Eldora Speedway
Dream XVII: We've got questions (and answers)
By Todd Turner
DirtonDirt.com managing editor
The name says it all. (thesportswire.net)
Here's a random look at Dream Week XVII at Eldora Speedway through a question-and-answer format that asks plenty of random questions — and provides plenty of random answers:
Q: Who's a good bet for setting quick time at Wednesday's Prelude to the Dream?
A: How about first-timer Austin Dillon, the part-time Dirt Late Model racer and full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver who set fast time at last September's World 100 at Eldora. Then again, 11th-hour fill-in Jason Leffler, driving a Chris Wall-owned car, has topped qualifying at Eldora in his days as a three-time USAC midget champion from '97-'99. | Complete Dream XVII coverage
Q: Is the format for the Dream just like the World 100?
A: It's mostly the same with a few tweaks. Friday's time trials are the same (top 120 qualifiers earn heat race spots and top two qualifiers are guaranteed spots in the feature), but things are different after Saturday's heats send three cars apiece to the main event. Instead of the two consolation races of the World 100, the Dream has a C-main (for heat race finishers 7-10) and then a B-main (for heat race finishers 4-6 plus six C-main transfers). Six cars transfer from the B-main for a 26-car starting field, two fewer cars than the World 100.
Q: The Dream drew a second-lowest total of 104 cars last year. How many will show up this year for a race that's drawn more than 140 cars on eight occasions?
A: Car count is always the million-dollar question, and there's no way to be sure until entries are closed on Friday afternoon. The trend since 2006 has been for a lower car count each successive year, but with fewer than 120 cars last year — meaning any driver showing up would be guaranteed a heat race starting spot — it stands to reason the car count will rise at least slightly.
Q: What type of unprecedented feats will two-time Dream Billy Moyer be gunning for?
A: The Hall of Famer from Batesville, Ark., will try to become the first driver to win back-to-back Dreams. If he pulls that off, that means he'd also become the first driver in Eldora history to win three straight major Eldora Late Model events (Dream or World 100).
Q: Who has the most consecutive starts in the Dream main event?
A: Scott Bloomquist and Jimmy Owens are tied with seven apiece. Bloomquist's streak is more impressive, though. He's been first or second in five of those starts and has had top-five finishes since 2004, a streak unmatched by any driver during any seven-race stretch in race history.
Q: Who has made the most Dream starts without winning the race?
A: Steve Francis has competed in 14 Dreams (tied for most with Bloomquist) without winning. Behind him, four drivers have made eight starts without winning: Brian Birkhofer, Dale McDowell, Don O'Neal and Wendell Wallace.
Q: Who has run well at Eldora earlier this season?
A: Only 42 Late Model drivers have taken competitive laps at the track, the entrants in the lone American Late Model Series event at Eldora this season. Matt Miller, the '05 Dream winner, led all the way in a race with four former Dream winners (Steve Casebolt, Darrell Lanigan and Donnie Moran were the others) among the top six finishers. Miller has four ALMS victories at Eldora since his Dream year.
Q: Who are the hottest drivers heading to the Dream?
A: Jimmy Owens has won two of the last four Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series events, and recently ecliped Bloomquist to take the points lead. Josh Richards won two Appalachian Mountain Speedweek events earlier this week and Jonathan Davenport is coming off third-, second- and first-place finishers last weekend.
Q: Who are some Eldora standouts struggling before the Dream?
A: Former World 100 winner Earl Pearson is winless and has just six top-five finishes all season; two-time Dream runner-up Ray Cook has a single unsanctioned victory and is mired in 10th in Lucas Oil points; fan favorite and wall-scraping ace Jeep Van Wormer won two off-season events in Australia but has no domestic victories.
Q: What chassis is most likely to set fast time?
A: Rocket Chassis has a streak of five straight years of posting the best qualifying time at the Dream, including twice by Tim McCreadie (who has recently dabbled with a Victory Circle Chassis).
Q: Will drivers say the track is faster/slower/smoother/rougher/dustier/trickier and that it favors the higher/lower groove more than it did 5/10/15 years ago?
A: Yes.
Q: What driver with the fewest Dirt Late Model starts in 2011 will be one to watch?
A: Bart Hartman, the 2009 World 100 winner, plans to complete in an Ernie Davis-owned car, making just his second start in the division this year. Fans will likely recognize the look of Hartman's entry. Davis frequently fields a No. 25 for two-time WoO champion Josh Richards when Richards isn't driving the Rocket Chassis house car. Hartman will have belated ties to another team as Scott James and Riggs Motorsports has been fielding one of Hartman's former Rockets.
Q: Who are likely entrants who've never made the Dream but are worthy of keeping an eye on?
A: Ohio's Jon Henry, coming off a two-victory weekend at Attica and Oakshade; Indiana's Kent Robinson, who nearly won an ALMS event last year at Eldora in his abbreviated rookie season and finished third last month; Missouri's Eric Turner, who will field a Terry Pannell-owned car that Ron Hornaday will drive in the Prelude; and Illinois rookie Mike Spatola, who has four victories in 16 career starts.
