Eldora Speedway | 13929
St Route 118 | New Weston | OH | 45348
For immediate news release e-mail: mail@eldoraspeedway.com
SALUTE
TO THE KINGS TO BE A REUNION
ROSSBURG,
OH (June 23) – Sitting high atop the fabled throne at
Eldora Speedway at the completion of the Kings Royal is revered
amongst the Sprint Car fraternity as one the highest honors
within the industry. Only 13 drivers have walked the hallowed
Eldora Stage to sit in that position.
In recognition
of this year’s silver anniversary of the Kings Royal,
each of those 13 drivers have been invited to participate in
a special ‘Salute to the Kings’, and the majority
of them have acknowledged their intention to attend..
To be held
Saturday afternoon, July 12, in the Eldora Ballroom, and open
to the public, the gathering will take on the appearance of
a ‘who’s who’ in Sprint Car racing. Already
submitting their intentions to participate are current drivers
Steve Kinser (1984, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2003, 2005), Jac Haudenschild
(1987, 1994, 1998), Joey Saldana (2002, 2006), Dale Blaney (2000),
Jason Sides (2004) and Donny Schatz (2007).
Additionally,
Doug Wolfgang (1985, 1990), Don Krietz, Jr. (1986), Sammy Swindell
(1992, 1999) and Bobby Davis, Jr. (1989) will be returning to
Eldora for this special occasion. Dave Blaney will be in Chicago
for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race, while Johnny Herrera and Mark
Kinser are uncertain on their plans.
For that
group, it will be the first time in many years that they have
returned to Eldora, and they look forward to the opportunity
to reunite with their fans and reminisce Kings Royal tales.
Wolfgang
has not seen Eldora since the early 90’s and is eagerly
awaiting the return visit, while defending champion Schatz is
looking forward to being on the same stage with Wolfgang. “Doug
Wolfgang was one of my heroes growing up, so to be part of this
reunion of Kings Royal winners is a really big deal. It’s
a huge honor to have my name amongst some of the best that have
ever driven a Sprint Car”, commented Schatz.
Davis echoes
“It’s been so long since I’ve been back to
Eldora, I’m really looking forward to this trip. I don’t
even care if gas if $5.00 a gallon by July – that’s
not going to stop me from coming up. I’m really looking
forward to seeing everyone again.”
Haudenschild
is another driver looking forward to the reunion. “I just
love the Kings Royal – those three trophies are the centerpiece
of my trophy room at home. It’s going to be fun to see
some of the guys like Wolfie and Bobby, Jr., who don’t
race with us anymore.”
With the
doors opening at 11:00, the ceremony will include a luncheon
at 12:00 and promises to be concluded in quick fashion to allow
the teams to prep for the evening’s 25th annual running
of the $50,000 to win Kings Royal, and for the fans to attend
the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame auction at 3:00.
Tickets
for the affair are priced at $15 and may be purchased by calling
the track office at (937) 338-3815.
