Three-time NASCAR Cup series champion Tony Stewart is a "go big or go home" kinda guy and Thursday night he proved it in one million dollar fashion hosting the second ever "Eldora Million" event at his Eldora Speedway in western Ohio. One hundred and twenty-four Dirt Super Late Model race teams entered the hallowed racing grounds to attempt to make the race's 24 car starting field, that is officially the second highest paying race behind this year's Indy 500.
Blairsville, Ga.'s Jonathan Davenport grabbed the lead at the start of the 101 lap feature and seemed to be set on cruise control until lap 80 when New Yorker Tim McCreadie reeled in his Longhorn chassis pal. With just five cars remaining on the lead lap, McCreadie wrestled the lead from Davenport as the first caution waved on lap 84 for Tennessean Jimmy Owens. Davenport regained the lead on the restart as the duo began pitching $1,000,000 sliders in the turns. Unfortunately for McCreadie, a right rear tire let go with less the 15 laps remaining. Davenport fought off South Carolina's Chris Madden in a two lap dash to the finish for the seven-figure victory in his "Nutrien Ag Solutions" sponsored machine.
Behind Davenport and Madden was young Devin Moran of Ohio who was nine months old when his father, Hall of Famer Donnie Moran, won the first "Eldora Million" in 2001. McCreadie was fourth, just ahead of North Carolina's Chris Ferguson.
Earlier in the afternoon Ferguson and Davenport won $12,000 preliminary 25 lap features to set the stage for the million dollar A-Main.
Chickamauga's Dale McDowell was the first car one lap down to the leaders in 6th overall.
Friday night and Saturday night Tony Stewart and Eldora Speedway will do it all again as they host the 30th Annual Dream 100, set to pay $128,000, a race Davenport has won four times already in his storied career.
Floracing.com will again broadcast the event live on the internet for subscribers.