Eldora Speedway, Mudsummer Classic takes NASCAR’s center stage

At its core the Mudsummer Classic is the 10th of 22 races on the Camping World Truck Series schedule. But Wednesday’s stop at Eldora Speedway is more than just another race.

A half-mile in length Eldora is a break from the norm. It is the only dirt track to hold a Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Camping World Series event, and was the first non-paved track to have a national division race in 42 years when the trucks visited last year.

Nestled in the corn fields of Rossburg, Ohio, Eldora is a blue-collar track that has quickly become one of the most popular races in all of NASCAR. For many it represents a simplistic era when NASCAR used to roll into a small local track to practice, qualify and race all in the same day.

Eldora may not offer many of the same amenities compared to the superspeedway palaces like Daytona International Speedway or Texas Motor Speedway, but it more than makes up for it with character and oodles of charm.

That fans from 45 states and the countries of Canada, Great Britain, Sweden and Australia will be in attendance for a midweek truck series race speaks volumes about the significance of Eldora.

“It’s about as close to being a proud father as I can imagine being,” Stewart said Monday. “It’s really cool.”

Stewart watched his baby ascend into the national spotlight one year ago. From a memorable battle between Norm Benning and Clay Greenfield for the final transfer spot in the qualifying heat, to Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson, each with dirt track backgrounds, dueling for the win, Eldora was an unabashed hit with fans.

As the owner-driver of a small team, it was Benning’s plight to qualify that most resonated with those watching, from fans to competitors alike.

Numerous times in the closing laps he and Greenfield made contact, neither conceding an inch. After careening off Turn 4 on the white flag lap, Benning used the momentum to hold the position and advance to the feature.

It was a classic short-track battle in every sense, transforming Benning, who gave Greenfield the finger on the cool down lap, into a bit of a folk hero. Stewart even bought Benning’s truck to commemorate the event.

The second Mudsummer Classic takes the green flag Wednesday night with a field consisting of many a familiar face. Dillon is back in defense of his title. Joining him again is younger brother Ty Dillon, as well as Ken Schrader, last year’s pole-sitter. Larson is also back. And is so Benning, in a brand new truck courtesy of the man who brought NASCAR back to its roots.

“I don’t know that everybody remembers who won the race as much as everybody remembers Norm Benning’s last couple laps just to get in the race in the last-chance race,” Stewart said. “I thought that just kind of summed up what the inaugural event is all about and how that was a defining moment of what bringing the NASCAR trucks back to Eldora and bringing them back to dirt, what it was really about.”