Tony Stewart frustrated Bristol got the NASCAR dirt race instead of Eldora

Track owner Tony Stewart clears up a misconception on why the NASCAR Trucks aren’t coming back to Eldora Speedway in 2021

Tony Stewart went out on a limb and welcomed the traditional asphalt racing series to his dirt track in 2013. The NASCAR Truck Series unloaded for a thrilling show on the dirt.

The fans erupted in excitement. Heat race winner from the first race saw names like Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader and Jared Landers while Austin Dillon wont the inaugural Eldora Dirt Derby feature.

The race continued to run from 2013-2019. However, it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. For 2021, it was handed the death blow as the race has been removed from the NASCAR schedule.

Related: Kyle Larson on NASCAR’s upcoming dirt race: “I think it’s still 500 laps. So, that’s pretty crazy.”

Why isn’t the NASCAR Cup Series racing at Eldora Speedway?

Meanwhile, NASCAR is doubling down on their dirt campaign. For the first time in 50 years, the NASCAR Cup Series will run on the dirt.

Bristol Motor Speedway is in the process of transforming their race track to dirt. A layer of saw dust has been applied which is now being following by multiple feet of dirt.

The Bristol dirt track will feature 18 degrees of banking. Newly announced, the safer barriers will be removed.

But, why didn’t the Cup cars head to Eldora Speedway? That’s the most mind blowing question of the year.

For years, Tony Stewart begged for a NASCAR Cup Series race on the dirt. He continually stated it could be done and encouraged fans to call for it. Now, it’s here, but it’s not in Ohio.

Related: Tony Stewart makes a plea for a NASCAR Cup Series dirt race! (2018)

The half-mile Ohio dirt track is a more traditional dirt track. Yet, it features modern amenities and a proven team to make a great show.

The track owner Stewart is asking himself those very questions. In fact, Stewart has recently stated that he was frustrated that Bristol Motor Speedway got a Cup race on the dirt after Eldora proved they could do it.

Related: Bristol Dirt Race – Banking and track info from the team constructing it

NASCAR Truck Series at Eldora Speedway - Eldora Dirt Derby
NASCAR Truck Series at Eldora Speedway – Eldora Dirt Derby (Photo: Matt Sullivan | Getty Images)

Eldora Speedway owner says they elected not to renew the NASCAR dirt race

The NASCAR truck series won’t be visiting Eldora in 2021. However, two new dirt races are on the schedule for that series.

The Bristol Dirt Track will host the NASCAR Trucks on March 27th. Then, the series will return to the dirt for a second dirt event on July 9th at the famed Knoxville Raceway.

So, why was the Eldora truck race removed?

“I know there has been a lot of misconceptions that NASCAR took us off the [Truck Series] schedule, that’s now how this happened,” Stewart said in the Stewart Haas Racing podcast.

He added, “NASCAR didn’t take us off the schedule, we just didn’t renew our contract. We have our list of reasons for it, we’ve got some big things that we are trying to do with [Eldora Speedway] and we felt that we needed to go in a different direction.”

Related: Richard Petty says dirt track racing ‘isn’t professional’ as NASCAR returns to dirt

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Tony Stewart | Eldora Speedway | Knoxville Raceway | Bristol Motor Speedway | NASCAR

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