Stewart’s walk-off win in the season finale, however, didn’t exactly prevail in a landslide among voting by members of the news media.

Trevor Bayne’s historic Daytona 500 victory – which opened the year on a spectacular note at Daytona International Speedway – barely missed out on the No. 1 spot. Below are the top 10 vote-getters from 2011.

1-Tony Stewart’s Homestead-Miami Clincher

Stewart trailed Carl Edwards by three points entering the 10th and final race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. Both drivers had predicted the championship wouldn’t be decided until the final lap, and they were right. Edwards, who started on the pole, led the most laps while Stewart yo-yoed through the field after fixing damage to the front of his Chevrolet. Amazingly, Stewart took the lead with 36 laps remaining. Edwards, in second place, stayed in full-out pursuit mode until the checkered flag waved, but finished 1.306 seconds behind Stewart. Both drivers scored 2,403 points with the tiebreaker – five wins to one – falling in Stewart’s favor.

2-Trevor Bayne’s Daytona 500 Win

Winning The Great American Race is a career achievement no matter how many races or championships are won elsewhere. Example: Seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt needed 20 starts to win his Daytona 500 at age 46. All of which made Bayne’s victory both surprising and historic. Bayne, at age 20 years and one day, was making just his second NASCAR Sprint Cup start, although his team – the legendary Wood Brothers – had won the Daytona 500 on four previous occasions. Bayne, who started 32nd and led only the final six laps as a record 74 lead changes were recorded became the youngest Daytona 500 winner and just the seventh to make the race his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory. The win was Ford’s 600th and 98th for the Wood Brothers.

3-Brad Keselowski’s Wreckers-to-Checkers Win at Pocono

Playing hurt is the measure of athletic success, as Brad Keselowski won August’s Good Sam RV Insurance 500 at Pocono Raceway just days after breaking his left ankle in a road course testing accident. Few might have projected a healthy Keselowski as a Pocono favorite. He’d won at Kansas Speedway earlier in the summer, but came to Pennsylvania ranked 21st in points. The race turned out to be a coming-out party for the 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion, who followed the performance with three more top-three finishes capped by a Bristol victory, a Chase wild card berth and a fifth place finish in final NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.

4-Jeff Gordon’s 85th NASCAR Sprint Cup Win

Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon fell short in his title bid, but the 2011 season was his first with multiple victories since 2007. He broke a 66-race winless streak at Phoenix International Raceway in February, added another win at Pocono Raceway in June and scored a historic 85th career victory in a weather-delayed AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in September. Atlanta’s victory gave Gordon sole possession of third among all NASCAR Sprint Cup winners, breaking a tie with NASCAR Hall of Fame member Bobby Allison and soon-to-be-inducted Darrell Waltrip.

5-Regan Smith’s Southern 500 Win

What Trevor Bayne began in February, Regan Smith continued in May. Smith entered Darlington Raceway’s SHOWTIME Southern 500 with a lean resume to say the least: no wins, top fives or top 10s in 104 NASCAR Sprint Cup starts. Smith, then 27, became the upset winner of NASCAR’s oldest “crown jewel.” He led just the final 11 laps and held off Carl Edwards by 0.196 seconds to give Furniture Row Racing – a team headquartered in Colorado – its first series victory.

6-Jimmie Johnson’s Aaron’s 499 Win at Talladega

At the time, Jimmie Johnson’s final-lap victory – with an assist by teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. – appeared to be an early harbinger of a sixth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Johnson’s second Talladega Superspeedway win – and 54th overall – boosted him from fourth to second in the point standings. The race matched records for lead changes (88) and margin of victory under electronic scoring (0.002 seconds).

7-Paul Menard Holds Off Jeff Gordon to Win Brickyard 400

Surprise winners in 2011, take three. For much of its 19 years, Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Brickyard 400 had been won by the greatest names in NASCAR: Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt, bill Elliott – champions all. No first-time winners in the bunch – until this July. Midwesterner Paul Menard wound up kissing the start-finish line bricks after prevailing in a torrid battle with four-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon. Menard joined Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and SHOWTIME Southern 500 winner Regan Smith to score a first victory on the schedule’s largest stages.

8-Austin Dillon Becomes Youngest NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion

Though a number of young drivers have used their experience in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series as a springboard to NASCAR Sprint Cup success – think Carl Edwards, among others – veteran drivers, for the most part, have had a stranglehold on its championships. Only Travis Kvapil (age 27 in 2003) was younger than 30 in the series’ first 16 seasons. All that changed in 2011 as third-generation driver Austin Dillon, 21, became the youngest to win an NCWTS title. Dillon, a two-time winner, finished six points ahead of NASCAR national series veteran Johnny Sauter. Dillon, Richard Childress’ grandson, returned a title to RCR that Mike Skinner won in the series’ 1995 inaugural season.

9-Danica Patrick Posts Best Finish in NASCAR by a Female Driver

All agreed that Danica Patrick’s part-time NASCAR career was on the upswing in its second season. Patrick proved that with an exclamation point on March 5 with a solid, fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The performance was record-setting: Patrick became not only the highest-finishing female driver in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race but also in any NASCAR national series event. Patrick’s feat broke a record from NASCAR’s earliest years – Sara Christian’s fifth-place finish in a NASCAR Sprint Cup (then Strictly Stock) race on Oct. 2, 1949 at Heidelberg, Pa.

10-2010 Sunoco Rookies-of-the-Year Win Championship

Two NASCAR national series champions gave media and fans yet another reason to keep an eye on the newcomers. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., whose uneven performance nearly cost him his job with Roush Fenway Racing in 2010, recovered to claim NASCAR Nationwide Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Roush’s faith was rewarded as Stenhouse won twice en route to the 2011 championship. Austin Dillon’s rookie of the year run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wasn’t quite so dramatic but like Stenhouse, he “graduated” to the champion’s chair. The season marked the first time that both Nationwide and truck rookies became champions in their sophomore years.

“She is craving ice, which I guess is typical but there are certain smells that are driving her nuts. I had a house full of deer jerky this week and that is not on the list of good things.”

IS RON (HORNADAY) GOING TO GET IN YOUR CAR IN PRACTICE TOMORROW?
“I think there is potential for it. I don’t know if that is going to happen, but I think there is potential, but we haven’t talked about it honestly to know if it is or isn’t going to happen. She is not in a position right now, as far as I know, I don’t think the bell is going to get rung that hard when God makes the call. I don’t know exactly what is going to happen in respect to Ron, but he is on standby, yes.”

I ASSUME YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE IF SHE DOES GO INTO LABOR:
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know. It all depends on the timing of things. Obviously, if I am in the car, another few laps may not hurt. (LAUGHS) I’m just sayin’. (LAUGHS) I have a couple people in line to delay the message as it gets to me, just in case. (LAUGHS) Obviously, that is really important in my line. Our first baby. I don’t know if you can say first baby or last baby or whatever, but, it is important to be there. To be there for her. She has her mom by her side so that is really good too. I told her when she was filing, not to get any paper cuts, just be careful. (SMILES).”

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF ALL THAT WENT ON LAST WEEK WITH JEFF GORDON AND JEFF BURTON AS WELL AS KYLE BUSCH GESTURE. A TEAM CHANGE CREWS, CAN YOU IMAGINE ALL OF THAT HAPPENING IN ONE RACE?
“I couldn’t imagine it. I guess maybe the craziest part was when Jeff and Jeff got together was under caution so it is like and for them to crash as hard as they did under caution was kind of wild. Kyle, that is no surprise. I think he has probably waved the bird a couple of times and nobody saw him. This was a little bit different situation. That’s understandable. The pit crew changing deal, you have to pull out all the stops and do the best you can with what you have to work with and sometimes that incorporates different people. I can understand that. We’ve had to do it before. When somebody is not performing, whether it is from being hurt or pure performance, you do what you have to do.”

“About the Jeff and Jeff deal, I was kind of curious as to why they were allowed to walk toward each others. I mean, were they going to shake hands and bow or what? (LAUGHTER) I wouldn’t you be just forced to get in the ambulance and come back? It just seemed like it was weird circumstances. You crash each other under caution. You walk toward each other. They are allowed to walk toward each other like they are going to pat each other on the back and say ‘hey, hope you kid does good next week on their report card’. Next thing you know, they are fighting and pushing each other. One of them accepts the fault that caused the whole deal. Then they both get in the ambulance together and ride off. It is almost like bad soap opera and reality TV put in one little five minute caution flag. (MORE LAUGHTER) It was like, how did that happen? Did I just see that. I guess I am glad I wasn’t a part of it should have been my answer.”

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF JEFF GORDON WAS WALKING AT YOU AND YOU WERE IN THIS SITUATION?
(LAUGHTER) “I’m pretty sure Jeff wouldn’t walk at me. I’m just throwing that out there. I don’t think we would go down that path, no matter what happened. If he did, it probably wouldn’t be his best choice of the day. (LAUGHTER)”

WITH ALL THE MILITARY MEMBERS SIGNATURES ON YOUR CAR, IS THERE ANYONE YOU KNOW PERSONALLY?
“Yes there is. My truck driver’s step son is on the car. So yes.”

Race fans can get their sneak peek of Speedweeks 2010 with numerous activities with their favorite drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series in the Sprint FANZONE located in the heart of the “World Center of Racing.”

Among the activities planned for both days include:

* Interactive fan forums
* Autograph sessions
* Show cars, displays, music
* Online auction
* Blood drive
* Richard Petty Driving Experience

Drivers currently scheduled to make appearances on Friday, Jan. 15 beginning at 6 p.m. are 2009 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Travis Kvapil and AJ Allmendinger,

Scheduled to appear on Saturday, Jan. 16 during the noon – 4 p.m. session are Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., David Reutimann, Morgan Shepherd, Michael Annett, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Colin Braun. In the 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. session on Saturday, Jan. 16, drivers scheduled to appear are Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Todd Bodine and Sam Hornish Jr.

Tickets, which are available for $15, are on sale now at 1-800-PITSHOP or online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com with autograph session availability limited to 250 people per driver in advance. To request access to the special autograph sessions, race fans can call 1-800-PITSHOP or visit the Daytona International Speedway ticket office beginning on Monday, Jan. 4 at 9 a.m.

The only drivers with advance reservations for the driver autograph sessions will be Earnhardt Jr., Newman, Kenseth, Busch, Gordon, Harvick and Martin. The remainder of the driver autograph sessions will be done by a first-come basis.

Additional drivers and more details about the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests will be released in the coming weeks.

“The NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests are going to provide a great opportunity for the fans to interact with the drivers and get pumped up about the upcoming Speedweeks events and the 52nd annual Daytona 500,” Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig said.

Speedweeks 2010 is highlighted by the season-opening 52nd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 14. Other events include the Camping World 300 Nationwide Series race on Saturday, Feb. 13, the NextEra Energy Resources 250 Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, Feb. 12, the Gatorade Duel At Daytona qualifying races on Thursday, Feb. 11 and a racing tripleheader on Saturday Feb. 6 with Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented by Kroger, the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 and the Budweiser Shootout.

The NASCAR HOTPASS lineup for the Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500k at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 15 is as follows:

Channel 795 – Mark Martin
Channel 796 – Tony Stewart
Channel 797 – Jeff Gordon
Channel 798 – Jimmie Johnson

DO YOUNG DRIVERS ASK YOU IF THEY SHOULD GO TO COLLEGE WHILE PURSUING A RACING CAREER?
“The cool part is I don’t get the question, I get the statement. Basically it’s, ‘I’m doing what you did’, not ‘I’m thinking about it or should I do it?’ It’s ‘I’m doing it.’ That’s the next step above what you’re talking about or your question. That to me means a lot because if we’re using what I did, as far as going to college, whether it was Perdue or not, I get a lot of ‘my daughter or my son is going to Perdue and my son wants to be an engineer’. I get a lot of that stuff. They have that sense of connection because of where I went (to college), and not necessarily who I am and what I do.

“I think there are younger drivers for sure, who are putting a little more emphasis on it than they did 10 years ago. Why? Just for the concept that an education is a good thing. For a long time people thought there was no time to go to college and no time to get that education when you’re in your prime as far as being 18 years old and having the opportunity to go NASCAR racing or racing in general. So, I guess maybe in a roundabout way, me and a few other drivers have proved that you can do it and be successful at this level.”

JEFF GORDON TOOK A HARD HIT AT THE GLEN LAST WEEK THAT AFFECTED HIS BACK. HOW MUCH WEAR AND TEAR DOES THIS SPORT PUT ON YOUR BODY? DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY THE LAST THIRD OF THE SEASON THAN YOU DO IN THE FIRST? WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY?
“I don’t do anything specific to keep myself healthy other than I’m a tight person so I get a massage every once in a while and loosen up and stretch out. I was moving trees yesterday, so my back’s in pretty good shape. Some people have got to do different things. If you start a 1,000 mile trip with a tire that’s a little bit low, by the time you get there it’s either going to be out of shape or blown out. If you start the season with a little bit of an issue, by the time you get to the end of the season it’s going to be worse. It doesn’t typically get better because it is pretty grueling what we do, physically inside the race car and different race tracks and obviously the big shots, like the one he (Gordon) took. So, we’re kind of tired of hearing about his back, but I’m trying to answer your question at the same time.”

CAN YOU ASSESS WHERE YOUR TEAM IS WITH JUST A HANDFUL OF RACING GOING INTO THE CHASE? IS THERE ANYWAY YOU GUYS CAN PREPARE FOR THE CHASE RACES OR ARE YOU FOCUSED ON WHAT IS IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF YOU?
“We’re focused on what is ahead of us today, tomorrow and the next four weeks. That is the most important thing at this point. We have to put ourselves in that position. Tony Stewart is in a whole different situation. He is virtually locked in after the start of this race on Sunday. So he can be thinking about different things in respect to the Chase. We’re thinking about them but we have to focus on these next four races and that’s really no different than any other race. It is just nice to be able to put some of your focus and some of your effort in to those last 10 races.

“I don’t think it puts us at a disadvantage. I mean you can learn something because you are so focused on those next four races that can carry you through those 10 races. There is different ways to look at it. It is more a situation that is kind of like you have a big lead in a football game and you throw in the second string. It is not like we have a second string, but the guys float a little bit and relax a little bit more. When I say the guys, I mean the No. 14 guys versus the No. 39 guys.”

WITH YOUR TEAMS AFFILIATION WITH HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, HOW DOES THE STATMENT THAT JIMMIE JOHNSON MADE EARLIER TODAY THAT NO ONE CAN BEAT HMS AFFECT SHR?
“I think, to answer your question, we’re considered a part of HMS. I mean, it is a satellite operation but what we do, a lot of our program, is designed off of what Hendrick Motorsports does and obviously we have an alliance with them. So, I consider us a part of the HMS team and aside from the name Stewart-Haas Racing, our work structure is based a lot around Hendrick Motorsports. It is nice to have that. I agree with Jimmie (Johnson), that is why I am happy where I am and partially made the decision to move to where I am was because of that alliance and what we have as far as an opportunity to work to work for the future.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE PLAYING OFFENSE THE NEXT FOUR RACES OR DEFENSE? IS IT IMPORTANT TO WIN A RACE BETWEEN NOW AND RICHMOND?
“There really is no defense in racing. We talk about it, what you can do. I guess your defense is to not make too big of a risk on offense. That is more self-induced than anything. It is all about getting the job done. If we get those finishes, top-five finishes, in the next four races, then it is a shoe-in, but that’s easier said than done. I don’t think you can find offense or defense in the midst of those four races. I have stated in the past, you have one eye looking out the front windshield and one eye in the mirror. That is more so on the race track than it is in the garage. I think it is kind of business as usual, it is just now crunch time. Now we have to get the job done. We are in a good position as I have said before but it’s not the best position and we can improve on that.”
[nichemate]0,1,4,’Ryan Newman’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]

There is no prize money, no points, no sponsor obligations — just 26 drivers in dirt Late Model stock cars going for a trophy and bragging rights among their peers. All drivers want the trophy, but for 25 of them, if they can’t win, they want to beat Eldora’s owner, Tony Stewart, a two-time Prelude to the Dream winner.

It’s Stewart’s house. He bought it in 2004 and has won at Eldora in about every type of car. So the 25 drivers he has invited, including Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch, would like nothing more than to beat Stewart in his own backyard.

The following are quotes from selected drivers competing in the fifth annual Prelude to the Dream. The event, which will give the winner bragging rights for a year, will take place at 7 p.m. EDT on June 3 at Eldora Speedway and will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View®.

For those who want to see the Prelude to the Dream in-person, tickets are available online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office (937) 338-3815. Act soon — the race has sold out in each of its four previous years and only a few hundred general admission tickets remain.

The live, commercial-free broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT), followed by an immediate replay. HBO Pay-Per-View’s racing telecast has a suggested retail price of $24.95 and is available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming in the pay-per-view industry. Ordering information and up-to-the minute racing information is available at www.hbo.com.

TONY STEWART (Two-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and Two-Time Prelude Winner; Owner of Eldora Speedway):

How unique is it for 26 of the top drivers in the country to race at a half-mile dirt track in the middle of Ohio cornfields?

“It’s unreal. I guess it would be like Tiger Woods taking all of his buddies and going to play the local putt-putt course, or Michael Jordan taking all of his friends to the playground and shooting hoops. These guys all converge on this track and it’s fun, and it gets us back to our roots — why we got into racing to begin with. There are no points, no prize money. Guys pay their own way to get there and it’s for a worthwhile cause — the injured and fallen soldiers and their families.”

Why is racing on dirt so much fun for you guys?

“I think what’s fun, or challenging, about dirt is that the surface is never the same. When we go to Charlotte or Daytona or Talladega, the conditions are pretty much the same every time, as far as the surface goes. Dirt tracks are always different from the last time you were there. So, for the guys who are preparing the cars and doing the setups on them, they kind of have to guess ahead and try to plan for what they think the track is going to do. The drivers have to plan accordingly, too, and they have to make adjustments while they’re out on the track because the conditions are constantly changing. That’s what’s so fun about dirt — it’s never the same twice.”

Why should someone order the Fifth Annual Prelude to the Dream and watch it on HBO Pay-Per-View?

“The Prelude to the Dream is a race that we hold prior to ‘Dream Weekend,’ which is one of our biggest weekends at Eldora Speedway. Professional dirt Late Model racers from across the country are racing for $100,000 to win. The Prelude to the Dream is on the Wednesday before, and it’s a race that myself and 25 drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and the NHRA compete in for bragging rights, but also to raise money for charity. It’s a fun atmosphere for the drivers, crews, fans and the people watching at home on HBO Pay-Per-View. Most of these guys don’t race on dirt very often, so it’s a chance for a lot of us to go back to our roots and have a great time. The viewers at home get to see us much differently than they would on a normal race weekend. There are no points, no pressure, just a lot of fun. This year, we’re helping out injured and fallen soldiers by raising money from the Prelude to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront and Fisher House. The men and women in our armed forces fight for our freedom to make sure we can continue to have fun at events like the Prelude, and everyone who tunes in and buys the event on HBO Pay-Per-View will be helping our troops all over the world.”

When you guys go to Eldora, the routine is totally different from a normal race weekend. Is that part of the challenge, or the fun for you guys, getting adjusted to the dirt and getting away from your normal routine?

“Yeah, I think if we could get an hour of practice like we do at a (Sprint) Cup race, most of these guys would really pick this up really quick — and they do, anyway. But they have to do it in probably a total of 10 to 12 laps, and that’s something they’re not used to having to do. I mean, they’re used to being able to have a lot of practice time, where on dirt tracks, you just can’t spend that much track time without it affecting the racetrack. So, where you used to have two warm-up sessions for the race at a Cup event, now, all of a sudden, you get two five- or six-lap sessions to get ready to go qualify right away, and that’s not a lot of time for a professional driver to try to figure out a different racecar and a different racetrack and surface.”

How gratifying is it for you to see all the drivers come together to help you with such a great cause?

“That is the best part of it. To me, that is the biggest compliment — that they are willing to take a day out of their schedule. You know, our schedules get more and more hectic every year. So, to give a full day out of your schedule, that’s giving a lot. And, for these guys to all do this once a year and come to our facility and race at a place I am very passionate about is something that is very humbling, but at the same time it shows their passion and compassion for charities and the fact that they work very hard to give back to communities.”

Robby Gordon finished second last year in his first-ever race in a dirt Late Model. How surprising was that to you?

“I had told Robby for three years before he actually came to the Prelude — I said, ‘You will be perfect in these cars.’ I’ve always said that he was one of the most naturally talented drivers that we had ever raced with, as far as car control. I mean, he got in the car and it took him about two laps to figure it out. He had one of the best in the business with Scott Bloomquist as his car owner. But, it gave him a good car where he could learn that much faster and, with a guy who is a great driver, great engineer, and chassis builder. But Robby, I mean, it took him about five laps and it looked like he grew up racing on dirt tracks. He kind of did, to a certain degree, in off-road trucks. But Eldora and a dirt Late Model are a lot different than a Trophy Truck is. So, seeing him out there, it was like, ‘I told you, you were going to be good.’ It was just fun to watch him learn and how quickly he took to the dirt.”

Why did you decide to change your mission for the event, as far as who it benefits?

“The first four years, we’ve always worked with the Victory Junction Gang Camp and donated the proceeds to it. This year, we just wanted to do something different and we kind of came up with the idea. Maybe next year, we will change it a little bit and pick a different charity each season. So, when the U.S. Army came on board with Ryan Newman’s (Sprint) Cup car with Stewart-Haas Racing, it was a partner that you didn’t look at as a sponsor, but you looked at as a partner. To realize how many millions of fans we gained because the U.S. Army is on one of our cars, it was like, how can we do something to give back and do something to support our military? When we sat down and tried to figure out who we would donate to this year, it was a no-brainer. We all picked the same thing on the list. It just made it a natural force. It just made a lot of sense. We’ve been on a run here where our military has been really active and very busy. I don’t think people really realize how much support not necessarily our friends in the military, but their families, also need. It made it very worthwhile and made it make sense to us.”

What does an event like this mean to the military and families that benefit from it?

“The thing about soldiers in the military is they are some of the toughest people I have ever met. There are people who have lost arms and legs and all they want to do is get healed up and get back to service. All they want to do is serve their country. If nothing else, we as civilians can support the soldiers and the men and women we have who are fighting for us and making sure that we have a nation like we have.”
[nichemate]0,1,2,’Tony Stewart’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]
JIMMIE JOHNSON (Three-Time and Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion):

What’s so special about racing on the dirt at a place like Eldora?

“I grew up racing on the dirt, but not in cars like we race at Eldora or on a track like that. Everything I did was on a straight line, going over jumps, bumps, hillsides and through river beds and stuff like that. So, the whole experience at Eldora last year was really a special one to me and I got to feel the horsepower, grip, track conditions and the banking on a high-banked dirt track. It was quite an experience last year and I love just being in different environments and challenging myself. On top of that, coming out and supporting Tony. Tony’s done a phenomenal job starting this foundation. He’s been very helpful with the tasks that my wife and I have for our foundation and we just like to help him out, as well, with his causes. So, all in all, it’s a great time. It’s a fast format. I mean, you show up, you get two or three laps of practice, you’re qualifying and then you’re racing. So, this year coming back, I will have a little more experience and be more competitive.”

What were your first impressions of Eldora last year?

“I remember the fact that we had rain throughout the day and that Tony had been out on the track for a day or two trying to get the track in good condition because of the weather issue we had. But, you look at it and we’re kind of used to seeing banking. So, when I first looked at it, I thought ‘You know, that’s not that steep. It’s okay.’ But, when I got in the car and found out that you can literally run flat-foot around this dirt half-mile racetrack, that was quite impressive to me.”

Can you compare running a Sprint Cup car and a dirt Late Model?

“The two styles of racing are different for a lot of reasons. You don’t have a spotter and I got in trouble. I got on the outside of Ron Capps and expected him to leave me the lane because I’m used to racing with spotters and, of course, he didn’t know I was there and came up and we got sandwiched together. But, at the end of the day, when you get into the cars, the same principles apply if you’re on dirt or asphalt, regardless of the car. If you could slow it all down and really be precise with what you do and save tenths of a second around the track, you’re going be the fastest guy. Showing up new to it, I was pretty violent with the car and, once the track slicked off, I was probably using too much brake. Threw the car into the corner too hard and took a little while to figure out how to use the cushion. I’m not used to running on a cushion, period, even with the off-road racing I did. It was nothing that we ever really worried about.”

How fulfilling is it for you to be a part of raising awareness for injured and fallen soldiers?

“I’m very honored to be a part of it. Through my years of racing for Lowe’s, we’ve done a lot together to give back to the troops. It’s amazing. It feels so good to thank our troops in some way, shape or form, so I understand where Tony is going with it and certainly support him. Hopefully, we can show them that we appreciate what they do to keep our country free and out of harm’s way.”

Why should fans watch on HBO Pay-Per-View?

“Well, I think dirt-car racing is one of the best forms of racing to watch and you also get to see us out of our element. That works in a couple of ways. One, in the cars, there might be some good bloopers to check out. Two, we don’t have the corporate pressure of a race. We’re just there having fun and I think that really comes through.”
[nichemate]0,1,2,’Jimmie Johnson’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]
JEFF GORDON (Four-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion and Brickyard 400 winner; Three-time Daytona 500 winner):

When you mention the words Eldora Speedway, it just conjures up so many great images for so many people. Why is it so special to you?

“I grew up watching Sprint cars, then racing Sprint cars and Midgets. Everybody will tell you it’s the ultimate dirt track and I will never forget going there for the first time and driving in there going, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I mean, it was just big, it looked fast and it was fast. It’s just an awesome, awesome dirt track and an intimidating dirt track and right in the middle of corn fields in Ohio. Some of the best race fans around the country all flock to Eldora.”

What makes this event so special and so big for drivers that they want to have the invite, they want to go and they want to experience the Prelude to the Dream?

“You know, it’s different for everybody. Some guys maybe dreamed of racing on the dirt and never got the opportunity to, and so it is just fun and a cool new experience. For me, it is about getting back on dirt, something that I grew up with and got me to this level. It’s an opportunity for me to go back and have a bunch of fun.”

Are bragging rights on the line at the Prelude to the Dream?

“I will say, after the first year a lot of people were like, ‘Man I was impressed with that,’ and I took a lot of pride in that. Not that many people saw me race on dirt and so, to go out there and have your fellow (Sprint) Cup drivers say, ‘Man, I didn’t know you could drive like that on dirt,’ that was very cool for me. And even though I didn’t win it, I still had some bragging rights, and Carl (Edwards) had bragging rights, and now Tony, of course, he’s got the bragging rights. I think we are going to add some extra weight to him so we can make it even.”

You and your former crew chief, Ray Evernham, have a fun rivalry by racing each other at the Prelude. Is there any wager on who finishes higher?

“It’s just all pride. If I don’t finish in front of him, then I am not going to be able to hold up my head very high the next time I see him. No offense to Ray, he’s impressed me, but with my dirt experience and being a (Sprint) Cup driver, I should be able to beat Ray Evernham on dirt.”

How fulfilling is it for you to be a part of raising awareness for injured and fallen soldiers?

“I think it’s fantastic. Obviously, with the Jeff Gordon Foundation, we focus a lot on kids. I know that Tony’s foundation does, as well. With everything that is going on with the economy, with the war and especially for me with my involvement with the National Guard, I have already been to Walter Reed (Army Medical Center) once this year. I plan on going a few more times and really getting a chance to meet the true heroes. To be able to recognize them, to be able to benefit them, especially those who aren’t with us anymore, I think that’s just an awesome thing that we can do and I will be very proud to be representing that on that day in June in Eldora.”

Why should fans watch on HBO Pay-Per-View?

“I think there are so many reasons why you want to watch this event, whether you are there or at home. You don’t want to miss it, that’s for sure, because you see drivers in a totally different, relaxed atmosphere. They are having fun, yet are still competitive. You see them throwing around an awesome car — these dirt Late Models are amazing cars — on the most incredible dirt track in the country at Eldora, and it’s going to benefit these fallen heroes and different charities. You just can’t have more fun and more excitement and have a better race and do it for a great cause than the Prelude. It’s the ultimate.”
[nichemate]0,1,2,’Jeff Gordon’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]
CARL EDWARDS (2007 Prelude to the Dream Winner; 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion):

What did you think when you first saw Eldora Speedway?

“I just remember walking in the place through that little tunnel under the back straightaway. I just had my helmet bag and I was standing there looking at the back straightaway in turns three and four. It was just cool to be there — to see it, finally. I’d heard about it, seen pictures in old open-wheel magazines and stuff. But to be at Eldora, to race there, that’s cool.”

What did your victory in the 2007 Prelude to the Dream mean to you?

“It’s big. My win at that race a couple of years ago is still, to this day, people come up and they’re like, ‘Yeah, yeah, it’s great, NASCAR and everything, but you won Eldora!’ You know, they’re pumped about it, so that was a big win for me.”

Can you describe the atmosphere and what makes this event so special?

“To me, there are two things that make this special. Number one, it’s Eldora. I mean, growing up in Missouri, Eldora was just far enough away that I never went, but I always heard about it. To race there is cool. Just as special is the fact that the money raised goes to a good cause. All the fans see you in the grandstands. The cars are lined up for miles down the road. You know that everyone is there, knowing that they’re participating in something bigger than any one of us. That’s cool.”

How important, or how much more special is it, that you are going to be in this event knowing that the mission has changed this year?

“One of the greatest parts about doing this — for all of us, me, the fans, the other drivers — is that we are doing something for a good cause and to know that this money is going to go to help our soldiers who have been out there, some of them for years, protecting our freedom and sacrificing. That’s pretty cool.”

Why should fans watch on HBO Pay-Per-View?

“If you are a dirt fan, you know exactly why to tune in. And if you’re not a dirt fan, just tune in once and you will know why we all started racing.”
[nichemate]0,1,2,’Carl Edwards’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]
KYLE BUSCH (15 wins in Sprint Cup; 24 wins in Nationwide Series; 11 wins in Camping World Truck Series):

When you hear the word “Eldora,” what do you think about?

“When you think of Eldora, you think of a high-banked, fast, dirt half-mile racetrack. You also think about all the fans who surround the place. They are just — they’re packed — jam-packed into the place. The grandstands are full, the outside of turns three and four are full. The only thing Stewart has left to do is fill the back straightaway with a big Bruton Smith grandstand or something.”

Every driver wants to win, but if they can’t win, they don’t care where they finish as long as they finish ahead of Tony. Is that the theme for you too?

“No. For me, I accomplished my goal the first year and that was to wreck him. (Laughs) I wrecked him the first year. The second year, I tried to either keep up with him or wreck him again, and I couldn’t do either. So, I failed miserably the second year. The third year, hopefully we will keep up with him and we can beat him.”

What did you think in 2007 when you came to Eldora to race in the Prelude to the Dream for the first time?

“Dude, it was serious. When I pulled in the first time, I was like, ‘Man, what are these people doing here?’ There really is no place to stay at around there. You are just out in a bunch of cornfields. So, the cool part about it is that the fans camp out and they don’t care if it’s raining, pouring, snowing, sleeting, whatever — they are going to be there to watch some dirt Late Model racing.”

Can you describe the atmosphere and what makes this event so special?

“It sort of takes us back to our roots. It takes us back to our local Saturday-night short track. We are able to hang out in the pits and mix and mingle with each other and the show moves along — it keeps going. It’s just a neat atmosphere. You are just there having a good time. You are, like, what you were in the local short-track days and it brings back sweet memories.”

How fulfilling is it for you to be a part of raising awareness for injured and fallen soldiers?

“This year, it is going to be special because of the fact that we are helping the injured soldiers and their families and that is fun to do because we have such a spot for them in our hearts for everything that they do. Everybody should. They do so much work and try to fight and give us our freedom that it is just a little something to give back and to raise money for their benefit. I think it’s something that is pretty cool. We get to have a good time and enjoy it, doing what we love to do and, yet, we are doing it for a good cause. So, whether it is the Victory Junction Gang, whether it is for the Kyle Busch Foundation or the military, injured soldiers of the military, you know, it is all a part of doing something that feels good.”
[nichemate]0,1,2,’Kyle Busch’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]
RYAN NEWMAN (2008 Daytona 500 Winner; 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup Victories ):

Can you explain to the average race fan why you guys have such a passion for dirt racing?

“I grew up dirt racing — not as much as Tony did, but I grew up dirt racing. My first Midget win ever was on dirt up in northern Michigan. To me, short-track racing is typically dirt racing and that is where so many people grew up and got interested in racing. That is all there was, back in the day, was dirt tracks.”

Why is Eldora so special?

“I think Eldora is special because the effort that Earl (Baltes, former owner) put into it, making the special races, the big races, the fact that it is the fastest half-mile dirt track in the United States, the high banks. It’s just amazing, the excitement, the speed, the raw energy that comes out of that racetrack. And then, what Tony has done to expand it and, obviously, all the great races are there, the World 100, the big (World of) Outlaw shows, the Big One, and the Kings Royal. Big dirt racing happens at Eldora.”

Being sponsored by the U.S. Army in the Sprint Cup Series, how important is the event for you, considering it supports injured and fallen soldiers?

“It’s definitely special. This is my first year with the U.S. Army on my chest and to know that there are a million soldiers out there fighting for our freedom and to have recognition for the ones who have been injured, it is really special. It’s great what Tony is doing with the race and what he is trying to make of the whole event and how he respects what those heroes are doing for our country.”

How big of an impact will this event be on the families and soldiers?

“We are just trying to make an impact and it is our way of giving back. Luckily, we get to do something that we love to give back to those people. Those are our heroes. Those are the people who sacrifice a lot of things to put themselves in position to fight for our freedom. It is an honor for me to do something to try to help them out. It is small on my part, but it can make a really big difference.”

Why should fans watch on HBO Pay-Per-View?

“Anybody out there who enjoys NASCAR, who enjoys the IRL, we are taking it back to where we all started with big-name drivers at a great racetrack and you should check it out. It’s a blast. As drivers, we sit in the coach lot and we watch re-runs of the race. We will make an effort to watch the re-runs of our race at the dirt track just because we have so much fun that night.”
[nichemate]0,1,2,’Ryan Newman’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]
ROBBY GORDON, (Finished Second in 2008 Prelude to the Dream ):

What were your first impressions of Eldora?

“Well, last year was my first time ever being at Eldora and I went there after an invitation from Tony and with Scott Bloomquist. It was fun. It was a neat racetrack and the fans were amazing. You know, they lined the streets for a mile getting into that place. So, that was really cool and I am looking forward to going back.”

How did Scott Bloomquist help you last year?

“Scott took me testing in Nashville and we ran at a track there and it worked out well because it was a track that was fairly similar. We did 70 to 80 laps there and then rolled off to Eldora and qualified sixth and ran second in the race. So, it was fun for us.”

Why is the Prelude so special?

“Well, I think, obviously, it is the event that Tony has put together. The program that they put together really seems to work and all the drivers seem to really enjoy it, so there are a lot of things that make it successful. It definitely starts with Tony, and then the Speedway, and then the promotional things that everybody gets behind and does to help promote it.”

What will it take to beat Tony at Eldora?

“I don’t know. I mean, Tony is so good there. It would be like Tony coming to Baja — it just takes a while and it doesn’t matter what kind of racing it is, NASCAR or IndyCar, off-road trucks or even a dirt car. The experience is the one thing that you can’t just learn overnight. It takes time. I was happy with our result last year and I would like to go back there and beat Tony there. I think everybody would. It’s Tony’s track. It would be like Tony racing me down my street coming home to my house. I think I could drive that route blind.”

Why should fans watch on HBO Pay-Per-View?

“Because we are going for Tony.” [nichemate]0,1,2,’Robby Gordon’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]