Eldora Speedway | 13929
St Route 118 | New Weston | OH | 45348
For immediate news release e-mail: mail@eldoraspeedway.com
BALTES
CLASSIC TO REWARD FANS AND DRIVERS
ROSSBURG, OH (August 24) – Considered
to be the P.T. Barnum of auto racing, Earl Baltes always had
the uncanny knack of intriguing not only race teams but the
fans alike at Eldora Speedway, with his motivating promotions.
Whether it be unheard of prize money to win for the teams, marrying
of apes on the stage or wheelbarrow races for the fans, Baltes
always kept people guessing what his next promotional gimmick
would be.
That continued from 1954 until his retirement
from racing in 2004, when he sold the fabled Eldora speed plant
to two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart.
Stewart, ever cognizant and appreciative of
Baltes’ efforts, announced earlier this year the formation
of The Baltes Classic; a Sunday, August 31, event to forever
honor and remember the accomplishments and efforts of Earl Baltes
and his wife, Berneice. Aesthetic Finishes of Piqua instantly
jumped on board as the event sponsor.
At the time of the announcement, Stewart revealed
a life-size bronzed statue of the most respected husband-wife
team in auto racing. Now permanently on display at the entrance
to Eldora’s grandstand area, the statue allows Earl and
Berneice to greet everyone as they take in an Eldora event.
“What better way to acknowledge Earl
and Berneice’s efforts than to reward the fans?”,
quipped Stewart. “Earl has always gifted the race teams
with the best money there is in racing, but the fans have been
the life blood and backbone of Eldora, so we want The Baltes
Classic to be a tribute to the founders and the fans.”
As such, a minimum of $50,000 in cash and
product will be distributed to the fans that night. In addition
to $15,000 in cash, race fans in attendance will instantly become
eligible for product and gift certificates from The Home Depot,
NIKE, MAC Tools, Armor All, Old Spice, Sunoco, Advance Auto
Parts and Play Station. The prize winning numbers will be announced
throughout the night.
The August 31 racing menu will feature the
Sunoco sponsored American Late Model Series (ALMS), Moser UMP
(United Midwestern Promoters) Modifieds and Advance Auto Parts
Stock cars, in a holiday weekend tripleheader. The ALMS runners,
using the event as their final tune-up for the following week’s
World 100, will be treated as well. Their prize money has been
upped from the standard $2,000 winner’s share, to $3,000.
“Earl and Berneice Baltes have done
so much for racing, for so many years, that no one will ever
forget them”, continued Stewart. “The sport is much
better because of them, and we all cherish this opportunity
to be with them, enjoying themselves as they are surrounded
by the many fans that they have come to know and befriend over
the years.”
Gates
for The Baltes Classic presented by Aestethic Finishers swing
open at 3:00, with the first racing event at 7:30 PM.
