Column By: DERICK KRINER / RPW – ROSSBURG, OH – The highest paying sprint car race ever! What more needs to be said, for an event that will have the sports attention for one night in July.
The Eldora Speedway promotional team has created a marquee event paying $1 million to win. This event will take place during the same week as the Kings Royal, which already pays $175K to win.
The Million will be a cooperative effort between Eldora and FloSports and will feature a format that some fans will be familiar with, if they have ever watched Eldora’s late model showcase events. Drivers will be spilt up into two groups running prelim events Wednesday night and earning points towards spots on Thursday.
A complete format hasn’t been released yet, but it is expected that those points will lineup an array of heat races that will kick of the program on Thursday. With a purse of over $1.4 million, drivers will be coming out of the woodwork to race on the Ohio high banks of Eldora.
Anticipated Drivers
A race fan that attends the 4-day event is sure to see a stellar field of cars from all over the United States and several other countries. World of Outlaws regulars, as well as All Star Circuit of Champions drivers will more than likely all be in attendance. These drivers will probably make up only a third of the anticipated field of cars.
Compiling a quick list of possible drivers, I’ve come up with a potential 100+ names that could flock to Ohio come July 12th-15th. Notable drivers that have been confirmed include Kyle Larson, Lance Dewease, Buddy Kofoid, and several others.
A few surprise crossover drivers might also throw their hats in if the opportunity presents. If you are a fan or team attending this event, you are likely going to see drivers you’ve never seen race before.
Early…Early Favorites
Being that the season is still barely underway in much of the country, it is hard to make predictions about who will be a favorite to cash the million dollar check in July. However, past success by several drivers at the Eldora Speedway, may be a good indication.
Brent Marks has to be considered as a front runner after wining the two premium events at the speedway in 2022, in route to being the richest sprint car driver for the year. Mark’s past mastery of the Eldora Speedway could once again make him the richest winner in sprint car racing history.
Other Eldora masters such as 5-time Kings Royal Champion Donny Schatz, and multi-time prelim winner David Gravel, are sure to be in contention. Last year’s Kings Royal week saw Gravel taking the Jokers Wild and the Knight Before the Kings Royal.
Gravel has also shown great speed already in 2023. Donny Schatz was in contention for last year’s 39th Kings Royal title, and it could be argued that during that week last season, Schatz found his speed.
Answers might be easier to find after the Outlaws series travels to the Let’s Race Two event, May 5th & 6th.
Million Dollar Question
Sure the race pays a whopping million dollars to take first place, but does it mean more than any other race? Does it top winning the Kings Royal, or Knoxville Nationals. Races that are full of rich history and Hall of Fame names.
Winning a million dollars is going to change a lot of driver’s lives, but for some, it might not fill the void of winning that event they’ve dreamed of winning since they first sat in a sprint car.
Whoever wins this event is sure to be sprint car royalty for the rest of time, but does it mean as much to them, as one would think? Only the winner can answer that question, as they are standing on the victory lane stage come July 13th.