — NCWTS Driver Introductions
9:30 p.m. — NCWTS Race (150 laps / 40-50-60, 75 miles)

There are 34 drivers entered for 34 places.

Recap of the Overton’s 301 from Louden

• Hamlin/JGR finally get to victory lane. 20-race winless streak
• How was the race? Did the VHT help or hurt it?
• Winners and Losers?
• Logano – has to win to get in now?
  • Nascar took a shock from Joey’s car during the race.

Discussion Topics:

• Kyle Larson penalized in Qualifying – Didn’t NASCAR technically take a win away?
  • Claire B. talked Sunday morning about how this part could be adjusted in error
• Kyle Busch says he will retire from the Xfinity series when he gets 100 wins. He’s at 89 now. 38 in Cup. 48 in Trucks. Total of 175 wins across the three top series. Said his goal was 200. How big is this?

Let’s talk Eldora – truck race returns to dirt next Wednesday

• Entries: Bobby Pierce and Rico Abreu will race. Larson will not.
• Ty Dillon is the only Cup driver entered.
• 31 drivers entered in the 32-truck field. No one will go home. Any reason to run a last chance race?
• Is this race still the big deal it once was?
• What are the chances we see one of the other series go to dirt, either here or somewhere else?
• James’ Pick:
• Eric’s Pick:

Preview: Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400

• What to expect.
• James’ Pick:
• Eric’s Pick:  

Shout outs

Close show

Show Notes:

-Recap of the Quaker State 400 from Kentucky

– Truex… Is there anything else? lol

-Winners and losers?

Discussion:

• Larson docked 35 points and CC suspended 3 races. Now 34 being Truex. Non-conforming rear brake cooling assembly.
• Keselowski comments about it being time for a new car worthy of the sport.
• Tire Dragon on the bottom lane issue
• Richmond International Raceway is now Richmond Raceway – will undergo an infield redevelopment project before the fall 2018 race.

Silly Season Stuff:

– Kenseth Out at JGR. What are the next dominos to fall.

– Visser does not expect to have the 77 back yet.

– Kenseth to 88 as a stop gap

– James thought: Kenseth aging out of the sport

Preview: Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire

• NHMS to put down VHT in the top groove.
• What to expect.
• Eric’s Pick: Kevin Harvick
• Eric’s Dark Horse: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
• James’ Pick: Ryan Newman
• Jame’s Dark Horse: Clint Bowyer

Shout outs

• James: Pete Pistone @PPistone
• Eric: Aaron Bearden @AaronBearden93

Close show

-Recap of the Coke Zero 400 from Daytona

-Stenhouse Survives and wins again

-New King of Superspeedways?

-Daletona Hype. Was it too much or deserved. Too much pressure on Dale and can he handle it?

-Jr. Got the Pole, will he race in the Clash?

-AUDIO (0:51) Jr and Amy talk about The Clash

-Crashes/Surviving the race. No Names battling for the win

-Winners and losers?

-Discussion:

-Overtime Line (again).

– Audio (0:21) Steve O’Donnell says NASCAR will always make every attempt to finish a race under green

-NASCAR Merchandise Issue brought up by Kyle Larson.

NASCAR has a 10-year contract for its trackside merchandise business with Fanatics that started in 2015. Under that deal, 75 percent of the revenue goes to Fanatics, which provides the infrastructure, marketing, staffing, transportation and security.

https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin/status/881773150987579394

https://twitter.com/jeff_gluck/status/881886712208670720

The rest of the revenue is split thusly: 15 percent to the track, nine percent to teams (which generally is divvied into thirds between the team, driver and sponsor) and one percent to NASCAR.
-Silly Season Stuff:

-RUMOR – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to Hendrick, Kahne to Roush – Thoughts?

-SHR – Kurt and Danica – no contract right now.

-Is Byron making a run at Jr’s seat?

-Goodyear and NASCAR – Goodyear has no contract beyond 2018

-Monster Energy has a two-year option starting in 2019 – do they extend?

Preview: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

-What to expect.

-Eric’s Pick: Jimmie “The Jimmer/The GOAT/Seven Time” Johnson

-James’ Pick: Kyle “Rowdy” Busch

Shout outs

Close show

-Recap of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 from Sonoma

-Kevin Harvick takes the win

-Another new winner this season

-How was the race overall?

-Winners and losers?

-Discussion:

-Kyle Busch held a post-race Q&A on Twitter after the race.

-Interesting tidbit — says he had everything set to run the Indy 500 this year and someone said no.

-Speaking of Kyle, he will lose his interim crew chief to a one-race suspension due to lugnut issues post-race

-Is the lug nut thing getting ridiculous? Or is this a good thing?

-Chase Elliott signs four-year extension. Surprising? Not like he was going anywhere.

-NASCAR says stage racing is staying. Will look at changes for next season.

-What would we like to see changed, if anything?

-Visor Cam at Sonoma – Indycar has had this since at least the Indy 500. It’s AWESOME!

Preview: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

-Pressure on Jr. Is it warranted? Is it too much? Can he rise to the occasion?

-James’ Pick: Austin Dillon

-Eric’s Pick: Kyle Busch

Show notes:

-Recap of the FireKeepers 400 at MIS

-Larson wins again on a 2-miler

-Kyle’s team makes another questionable call

-How was the race overall?

-Winners and losers?

-Discussion:

-Tire Dragon at MIS – Why did they only do the groove?

-Stupid article from Freep about no personalities in NASCAR: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/columnist/2017/06/19/kyle-larson-firekeepers-casino-400-michigan-international-speedway/407610001/

-Ryan McGee column about what’s not coming back to NASCAR: http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/19687527/nascar-no-matter-how-much-want-here-10-things-see-happen-again

-Dale Jr. Download – Jr. talks about debris cautions

-Why is it in the “IN” thing to do to hate on NASCAR right now?

Preview: Toyota / Save Mart 350 from Sonoma

-Bubba is out of the 43 for Sonoma. Back after: http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/road-course-specialist-billy-johnson-to-sub-in-no-43-at-sonoma-061917

-Eric’s Pick: Kyle Busch

-James’ Pick: Kurt Busch