The Eldora Million is back — and part of the richest weekend in the history of short track racing.

Reviving Dirt Late Model racing's most lucrative event from 21 years earlier, Eldora Speedway this evening announced the return of The Eldora Million with a sport-record payday of $1,002,022-to-win next season at the Tony Stewart-owned oval in Rossburg, Ohio.

Scheduled for June 8-9 — the Wednesday and Thursday preceding the $128,000-to-win Dream scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 10-11 — Eldora will pay out a mindboggling $1.86 million in purse money over four days at the Earl and Berneice Baltes-founded track with all the action streamed live at FloRacing.

“I have said from the first day I took ownership of Eldora that we want to make Earl and Berneice proud and continue to push the limits of race promotion," Stewart said in a press release. "I can’t think of a better way to honor their legacy than bringing back The Eldora Million for our loyal drivers and fans.

“And I couldn’t do it without our phenomenal partnership with Mark Floreani and his team at FloRacing. I love working with them in growing our sport and showcasing our events and content to motorsports fans worldwide.”

Tournament-style preliminary features June 8 will set heat race lineups for June 9 with a full program of heats and consolation races preceding The Eldora Million main event. A preliminary night of Dream action is set for June 10 with the Dream program and feature set for June 11.

The original Eldora Million, the brainchild of Earl Baltes, was held June 9, 2001, with Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, pocketing a record-setting $1 million winner's check.

Fans who bought tickets for 2021's Dream will have the first opportunity to purchase the same seats for The Eldora Million. Public sale of tickets and campsites for Eldora's 2022 marquee events, including The Eldora Million, begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 11. Visit eldoraspeedway.com for ticketing details.