Eldora Speedway...
Round Two Prelude Drivers for ‘Feed the Children’
Johnson, Allgaier, Elliott, Evernham, Gilliland and Pedregon Join June 6 Feed The Children Celebrity Field
March 9, 2012 

ROSSBURG, OH (March 7) – A former winner, a return to their roots, a birthday celebration, a determined straight-line racer, and a reunion of sorts are all storylines surrounding the second round of nationally-known drivers announced today as contestants in the Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream.  The eighth annual event takes place Wednesday, June 6 at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway. 

Included on this week’s list of superstars is five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and 2010 Prelude to the Dream winner Jimmie Johnson, 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott, three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship crew chief Ray Evernham, two-time NHRA Full Throttle Series champion Cruz Pedregon, NASCAR Nationwide Series contender Justin Allgaier and 2007 Daytona 500 pole sitter David Gilliland as they all make a return to Eldora and the charity-driven event that celebrates a once-a-year gathering of headliners from NASCAR, IndyCar and NHRA in Dirt Late Models at the famed high-banked .500-mile clay oval. 

Johnson, whose racing roots trace back to the southern California off-road racing scene, adapted quickly to the lightning quick Eldora speed plant. His indoctrination to dirt oval racing at the 2008 Prelude produced a respectable 8th place finish and only two years later Johnson, the only NASCAR driver to win five consecutive Sprint Cup titles, stood in victory lane as the winner. 

While Johnson made tracks off-road, the return to a dirt track brings back early career memories for the legendary Elliott, Gilliland and Allgaier. 

As the elder statesman of the group, Elliott’s chase for checkered flags began in 1974 on dirt ovals around his hometown of Dawsonville, GA in a career that has produced 16 NASCAR Most Popular Driver awards.  Gilliland’s foray into NASCAR racing was preceded by early career runs at Perris Speedway, outside of Los Angeles, CA, while Allgaier cut his stock car racing teeth on the tough Illinois dirt bullrings. 

The return to dirt only seems fitting for Allgaier who will be seeking a Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream victory to celebrate his birthday, as he turns 26 years old on June 6. 

Normally shooting down a 1000 foot dragway at speeds approaching 330 miles per hour, Pedregon came to the 2007 Prelude with only a passion for oval track racing.  His 19th place finish that year got him hooked onto a new hobby – Dirt Late Model racing.  He soon formed his own Late Model team and, when not behind the wheel of his NHRA Funny Car, he can be found racing on dirt ovals surrounding his home base of Brownsburg, IN. 

For Evernham, who has worn multiple hats within the racing world, the Prelude serves as a reunion for himself and Elliott.  With Evernham as the owner and Elliott the driver, the duo teamed up in 2001 to reintroduce Dodge to the NASCAR scene; an introduction that produced a pair of NASCAR Cup wins the following season.  As a former standout pavement East Coast Modified racer, Evernham’s creditable roles also include leading Jeff Gordon and the #24 team to three NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships.  The ESPN motorsports analyst is a partner in East Lincoln (NC) Speedway outside of Charlotte, NC.  Evernham is married to Erin Crocker Evernham, the only woman to ever win a World of Outlaws A-Feature and who has multiple starts herself at Eldora. 

These six drivers bring the total to twelve announced Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream participants as they join Clint Bowyer, Dave Blaney, Kurt Busch, Ron Capps, Kasey Kahne and Tony Kanaan in the mega line-up. 

Catch all the behind-the-scenes preparation for the event by following the track, event, charity, drivers and officials on Twitter:  @EldoraSpeedway, @PreludetoDream @FeedTheChildren, @JimmieJohnson, @J_Allgaier, @BillElliott9, @skiprec, @DavidGilliland and @RogerSlack. 

Tickets and campsites for the Feed The Children Prelude to the Dream and all other 2012 Eldora Speedway Major Events including the $100,000-to-win Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Commercial Mowers, $50,000-to-win World of Outlaws Kings Royal and 42th Annual World 100 are available through the speedway box office (937) 338-3815 or online 24 hours a day at www.EldoraSpeedway.com.  Like us at www.Facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway.