Eldora Speedway has played an important part in their step towards fame.

Of the trio, Blaney carries the most impressive Eldora record. Long known among the racing fraternity as “The Buckeye Bullet”, second generation driver Dave Blaney has amassed 16 career wins at Eldora. Six of those have come within the WoO wars at Eldora, so he will be on familiar turf during the Kings Royal.

The Ohio native needs no introduction to the pomp and circumstance of the Kings Royal, as he has sat atop the throne and worn the crown twice (1993, 1995). His final Eldora victory lane appearance came in 1997 when he snatched the $100,000 Historical Big One paycheck.

Stewart’s pre-NASCAR prowess at Eldora came in non-winged action through the United States Auto Club (USAC). Under the USAC banner, Stewart, who also carries the title as owner of Eldora Speedway, captured a pair of feature wins during the 1995 Four Crown Nationals. Checkered flag runs were earned in the Sprint Car and Midget divisions that weekend.

Very little track time in winged Sprint Cars appeared on the two-time NASCAR Cup champion’s early resume. With a desire to perfect his driving style, Stewart has been donning the aerodynamic wing repeatedly over the past few years. He captured the NRA sanctioned Old Spice Sizzler a few years ago, and has three Prelude to the Dream wins behind the wheel of a dirt Late Model, so his desire to excel at Eldora has not waned.

Kahne, the youngest of the trio, went straight from the short tracks to NASCAR-land. With plenty of Eldora experience under his belt, he has a pair of wins to his credit. In 2000 he captured a USAC Midget win during the fall Four Crown Nationals and in 2003 he returned to the massive one-half mile clay oval to reign supreme over an All Star Circuit of Champions field.

All three tested the Eldora clay during the June 9 Prelude to the Dream, and are anxious to shift gears from full bodied to open wheel racing. They are prepared to race, knowing that the WoO and NRA gentry will show no mercy.

Each night will be a full show for both sanctioning bodies. Friday’s (July 16) event has been dubbed the Knight Before the Kings Royal, with full points for the WoO fraternity. In addition to the points to be earned by the NRA Sprint Invaders, they will be chasing for the Jimmy Johnston Memorial trophy.

Saturday’s (July 17) chase is highlighted by the annual run for the $50,000 Kings Royal paycheck and the aforementioned trip to the throne and wearing of the crown.

Complete event information is detailed on the track’s website www.eldoraspeedway.com

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Q. There was quite a battle between you and Kasey Kahne during last year’s race at Infineon Raceway. What were those last laps and double-file restarts like for you?

A. “We were really close to each other, but it was going to take a mistake for us to get by (Kahne). There were areas of the track where we were stronger than he was, but there were areas where he was stronger than us. It seemed like he was vulnerable the first few laps after a restart, but once everything settled in he could pull away pretty easily. Every restart it was kind of a pressure situation for us to try to make something happen, because we knew once he settled in, we couldn’t get by.”

Q. Last year was the first year of double-file restarts at Infineon Raceway. What did you think?

A. “There were definitely times when you wanted to be on one side or the other. One restart you’d be in the wrong line and it’d hurt you, but the next time you’d be on the side you wanted and it would help you, so I think it added a lot of excitement. It made it fun for us drivers, because instead of being 20th and 20 rows back, you’re 20th and only 10 rows back and you’ve got a shot and could make a run at the leader.”

Q. You have two wins at Infineon Raceway, and great success there, is there something special about the Sonoma road course?

A. “I just like the road courses. I’ve always liked Sonoma. It’s really a driver’s track. It’s tough to make your car drive perfect all day. You can have a really good car, but it’s going to slide around and you’re going to struggle for grip, and that’s what makes it so fun. You have to do the work behind the steering wheel.”

Q. Have you reached a point where you’re content in your public and personal life?

A. “I’m definitely content in my driving career. There are some races that haven’t been checked off the list of accomplishing the wins on yet, but I can’t say that if it all ended tomorrow that I’ve had a bad career by any means. I’ve been very fortunate. The personal side, it always takes a back seat because you put your personal life on hold to do what you do on the professional side — owning racetracks and owning race teams — that’s the sacrifice I have to make to do what I want to do.”

The Newman’s will be joined by other personalities in the NASCAR community such as; Clint Boyer, Darian Grubb, Kasey Kahne, Aric Amirola with fiancé Janice Goss, Tony Gibson, Marcos Ambrose, Martin Truex, Jr., Max Papis, Greg Biffle and more…

Since this is a Pit Road Pets book signing, fans must have or already purchased the original Pit Road Pets™: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets or the newest release of Pit Road Pets™: NASCAR Stars and Their Pets, The Second Lap book and get a ticket to get in line. Only 400 tickets will be given out at the Pit Road Pets booth located near the Kids Zone area in the New Holland Fan Zone starting Friday morning at 10:00 am. The Newman’s and others will sign copies of Pit Road Pets books in addition to one other item per person during the autograph session.

The newest edition of the book will be on sale at the Pit Road Pets booth from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday for $24.95 each. Books can also be purchased at Newman’s trackside merchandise trailer or ordered online at www.ryannewman.org. Proceeds from book sales during Michigan race weekend will be going to the Michigan Humane Society.

Additional personalities for the event will be added weekly, so visit the appearance schedule on www.ryannewman.org for up-to-date information.

Tonight, NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Newman stopped by the show, and Jimmy challenged them to a game of Shock Absorbers – and no, not the shock absorbers you find in their race cars. The game is simple: grab onto your metal stick thingy, watch the red light, and when it turns green, click your button as fast as you can. The last one to click receives a massive electric shock. Sounds fun, but also kind of insane, doesn’t it? Just watch:

Stewart had proven himself long ago as a guy who could race stock cars on road courses. His first road course win came at Sonoma in 2001 and he has since notched three other road course wins and a total of 10 top-twos in 21 career Sprint Cup starts on the series’ two road courses — Sonoma and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, site of Sunday’s Heluva Good! at The Glen.

Kahne, meanwhile, was more of a surprise. The sixth-year Sprint Cup driver had never finished better than 14th in 10 road course starts, but he was able to at least match Stewart lap for lap, and in the end, beat him, even during a nail-biting string of late-race restarts where Stewart was breathing down his neck.

It was a breakthrough win for Kahne and another strong run for Stewart, who wound up second. While Stewart was genuinely happy for his USAC wingman, he left the twists and turns of Sonoma wanting more.

Stewart looks forward to the two road course events on the 36-race Sprint Cup schedule. They break up the monotony of oval racing, and the different discipline allows for a different technique — one the driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS for Stewart-Haas Racing has honed to near perfection.

As Stewart returns to road course racing with this weekend’s stop at Watkins Glen, he sees opportunity. And why shouldn’t he? The two-time Sprint Cup champion has not finished worse than second in his last five Sprint Cup starts at the 11-turn, 2.45-mile layout in upstate New York. And in 10 career Sprint Cup starts at The Glen, he has an average finish of 5.7.

Thwarted for the win six races ago at Sonoma, Stewart is intent on finishing one spot higher in the final road course race of the 2009 season.

TONY STEWART, Driver of the No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet Impala SS for Stewart-Haas Racing:

You had a pretty impressive battle with Kasey Kahne for the win in June at Sonoma. Kahne proved victorious, and his win surprised a lot of people because he hadn’t really shown that kind of performance in past road course races. Did he surprise you as well?

“I was surprised because I don’t remember him in the past being a big road course racer. I don’t remember ever having to race him at a road course race. But man, he was good. We ran the whole race together. We seemed to be on the same pit sequence during the whole day. Whether I could see him in front of me or in the mirror, we were always right around each other. When we were at the back of the pack and had tires and had to drive through the field, we were matching each other lap for lap At the end it became a shootout between us and it wasn’t surprising at that point of the day, but during the day with him running the pace he was running, I wasn’t used to seeing that from him. But he did it consistently all day, and obviously he’s picked it up and has got it figured out.”

Toward the end of the Sonoma race it was restart after restart. With the new double-file restarts, did they help or hinder you in your attempt to get past Kahne?

“He kept picking the right-side lane on the restarts, which was very smart. He made the right decision, where most of the guys were picking the left-side lane during the day. He was really the only guy that I remember that actually picked the right side, especially when it counted. He made the most of it, because it got us hung on the outside. We just kept the pressure on him and tried to force him into a mistake and he never made it. He just was very composed and solid there to where on all of those restarts we couldn’t get him to bobble.”

Were the double-file restarts any different at Sonoma, because back in the day you would’ve had lap-down cars alongside the leaders? And will the double-file restarts present any issues at Watkins Glen?

“At Sonoma, you don’t get a lot of lapped traffic, so it wasn’t ever really a factor, and it never really was at Watkins Glen. The double-file restarts will be more conducive at Watkins Glen than they were at Sonoma. Turn one doesn’t seem to be quite as line sensitive. You can run both lines and still be in good shape.”

Knowing how strong you were at Sonoma despite finishing second, can things that you learned at Sonoma carryover to Watkins Glen, especially since you were able to log another test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in preparation for Watkins Glen?

“We tried a package I wasn’t familiar with at Sonoma. It was good enough to run second, but it wasn’t good enough to win. So, we went and tested at VIR to try and sort a couple of things out. I was very pleased with our run there at Sonoma. We always run well there and we always run well at Watkins Glen, and after a second-place run at Sonoma, we’re pretty confident and excited about going to Watkins Glen and getting that one extra spot.”

You’ve won six road course races altogether — two at Sonoma and four at The Glen. Does success at one venue transfer to the other?

“The two tracks, while both road courses, are still pretty different. At Watkins Glen you don’t have to finesse the throttle near as much as you do at Sonoma. When you get the car turned, you can get in the gas and then stay in the gas. Watkins Glen is much faster than Sonoma. I think there are the same amount of passing opportunities, but because of the speeds that you’re able to run at The Glen, brakes become a much bigger factor than I think they are at Sonoma. It’s pretty much a horsepower track. It’s horsepower and aerodynamics just like it is anywhere else we go. It just happens to be in the form of a road course. Sonoma has a lot less grip in the racetrack. You have to really be careful with the throttle there, and that puts more of the race in the driver’s hands. If anything, Sonoma is probably more technical than Watkins Glen because there’s hardly any time where you get a chance to rest. You’re always either shifting or accelerating or braking or turning or doing something. At Watkins Glen, at least on the frontstretch and on the backstretch, there are three straightaways where you get a little bit of time to take a break. Watkins Glen seems to be more in the crew’s hands and the engine builder’s hands. Obviously, there’s still a job that I need to do in the racecar, but I’m relying on the equipment and the crew a lot more at Watkins Glen.”

With all those wins, do you feel you have a better opportunity to win on a road course than you do at some of the oval tracks?

“It’s definitely a place I feel like we’ve got the potential to win, even before we make a single lap.”

What is it about you and road courses? Because it’s such a different discipline, do you go in and just throw caution to the wind, or is it a little more involved than that?

“I’ve just always liked it. I won a national championship racing go-karts on road courses, so the concept of what it took to win races on road courses wasn’t totally unknown to me, but driving cars with suspension, and definitely driving cars that you had to shift, that’s something that came relatively easy to me, and still comes easy to me as far as knowing how to synchronize the gears without having to use the help of the clutch. Even in the sports cars that I’ve driven with guys who have driven road courses all their life, I’ve gotten out of the car and the crew has torn the gearboxes apart and said that the dog rings in my transmission look better than when those guys are done with a transmission. There’s just something about the shifting side of it that’s been really natural to me, and it’s fun. I like having a different discipline to race on. I like having the opportunity to do something twice a year that we don’t get a shot at doing very often. I take the same amount of pride that someone like Ron Fellows or Scott Pruett does when they come into a road course race. I take that same pride in running well that they do in these cars. I don’t look at it from the standpoint that it’s a negative weekend. I look at it as a positive, that it’s something we enjoy and I feel like that gives us a leg up on most of the guys we race with at these tracks.”

How much do you look forward to racing on the road courses?

“I love the two road courses. It’s nice because it kind of breaks up the monotony of the season. We do the same thing every week and it’s nice to have two road course races thrown in the mix that give us a chance to do something a little bit off-center for all of us. It’s kind of like the ‘Prelude’ with no dirt added, unless you drive off, which a lot of us do. We still get a dirt aspect in it, I guess.”

(The “Prelude” is the Sept. 9 Gillette Young Guns Prelude to the Dream, an all-star dirt late model race featuring many of NASCAR’s top drivers at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, a half-mile clay oval owned by Stewart. Televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View, the event has raised nearly $2 million for charity. This year’s event will benefit four military-themed charities — Wounded Warrior Project, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront and Fisher House. — Ed.)
[nichemate]0,1,4,’Tony Stewart’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]

Stewart, who was coming off of a victory at Daytona just three days before, had mentioned earlier in the evening that fellow Sprint Cup competitors Kasey Kahne and Dave Blaney had more winged sprint car experience than he did; that certainly changed as Stewart dominated the second half of the 30-lap feature event to capture his first ever Sharon Speedway victory.

“I need to thank Jimmy Carr and Dean Bruns for their hard work in getting this car prepared. The first time that I came here and competed against Lou Blaney he kicked my butt and I had the utmost respect for him. This event is very special and I will always have it on my schedule,” stated Stewart.

West Virginia youngster Cale Conley and Stewart brought the 24-car field to the green. Conley led the first 11 laps before Stewart took the lead. The event’s only caution flew on lap 18 when lady racer Jessica Zemken slowed. Conley was right on Stewart’s bumper when the green was once again displayed however Stewart pulled away and went on to capture a very popular win.

Conley held on for the runner-up spot. Third generation racer Lee Jacobs captured the third spot with Australian Steven Lines and Dale Blaney rounding out the top five. NASCAR stars Dave Blaney and Kasey Kahne finished sixth and ninth respectively.

Dale Blaney, Conley, Roddy Bellebowen and Lines won the Sprint heats. Ed Lynch, Jr. picked up the B-Main.

“Jumpin” Jack Johnson of Duanesburg, NY competed against Lou Blaney many times throughout his storied career and the wily veteran dominated the Modified portion of the event held in honor of the Blaney Family patriarch, as he led the entire 30-lap distance to garner his first ever Sharon Speedway victory.

“Lou was a great friend and a fine competitor. I raced against him many times and he always “ran you clean”, stated the personable Johnson. “It is my honor to capture the Modified portion of the event being held in tribute to such a fine individual.”

Johnson and Dean Pearson led the Modified field to the green. Johnson was off and running while Pearson settled in to the second spot. Sharon Speedway regulars Brad Rapp, Tommy Kristyak, Kevin Hoffman and Jim Weller, Jr. battled behind Pearson.

A caution on lap 11 gave the Sharon Speedway regulars the opportunity to challenge John but the New York driver quickly pulled out in front and was never seriously challenged for the final 19 laps of the event.

Current Sharon Speedway Modified Points Leader Rob Curtis meticulously worked his way from the tenth starting spot to capture the runner-up position. Pearson, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Jim Weller, Jr. completed the top five.

Jeremy Paup, Johnson, Weller, Jr. and Kevin Hoffman won the Modified heats. Kevin Bolland won the B-Main.

For complete results and event information, log on to www.sharonspeedway.com.
source: Sharon Speedway

Kahne, who owns a USAC Sprint and Midget team, as well as a World of Outlaws Sprint team, is serving as the race promoter and is expected to race an entry in the event that includes a 100-lap feature with a total prize purse of $45,000. USAC’s popular Sprint Cars last raced at Oswego Speedway back in 1968 when the speedway was nicknamed the Steel Palace.

Joining Kahne in the field is former USAC star, Ryan Newman, who won the 1999 USAC Silver Crown championship and is the only driver to win all three USAC National Rookie of the Year honors in the Silver Crown, Sprint and Midget series.

“Oswego Speedway has such a storied history with open wheel cars, so when I found out that the track hasn’t hosted a USAC National race for many years we decided to revive the series back East,” said Kahne, who won the 2000 USAC Midget Championship earlier in his career. “The Silver Crown cars harken back to the days when USAC used to run at Oswego, so in a sense, it will be like it was back in the golden days of open wheel racing for one night.”

“New York has always been a great racing state and USAC has many devoted fans in the area,” said USAC President Kevin Miller. “It’s great to see Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman, two former USAC champions coming back to race. We are all very excited to bring this spectacular series to the race fans of the Empire State. It will mark the initial appearance of these cars on pavement in New York.”

The USAC-sanctioned K & N Silver Crown Series features long-wheelbase cars and has been described as the world’s most competitive major racing series by Auto Racing Analysis. To compete in USAC’s premier series is the pinnacle for many American open-wheel competitors and to win the championship is a prestigious milestone in any driver’s career. Previous champions include Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, J.J. Yeley, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser. Powering these machines are 355-cubic-inch American-production-based engines modified for racing. A typical Silver Crown engine produces over 750 horse power.

Oswego Speedway is a 5/8-mile paved track that seats up to 15,000 spectators. Built in 1951, Oswego Speedway is regarded as one of America’s most revered race tracks and hosts the annual Budweiser International Classic each Labor Day weekend.
[nichemate]0,1,6,’Ryan Newman’,,US,,,,,,,,1[/nichemate]

Stewart, who doubles as the Eldora owner, has impressed the NASCAR world with his front-running consistency in 2009, a cumulative effort that has him atop the Sprint Cup Series championship point standings. Much of the intensity and tenacity that has allowed Stewart to reach that plateau was groomed through his earlier years on the Midwest’s dirt tracks, behind the wheel of a Sprint Car. And a return to that heritage not only reminds Stewart of those times, but inspires him.

“Any time I can get behind the wheel of a Sprint Car, I look back and appreciate my career”, Stewart said.

But don’t get him wrong, it’s not just a chance drive during the Kings Royal weekend. The competitive instinct that drives him towards the Sprint Cup championship carries over to everything he drives, and Stewart will be attacking his Eldora run with the same vengeance.

“When it comes to competition, I love to race and I love to win – Eldora will be no different”, Stewart added.

Kahne agrees, “It doesn’t matter where I’m racing or what type of car I’m in. If I’m behind the wheel, I’m racing for the trophy……..and it would be special to win at Eldora.”

The twosome will be competing against the NRA (National Racing Alliance) Sprint Invaders on both nights of the fabled Kings Royal weekend, as part of a doubleheader that will also feature the travelling World of Outlaw (WoO) Sprint Tour.

Billed as ‘an original Sprint Car tradition’, the Kings Royal has become a marquee event on the grueling WoO circuit. From the crowning of the King, to the seat above the legendary throne, to the $50,000 winner’s paycheck, the pomp that surrounds the Kings Royal gets the adrenalin flowing amongst both the fans and the drivers.

That same rush carries over to the Sprint Invaders as they compete before their largest audience of the year, as well as against Sprint Cup winners Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

The busy weekend of racing also includes a charity go-kart race on Thursday night, a corn hole tournament Friday morning and the annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame auction on Saturday afternoon. Fans can contribute to the weekend through the Kings Royal lap sponsorship program that will see all of the money raised given back to the drivers leading specified laps.

Complete event and ticket information may be found on the speedway website, www.eldoraspeedway.com, where tickets for both nights of racing may be purchased online. Eldora’s box office is also open Monday-Friday during normal business hours for ticket purchases and questions. That telephone number is (937) 338-3815.

A two-time NASCAR champion, Stewart, who currently leads rival Jeff Gordon by 47-points in this year’s Championship Chase, will make a rare start in the Warren Harley-Davidson 410 sprint car class.

“Stewart behind the wheel of a 410 sprint car is big news,” said speedway General Manager Larry Mattingly. “While he competes in several short-track late model and midget races during the season, Tony doesn’t participate in many sprint shows, particularly 410 winged races.”

Joining Stewart in the Sharon sprint car action will be fellow NASCAR drivers Kasey Kahne and local favorite, Dave Blaney.

Kahne, presently 15th in NASCAR points, just three slots out of the coveted ‘Chase’, will be bringing one his Budweiser-sponsored sprinters to Sharon.

“I’ve been able to race in a few sprint shows this season,” Kahne said, “I grew up racing open-wheel cars, and I’m looking forward to coming back to Sharon.”

For Blaney, a former stalwart in Outlaw sprint car racing, the opportunity to actually ‘race’ again will be a rare opportunity. The veteran driver, who was born and raised in Hartford, has been relegated to driving a ‘start and park’ car on the NASCAR tour for Prisim Motorsports.

“It has been a frustrating year. The current economic climate only permits us to qualify, and run the car until the first pit stop of the race. We don’t even have a full pit crew,” said Blaney. “Getting to compete again will be fun, and coming home to race with my friends is always a special time.

“It has been awhile since I’ve driven a 410, but I feel we will be competitive against the folks who do it on a weekly basis.”

Joining the sprint cars in competition will be the Gibson Governor big-block modified class. Both divisions will be highlighted in 30-lap feature event attractions.

Stewart, Dave Blaney, Kahne, along with All Star Circuit of Champion sprint car kingpin Dale Blaney, will appearing in a special ‘Alzheimer’s Awareness Autograph Alley’ from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Autograph distribution will be determined through a lottery system, with proceeds going to benefit the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Additionally, a VARC vintage race car display and exhibition will be presented, and the evening will be capped by a gigantic aerial fireworks display.

Advance tickets for the event are now on sale, and may be ordered on-line (www.sharonspeedway.com), or by calling 330 772-5481. Prices are: Adults – $18.00, Students (9-13) – $8.00 and Kids (8 and under) – Free.

Spectator gates open at 4:00, with the first race set for 7:00 PM. The raindate is Wednesday, July 8.

Sharon Speedway is located at the intersection of Routes 7 and 305 in Hartford, OH and is just a short drive from both Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

Entering its 80th year of operation, Sharon Speedway is one of the oldest, continuously running weekly racetracks in the United States. The speedway is owned by NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, Jim Weller, Sr. and Ron Kirila. Racing begins in mid April and continues through September.