ROSSBURG, Ohio — The showcase race for the Camping World Truck Series, the Eldora Dirt Derby, brings with it some unusual rules once a season when the trucks take to the dirt in Ohio.
Here are a few notes from the drivers meeting tonight:
ROSSBURG, Ohio — Cody Coughlin will lead the trucks out for single-truck qualifying at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Historically drivers who have gone out early have qualified toward the front for the heat races that set the final lineup for the 150-lap main event.
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.
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.
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
Discussion Topics:
Let’s talk Eldora – truck race returns to dirt next Wednesday
Preview: Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400
Shout outs
Close show
Show Notes:
-Recap of the Quaker State 400 from Kentucky
– Truex… Is there anything else? lol
-Winners and losers?
Discussion:
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
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
The SuperSpeedway NASCAR Podcast and News 