NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart welcomed 48 of the best Super Late Model racers to his Eldora Speedway Thursday night for the opening of the 3-night "STREAM" weekend with over $200,000 on the line, in front of a fansless grandstands.
Normally packing in 30,000 plus fans, the COVID-19 crisis altered the annual $100,000 to-Win June "DREAM" into a streaming live only event on the FloRacing internet website.
With $10,000 up for grabs and a good starting spot possible for Saturday's $50,000 race, North Carolina's Kyle Strickler (# 8), an Open Wheel Modified star and part-time NASCAR Truck Series competitor, shock n awed everyone holding off Georgia's Shane Clanton Thursday night.
Brandon Sheppard of Illinois and Ricky Thornton Jr of Arizona rekindled their World of Outlaw Late Model series rivalry battling over third, while Bobby Pierce of Illinois, rounded out the Top 5 finishers.
Chickamauga's Dale McDowell was 13th, Blairsville's Jonathan Davenport was 18th overall while Jimmy Owens (Tennessee) and Brandon Overton (Georgia) finished last and almost last respectfully of the 24 starters.
Friday, another $10,000 is on the line before Saturday's finale. Stewart whom fields multiple types of race cars of dirt is not racing this weekend at his track. He is scheduled to compete in Tennessee in a few weeks for a pair of Sprint Car races at Volunteer Speedway near Bristol.