Countdown to Eldora
 

12 days until the Eldora opener. 12 years ago in 1996 the first USAC program of the year at the Big E was a sprint car event on August 7th. Frankie Kerr took the win. The 4 Crown was held on September 28th. Tracy Hines was the winner of the midget feature. Jimmy Sills took down the sprint win while Jack Hewitt added to his impressive Eldora win total in the Silver Crown race.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

i cant wait till eldora,:kookoo,Havent been there in 2 years!:(

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

The nice thing about this post is my dad started taking me to Eldora in the sixty's, my grandpa played music in the Ballroom long before I knew what Eldora was. Oh the memories, one that sticks out is old money does smell pretty bad. :checkered: :respect:

Jerry #66j
www.joshspencer.com

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

I am chomping at the bit!!! And with all the reasons I can"t wait till the day gets here, the one most important is my 9 year old son might just be going with me. It makes a great nite just about perfect!

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

LONG RANGE FORECAST DOESN`T LOOK THAT GREAT.
PLANS ARE TO GO.DON`T CARE HOW COLD JUST DON`T NEED ANY RRRAAAIIINNN. :headbang :headbang

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by SHORTBUS:
LONG RANGE FORECAST DOESN`T LOOK THAT GREAT.
PLANS ARE TO GO.DON`T CARE HOW COLD JUST DON`T NEED ANY RRRAAAIIINNN. :headbang

Bill I hope you aren't thinking that the "weather forecasters?" have a clue what is going to happen in 12 days.:angry-smiley-007: They can't even predict what is going to happen this weekend. Looking at the long range forecast is like predicting the feature winner at Eldora.:doh::O:

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Does anyone around the Eldora area know if they have been able to get out on the track and do anything yet?

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Weather Does Not Bother Me.if They Don`t Call It I Will Be There With Bells On.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

My pops took me to Eldora in the early 80's and I have not stopped goin since. this will be my 29th year there and a I will be 37 next month.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by fishnman:
I am chomping at the bit!!! And with all the reasons I can"t wait till the day gets here, the one most important is my 9 year old son might just be going with me. It makes a great nite just about perfect!

i am to so very much!:

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

11 days until the Eldora opener. 11 years ago in 1997 Kevin Huntley started the USAC season at Eldora with a March 29th sprint car win. He backed that up with a repeat sprint car victory on June 22nd. Sprint cars returned on August 6th and Brian Tyler bested the field. The 4 Crown was held on September 20th and Jay Drake was the midget winner. Eldora master Jack Hewitt copped the sprint car go. Huntley won his third Eldora USAC event of the year in the Silver Crown feature.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

10 days until the Eldora opener. 10 years ago in 1998 a May 2nd sprint car event was the first USAC race of the year at the Big E. Kevin Doty was the winner. The sprints returned on May 24th and Dave Darland took the top prize. A third sprint car event on June 20th was won by Doty. The 4 Crown was held on September 25th and history was made there. In what ranks as one of the most incredible feats in short track history Jack Hewitt swept all four feature events on the card. USAC midgets, USAC sprints, UMP modifieds, and USAC Silver Crown. To this day it is one of the most talked about accomplishments in short track racing. And well it should be.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by SHORTBUS:
LONG RANGE FORECAST DOESN`T LOOK THAT GREAT.
PLANS ARE TO GO.DON`T CARE HOW COLD JUST DON`T NEED ANY RRRAAAIIINNN. :headbang :headbang

Saturday, Apr 5
High: 55 °F RealFeel®: 48 °F
Sunshine and warmer

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

:applaud::applaud::applaud:

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

9 days until the Eldora opener. 9 years ago in 1999 four sprint car shows were run prior to the 4 Crown. Derek Davidson won the first two on March 27th & May 1st. Tracy Hines stepped up and won the other two on May 30th and July 28th. The 4 Crown was held on September 25th. Dave Darland had a big night by winning both the midget and sprint car features. "Buckwheat" Jimmy Sills was the victor of the Silver Crown event.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

www.fscpictorial.com/haud88.JPG

Twenty Years Ago ---- March 27, 1988
Haud takes the Eldora Opener

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

8 days until the Eldora opener. 8 years ago in 2000 an April 1st sprint car show opened the Eldora USAC season. Jay Drake took down the win. Dave Darland copped the next sprint car feature on April 29th. Another sprint event on May 28th saw Tony Elliott in victory lane. A rainout of a sprint car show on June 24th left the September 30th 4 Crown as the remaining USAC action of the year. Kasey Kahne was the midget winner. Tracy Hines took the sprint car event. J.J. Yeley was the Silver Crown winner.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

In looking at everything so far, unless I missed it, Eldora's owner never won a race there. Correct?

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by ThrottleHead:
In looking at everything so far, unless I missed it, Eldora's owner never won a race there. Correct?

I realize that my memory is poor but didn't he win the Prelude a couple of years ago?:O:

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by ThrottleHead:
In looking at everything so far, unless I missed it, Eldora's owner never won a race there. Correct?

Don, in '95 when Smoke won the Triple Crown he also won both the midget and sprint car portions of the 4 Crown.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by Dwight Clock:
Don, in '95 when Smoke won the Triple Crown he also won both the midget and sprint car portions of the 4 Crown.

Thanks Dwight. I knew my memory wasn't the best!

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

7 days until the Eldora opener. 7 years ago in 2001 a rain out on March 31st moved the USAC sprint car event to April 28th. Tracy Hines was the winner. Next was an historic doubleheader as both the USAC sprints and USAC midgets were scheduled for back to back shows on June 22nd & 23rd. Jay Drake had a big night on the 22nd as he won both the midget and sprint car features. Dave Darland won the next night's midget event with J.J. Yeley copping the sprint car go. The 4 Crown was held on September 22nd. J.J. Yeley sandwiched wins in the midget and Silver Crown events around a sprint car win by Bud Kaeding.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

We Use To Open On Sunday Afternoon At Eldora! Now A Cold Sat.nite With No Rain Date On Sun.?

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

We Use To Open On Sunday Afternoon At Eldora! Now A Cold Sat.nite With No Rain Date On Sun.?

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

6 days until the Eldora opener. After snow wiped out a March 30th sprint car event and rain did likewise to the April 27th program a sprint car show opened the Eldora USAC season on May 26th. J.J. Yeley was the winner. The "Buckeye Nationals" were next on June 22nd. Yeley won the midget feature while Tony Elliott was the sprint car victor. The 4 Crown was held on September 21st. Jay Drake won the midgets, Bud Kaeding took his 2nd straight 4 Crown sprint car event, and Brian Tyler notched the Silver Crown race.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

5 days until the Eldora opener. 5 years ago in 2003 the early season sprint car show scheduled for April 5th fell victim to the weather again. Sprint cars returned on May 3rd with Boston Reid the winner. J.J. Yeley won the sprint feature on May 25th. The Buckeye Nationals doubleheader on June 21st Saw Dave Darland cop the midget race and Jon Stanbrough win the sprint car feature. There was no 4 Crown in 2003 as the Mopar Million took center stage. Jac Haudenscild bested the huge field as he took home the $200,000 top prize in the historic event held on September 19th.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

4 days until the Eldora USAC opener. 4 years ago in 2004 weather yet again wreaked havoc on the early season Eldora races. Sprint car shows were cancelled on April 3rd & May 1st leaving the June 19th Buckeye Nationals as the first USAC activity of the year at the Big E. Bobby East (midgets) and Jay Drake (sprints) were the winners. The Mopar Thunder was next on August 7th and the "Pup", Kevin Huntley, grabbed Earl Baltes' $50,000. The 4 Crown returned on September 25th after a one year hiatus. Dave Darland was the easy winner in the midget feature. Dickie Gaines rode the Roberts car to the sprint car victory. Darland came back and won his second feature of the evening in the Silver Crown event.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Sure doesn't look like our "batting average' for the weather is very good. Hopefully, we can improve it this year. Forecast calls for clear today, rain tomorrow and then dry Friday and Saturday. I do wonder just how wet the grounds must be, even if it doesn't rain on Saturday.
Hope to see you Saturday!

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

3 days until the Eldora USAC opener. 3 years ago in 2005 it was a very busy year for USAC at the Big E. Rain once again washed out the sprint car opener on April 2nd. Returning on April 30th Jay Drake won the Border Wars sprint car feature. Sprints again on May 29th with Rob Chaney showing the way. The Buckeye Nationals were held on June 18th. Dave Darland won the midget event while Kevin Huntley was the sprint car victor. Sprints returned on August 6th and Rob Chaney copped his 2nd USAC sprint car feature of the year at Eldora. The 4 Crown was held on September 24th. Danny Stratton took down the midget win. Levi Jones put the Benic 2b in the sprint car winners circle. Dave Darland was the winner of the Silver Crown feature.

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Dwight - when Dickie Gaines won at Eldora, it was aboard the old #70 Chicken Bucket. That, along with Stanbrough's '03 win with Paul Hazen, were great wins for the "little guys" at a track that is so tough for them to conquer. I can remember the Popeye's chicken being passed around until Dickie was the last trailer in the infield that night...

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

If I remember correctly Stanbrough's win was a thriller with him making up a straightaway lead on Yeley who was having a great season.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon:
Dwight - when Dickie Gaines won at Eldora, it was aboard the old #70 Chicken Bucket. That, along with Stanbrough's '03 win with Paul Hazen, were great wins for the "little guys" at a track that is so tough for them to conquer. I can remember the Popeye's chicken being passed around until Dickie was the last trailer in the infield that night...

Don't forget to include Matt Westfall's win last year on that list.:thumb

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

You just killed the suspense for all of us waiting for your countdown update! haha

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by Kirk Spridgeon:
You just killed the suspense for all of us waiting for your countdown update! haha

I didn't think there was any suspense. I'm old and forget but even I remember that win. Sorry.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

I've enjoyed the postings you have been providing. Was looking forward to being at Eldora for this opening event, now I am not going. Hopefully there will be a race I will get to attend. Everyone be safe and have a good time if the weather allows this event to happen.
Ron

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

2 days until the Eldora opener. Two years ago in 2006 the sprint car opener on April 1st finally beat the weatherman. Jerry Coons Jr. held of a last lap effort by Hoffman teammate Tracy Hines to record the win. The Border Wars sprint car feature on April 29th was won by Rob Chaney. On June 17th Matt Westfall scored one of the most popular Eldora wins in years when he took the sprint car feature event. The 4 Crown, foirever to be known as the 24 Hours of Eldora, was scheduled for Saturday night September 23rd but didn't end until breakfast time on Sunday. Tracy Hines won the midget feature. Hines came back and took the sprint car go as well. Matt Neely won the Silver Crown race.

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Just 1 more day until the Eldora USAC opener. One year ago in 2007 Mother Nature resumed her winning ways at the early season USAC sprint car event scheduled for March 31st. The Border Wars sprint car feature on April 28th was captured by Robert Ballou. It would be almost five months before USAC returned to the Big E for the 4 Crown Nationals on September 22nd. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. put his name in the Eldora record books with a win in the midget feature event. Robert Ballou proved that his April win was no fluke by capturing the sprint car headliner. Jerry Coons Jr. continued his brilliant season by winning the Silver Crown 50 lap race. I hope everyone has enjoyed this countdown as much as I have enjoyed doing it. Now, whether you are at Eldora or maybe No. Vernon tomorrow night, it is time to go racing. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable 2008 season. Let's Go Racing!!!

Re: Countdown to Eldora
 

Originally Posted by Dwight Clock:
Just 1 more day until the Eldora USAC opener. Now, whether you are at Eldora or maybe No. Vernon tomorrow night, it is time to go racing. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable 2008 season. Let's Go Racing!!!

Dwight,

I have enjoyed your trip down memory lane very much. Thanks for taking the time to research this and provide us with the daily update. I hope you have a great 2008 and hope to see you at the races.

Mike