Eldora Speedway | 13929
St Route 118 | New Weston | OH | 45348
For immediate news release e-mail: mail@eldoraspeedway.com
KAHNE
ACCEPTS NEXTEL PRELUDE LATE MODEL CHALLENGE AT ELDORA
ROSSBURG,
OH (April 25) -- Kasey Kahne, NASCAR’s 2004 Nextel Cup
Rookie of the Year, has turned many laps at Eldora Speedway
over the years, in winged and non-winged open wheel race cars,
but none in a full-bodied Late Model. That will change on Wednesday,
June 6, as Kahne joins nearly two dozen other drivers from the
NASCAR circuit to compete in the Nextel Prelude to the Dream.
Kahne has
been following the unique Prelude since its inception in 2005,
but his schedule has never allowed him to participate.
Quips Kahne,
“the Nextel Prelude to the Dream has been the most prestigious
new short track event created in the past several years. I know
it started three years ago as a special event, all-star type
of event that featured a lot of NASCAR drivers. Everyone talks
about running in the event and what it would mean to beat the
best drivers on dirt.”.
Getting
in the event was important to Kahne. “I told Evernham
Motorsports to make sure my schedule would allow me to join
the field this year, as I have never raced in the Prelude, or
even a Late Model at Eldora Speedway. Beating the best, like
Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, on dirt, would be awesome and
I am looking forward to the opportunity.”
Not only
is Kahne anxious, but so is his team owner - Ray Evernham. Evernham,
noted for his exploits behind the wheel of an East Coast open
wheel pavement Modified, drove from 1979 through 1983; with
numerous wins to his credit.
The Nextel
Prelude will allow him the opportunity to once again jump behind
the behind of a race car; albeit on an unfamiliar dirt surface.
Kahne and
Evernham have some stiff obstacles ahead of them, as the field
also includes the likes of defending event winner and two-time
NASCAR Cup champion, Tony Stewart, four-time Cup Winner Jeff
Gordon and yet another Cup champion - Matt Kenseth; among others.
Behind
the wheel of borrowed dirt Late Models, the night could prove
to be interesting, as some of the drivers have never been on
dirt before, and others have limited experience. Following a
brief hot lap session, each driver will be given two timed laps
to determined placement into one of three qualifying heat races.
Finish positions from this heats will determine the starting
line-up in the subsequent 30 lap finale.
Tickets
for the June 6 Nextel Prelude to the Dream are available online
at www.eldoraspeedway.com or by calling the track office at
937.338.3815 during normal business hours.
