Eldora Speedway
Fast Facts: 54th annual World 100
By Aaron Clay
DirtonDirt.com weekend editor
Dates: Sept. 5-7 (split-field preliminary programs Thursday and Friday preceding Saturday’s 100-lap finale)
Track: Eldora Speedway (high-banked half-mile clay oval)
Location: Rossburg, Ohio
Purse: $57,000-to-win Late Model feature
Sanction: DIRTcar Racing
Last year’s winner: Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., his first career World 100
Tickets: $35 adult general admission (ages 14-and-up) on Thursday and Friday; $45 on Saturday; $185 four-day pit pass; additional details below.
Website: eldoraspeedway.com
Track phone: (937) 338-3815
Notes: The World 100 features a different preliminary format for the 54th annual event with the lineup for Thursday and Friday’s 25-lap semifeatures being set by hybrid “shootout” races as opposed to heats and consolations. … The new format begins with time trials that set a six-car inverted lineup for six 12-lap shootout races (if weather interrupts time trials, timed hot laps will set lineups.) The top eight finishers from each shootout race transfer to one of the two prelims (the two fastest qualifiers not transferring from each group will be added to create a pair of 26-car fields). … This year’s event also offers a record $590,000 purse over the three days, with twin $12,000-to-win split-field semifeatures on Thursday and Friday before Saturday’s 100-lap, $57,000-to-win main event. … Saturday’s finale will follow the tradition format of six heats (lineups set by accumulative points earned Thursday and Friday) and two consolations preceding the feature that pays a record $5,400-to-start. … In addition to the format tweaks, this year’s World 100 is opened by Sept. 4’s $20,000-to-win Castrol FloRacing Night in America event; while it doesn’t have any bearing on World 100 action, it boosts the week’s total purse to more than $660,000. … Hudson O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., outdueled Jonathan Davenport to win last year’s $56,000 top prize, earning his first career World 100 and the first for Mark Richard, the owner of Rocket Chassis and the Rocket1 house car. … Davenport, of Blairsville, Ga., chases his sixth career World 100 triumph (2015, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22). … Bobby Pierce of Oakwood, Ill., looks to end a seven-year drought at Eldora, since winning 2016’s World 100. … A celebration of life service for 12-time Eldora crown jewel winner Scott Bloomquist is noon-1 p.m. Saturday with free admission. … Pits open at 11 a.m. Wednesday, then noon on Thursday-Saturday; grandstands are cleared and secured at 1 p.m. and reopen at 2, daily. … Watch live on FloRacing.
World 100 winners
Year: Winner, hometown
2023: Hudson O’Neal, Martinsville, Ind.
2022: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2021: Brandon Overton, Evans, Ga.; Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2020: Postponed
2019: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2018: Tim McCreadie, Watertown, N.Y.
2017: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2016: Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, Ill.
2015: Jonathan Davenport, Blairsville, Ga.
2014: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2013: John Blankenship, Williamson, W.Va.
2012: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2011: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2010: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
2009: Bart Hartman, Zanesville, Ohio
2008: Shane Clanton, Locust Grove, Ga.
2007: Jimmy Owens, Newport, Tenn.
2006: Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla.
2005: Dale McDowell, Rossville, Ga.
2004: Chub Frank, Bear Lake, Pa.
2003: Dan Schlieper, Pewaukee, Wis.
2002: Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa
2001: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
2000: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1999: Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky.
1998: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1997: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1996: Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio
1995: Jack Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1994: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1993: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1992: Donnie Moran, Frazeysburg, Ohio
1991: Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark.
1990: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
1989: Donnie Moran, Frazeysburg, Ohio
1988: Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn.
1987: Randy Boggs, Grayson, Ky.
1986: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1985: Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio
1984: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1983: Jeff Purvis, Clarksville, Tenn.
1982: Mike Duvall, Gaffney, S.C.
1981: Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio
1980: Charlie Swartz, Lucasville, Ohio
1979: Larry Moore, Dayton, Ohio
1978: Ken Walton, Viola, Iowa
1977: Doug Kenimer, Dalton, Ga.
1976: Charlie Hughes, Dalton, Ga.
1975: Joe Merryfield, Des Moines, Iowa
1974: Ed Sanger, Waterloo, Iowa
1973: Floyd Gilbert, Lockland, Ohio
1972: Verlin Eaker, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1971: Bruce Gould, Milford, Ohio
Weekend purses
Thursday-Friday prelims (two features daily)
1. $12,000
2. $6,000
3. $3,500
4. $2,800
5. $2,500
6. $2,300
7. $2,200
8. $2,100
9. $2,050
10. $2,000
11. $1,600
12. $1,400
13. $1,200
14. $1,100
15. $1,050
16.-26. $1,000
Saturday’s feature event
1. $57,000
2. $25,000
3. $15,000
4. $12,500
5. $10,000
6. $9,000
7. $8,000
8. $7,500
9. $7,250
10. $7,000
11. $6,750
12. $6,500
13. $6,250
14. $6,000
15. $5,850
16. $5,700
17. $5,650
18. $5,600
19. $5,550
20. $5,500
21. $5,475
22. $5,450
23. $5,425
24.-28. $5,400
Event schedule
(All times local; subject to change)
Wednesday
10 a.m. - Ticket and pit pass sales begin
11 a.m. - Pits open
Noon - Tech inspection begins
1 p.m. - Grandstands cleared and secured
2 p.m. - Grandstands reopen
6 p.m. - Hot laps
8 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model time trials
- Late Model heats (10 laps)
- Late Model consolations (12 laps)
- Late Model feature (50 laps)
Thursday
7 a.m.-11 a.m. - Breakfast served (turn four concession building)
11 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
Noon - Pits open
1 p.m. - Grandstands cleared and secured
2 p.m. - All gates, suites and concessions open
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - Hot laps
8 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model time trials
- Late Model shootout races (12 laps)
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)
Dukes of Country concert (fan zone)
Friday
7 a.m.-11 a.m. - Breakfast served (turn four concession building)
11 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
Noon - Pits open
1 p.m. - Grandstands cleared and secured
2 p.m. - All gates, suites and concessions open
5 p.m. - Drivers’ meeting
6 p.m. - Hot laps
8 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model time trials
- Late Model shootout races (12 laps)
- Late Model first semifeature (25 laps)
- Late Model second semifeature (25 laps)
Dirty Grass Soul concert (fan zone)
Saturday
7 a.m.-11 a.m. - Breakfast served (turn four concession building)
11 a.m. - Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
Noon - Pits, suites and concessions open
Noon - Scott Bloomquist’s celebration of life (victory stage)
1 p.m. - Grounds cleared and secured
2 p.m. - All gates, suites and concessions open
2 p.m. - Church service (behind main office)
3:30 p.m. - Driver autograph session (fan zone)
4:30 p.m. - Public drivers’ meeting (fan zone)
6:30 p.m. - Hot laps
7 p.m. - Opening ceremonies
Competition
- Late Model heats (15 laps)
- Late Model consolations (20 laps)
- 54th annual World 100 (100 laps)
Tickets
Wednesday
One-day general admission (14-and-up): $30
One-day child reserved (13-and-under): $10
One-day child general admission (13 and under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for adults
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $40
Four-day all access pit pass (all ages): $185
Thursday
One-day general admission (14-and-up): $35
One-day child reserved (13-and-under): $20
One-day child general admission (13 and under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for adults
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $45
Three-day all access pit pass (all ages): $145
Friday
One-day general admission (14-and-up): $35
One-day child reserved (13-and-under): $20
One-day child general admission (13-and-under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for adults
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $45
Two-day all access pit pass (all ages): $105
Saturday
One-day general admission (14-and-up): $45
One-day child reserved (13-and-under): $20
One-day child general admission (13-and-under): free
Reserved seating: Additional $5 for adults
One-day all access pit pass (all ages): $65
Camping
Primitive camping: $85 for the week (Sept. 2-8)
Online reservations: eldoraspeedway.showare.com
More information: eldoraspeedway.com/camping/campground-maps or (937) 338-3815
