Baltes classic kicks off world 100 week at eldora speedway. The super dirtcar bigblock modifieds will return to eldora speedway. Earl baltes went from a total racing neophyte to the founder of eldora speedway in ohio, which became one of americas most legendary dirt race tracks. Earl baltes was the owner of eldora speedway from 19542004. Long before tony stewart purchased eldora speedway in november 2004, the venerable, halfmile dirt oval was already an iconic racing.
Baltes classic by coors light kicks off world 100 week at eldora. Eldora speedway archives motorsportstalk nbc sports. Originally aired during the 20 broadcast of the inaugural mudsummer. The american sprint car series is the largest sprint car sanctioning body in the world. Jul 26, 20 the phenomena that is eldora speedway and its evolution from earl baltes vision into the worlds most famous short track. Eldora speedway the most famous short track in america by holder, bill. The house that earl almost built vintage sprint cars. Originally constructed as a 14mile semibanked clay dirt oval by track founder and legendary promoter earl baltes, eldora was enlarged to a 38mile length and. Now the earl of eldora speaks out in his own straightforward style in this delightful, fascinating autobiography. Open wheel leader eldora speedway earl baltes field of. Eldora speedway founder earl baltes passes away fox sports. The now named eldora ballroom is still there, while the racetrack has grown into national treasure.
From nascar to openwheel indy cars, and from sprint cars to midgets to offroad vehicles, parnelli jones never met a fourwheel ride he couldnt conquer. Baltes, who was born on april 27, 1921 in nearby versailles, ohio, had stumbled onto a race at new bremen speedway and was so impressed by the big, enthusiastic crowd that he decided to build his own race track. Eldora speedway founder, earl baltes, celebrates 90th. Nascar camping world truck series books fiveyear agreement. Earl baltes, eldora speedway founder passes at 93 speed51. Eldora speedway academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. Speedway officials say baltes died monday at miami valley hospital in dayton. Baltes chose to sell the legendary highbanked clay oval to. Eldora speedway statement on the passing of earl baltes. It would be great to score a win at earl s last event with usac.
All coolers will be inspected for compliance to this law. His first money earned driving a sprint car came as a result of finishing last in earl baltes eldora 500 at ohios eldora speedway. With the lucas oil national series backed by numerous regional series, one can catch all the excitement of an ascs sprint car race at racetracks across the united states. Parnelli jones and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Baltes, born on april 27, 1921 in nearby versailles, had stumbled onto a race at new bremen speedway and was so impressed by the big, enthusiastic crowd that he decided to build his own race track. Dirt late model hall of famer billy moyer pocketed the super late model win, while jon henry raced to the modified triumph. These words well describe earl baltes, one of the most successful shorttrack promoters in american history. Earl baltes 1988 world 100 interview at eldora speedway. Barnum of auto racing, baltes firm hand guided eldora into prominence and first introduced usac to the western side of ohio back in 1962. Tony stewart, owner, eldora speedway, said, earl was the yardstick other track promoters measured themselves by.
This book covers the the exciting sixdecade history of eldora speedway which has the. This book covers the exciting sixdecade history of eldora speedway which has the unique capability of being a national leader in both stock cars and open wheel machines. A dirt car star tony stewart on eldora speedway, woo and more the legend of smoke. Earl baltes turns 90 years old and we look at his life and times in celebration. Then, of course, at eldora, there was don hewitt and his son do it, aka jack. It was a rough, tough, daring journey, and now you can ride along.
In addition to the truck race, eldora announced today that the super dirtcar series bigblock modifieds will race a full series points event on tuesday, july 19 and follow that up with an invitational feature on wednesday supporting the truck series race. The life and times of one of the nations best racing. Earl baltes ability to see these and other shifts in the racing world. Eldora speedway the most famous short track in america holder, bill. Eldora speedway founder earl baltes died monday morning, the track confirmed via its website. The life and times of one of the nations best racing promoters 4. A subreddit for everything nascar related use the following search parameters to narrow your results. Mar 23, 2015 the now named eldora ballroom is still there, while the racetrack has grown into national treasure. By dave argabright eldora tony stewart condition is excellent.
Longtime track promoter built ohio track in 1954 related. It was the ungodly fast and historic eldora speedway in rossburg, ohio, scraped from literally. For more information, the baltes family and author dave argabright documented his memoirs in the book earl. Rossburg, ohio earl baltes, the founder and longtime promoter of eldora speedway, has died. Since carved from a cornfield in the natural amphitheater that existed between the eldora ballroom and the wabash river by bandleader earl baltes in 1954, eldora speedway has grown to be a frontrunner in motorsports growth and stability. He had owned several nightclubs including, crystal ballroom with leroy and ellie, eldora ballroom, bar e club, and shady park in celina, and had played at wintergarden nightclub in piqua, st. Earl was the yardstick other track promoters measured themselves by. Eldora founder earl baltes passes away performance.
The top winged sprint car drivers across the country compete in ascs competition, with the best of the best gunning for that precious and. Find great deals on ebay for eldora speedway and eldora speedway shirt. Eldora was scheduled to open its 67 th season april. Baltes classic by coors light kicks off world 100 week at.
The now named eldora ballroom is still there, while the racetrack has grown into a national treasure. Mar 23, 2015 eldora speedway founder earl baltes died monday morning, the track confirmed via its website. Baltes and author dave argabright documented his memoirs in the book earl. Eldora founder earl baltes passes away performance racing. This book covers the exciting sixdecade history of eldora speedway which has the unique capability of being a national leader in both stock cars and o. The reason why involved not just the race, but the race track, too. Earl was a wellknown race promoter having started eldora speedway in rossburg as well as promoted new bremen speedway, limaland. The four crown nationals will mark earl baltes final usac. That started a storied trend that found many indy 500 bound drivers competing on eldoras famed high banks. Details about eldora speedway autographed book earl. The phenomena that is eldora speedway and its evolution from earl baltes vision into the worlds most famous short track. Eldora speedway the history of the most famous dirt short track in america 195420.
The eldora speedway was built during the 1950s by earl baltes, who used it for both racing and musical entertainment performances. Baltes built the famous dirt track in rossburg, ohio. Eldora speedway new weston, oh was built in 1954 by earl baltes, a prominent area bandleader with no previous racing experience. Mar 23, 2015 longtime track promoter built ohio track in 1954 related. Or would it have failed miserably and destroyed the financial stability of not only itself, but eldora speedway and earl baltes as well. Parnelli jones and a great selection of related books, art and. The lucas dirt series has been for years recognized as one of the best national dirt late model touring series and is home to some of the sports biggest names like earl pearson jr.
Baltes, the founder and builder of eldora speedway, needs no introduction. For 50 years earl baltes was one of the most popular and successful promoters in auto racing. Eldora speedway the most famous short track in america. Apr 27, 2011 a master of promotion, caretaker of eldora speedway for 50 years, and the man that made tony stewart a racetrack owner. These words well describe earl baltes, one of the most successful shorttrack. The 10th running of the baltes classic by coors light kicks off eldora speedways biggest week of the year with a rare sunday september 3rd night event this labor day weekend honoring eldora. The earl of eldora tells the story of his life, his dreams, and his experiences. In what year did the late earl baltes fun the first world 100 eldora speedway. With his colorful, straightforward style earl tells of the many deals and. Buy a cheap copy of eldora speedway the most famous short. He died this week at age 93, one of the most acclaimed promoters in the history of the sport. A master of promotion, caretaker of eldora speedway for 50 years, and the man that made tony stewart a racetrack owner. Big bills path to talladega eldora speedway founder and longtime promoter earl baltes died monday morning at an ohio hospital. Finest hotels near eldora speedway nascar in new weston oh.
Ohio and turned it into eldora speedway, arguably the most beloved short track in the world. Earl baltes was the yardstick other track promoters measured. Eldora speedway the most famous short track in america by. In an age before massmanufactured sprint car chassis and with few safety regulations on the books, ferkel was driving a car he had built by tig welding together the tubing from a childrens swing set. Baltes built the famous dirt track in rossburg, ohio, in 1954 and helped promote it into. Description eldora speedway the history of the most famous dirt short track in america 195420. Jim denhamers photos from eldora speedways earl baltes classic 9218. The 10th annual earl baltes classic was held at eldora speedway rossburg, ohio as the dirtcar ump super late models and dirtcar ump modifieds took center stage.
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