ROSSBURG – A race that has made everyone smile since its inception in 2013 has earned an appropriate new name.
The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby is the official name of the fourth annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event July 20 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg.
The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby will take place on a Wednesday night at the half-mile, clay oval. The Camping World Truck Series is the only national NASCAR series event contested on dirt with the 150-lap feature broken into three segments of 40 laps, 50 laps and 60 laps. Five qualifying heat races set the 32-truck field, a nod to dirt-track tradition.
“During our five-year partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing we’ve successfully ignited conversation and buzz about what is often an overlooked healthcare issue – oral health,” said Bob Fontana, CEO of Aspen Dental Management, Inc. “The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby is a unique event in NASCAR that generates plenty of buzz and conversation, too. With 45 Aspen Dental-branded locations in Ohio alone and dozens more throughout the Midwest, we’re excited that Aspen Dental will serve as the title sponsor of this fan-favorite event.”
Aspen Dental is one of the largest and fastest-growing networks of independent dental care providers in the United States, with more than 550 locations across 33 states.
“Aspen Dental has leveraged its partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing and Danica Patrick really well and this new role with Eldora Speedway gives them another strong platform,” said Tony Stewart, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and owner of Eldora Speedway. “The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby brings dirt-track fans and NASCAR fans together under one roof. It’s unique to Eldora and it allows Aspen Dental a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.”
Founded in 1954, Eldora Speedway has become the nation’s preeminent dirt track. Before the facility welcomed the return of a national NASCAR series to dirt for the first time in 42 years when the inaugural Truck Series race took place in July 2013, Eldora hosted motorsports icons synonymous with speed. A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon are just some of the names who competed at Eldora on their rise to racing stardom. Now, the Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby ushers in a new generation of talent looking to carve their place among the sport’s deep, rich history.
“The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby has become one of our most popular events,” Eldora Speedway General Manager Roger Slack said. “The excitement in the stands and the buzz on social media, especially from within the NASCAR industry, is incredible. We look forward to hosting NASCAR’s only dirt race again on July 20.”
The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby has become a destination event on the NASCAR calendar. The list of past winners is a Who’s Who of future talent: Austin Dillon (2013), Darrell Wallace Jr. (2014) and Christopher Bell (2015).
Call the Eldora Speedway box office at 937-338-3815 or go online at www.EldoraSpeedway.com for tickets.
