ROSSBURG, Ohio — Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart announced Wednesday that winged sprint cars will race for the richest purse in sprint car history as his legendary, half-mile dirt oval will host its third version of the Eldora Million July 12-13.
The unsanctioned event, which features a winner’s purse of $1,002,023 from a total purse of $1.4 million.
“All of us at Eldora are super excited to host the first $1 milllion-to-win sprint car race,” said Stewart. “Back in 2003, Eldora hosted a non-wing race that paid $200,000 to winner Jac Haudenschild, but this will be the first time a sprint car driver will race for a winner’s check worth $1 million.
“This will showcase the best of the best, and you’re going to want to see how this race unfolds where in the final laps, with guys still in the hunt running close together, what they will do to win $1 million.”
Eldora Speedway is known for its mammoth payouts for its mega events. While it’s the first sprint car race to pay to seven figures, it will become the 17th sprint car race at Eldora to pay at least six figures (12 Historical Big Ones, 3 King Royals, 1 Mopar Million). It will be the 48th overall race at Eldora to pay at least six figures when including late model events.
Combined with the $175,000-to-win 40th Kings Royal that takes place July 14-15 following The Eldora Million, overall posted prize money for the four-day stretch will exceed a staggering $2 million.
“I think it’s been long overdue,” Stewart added. “We’ve had two, $1 million-to-win dirt late model races at Eldora, but to finally do it for the sprint car community is something that makes all of us at Eldora really proud,” Stewart said. “Sprint car drivers put on some of the best shows in all of racing and this is our way of saying thank you.”
In a format that is unique to sprint car events, The Eldora Million will feature a full racing program that culminates with the $1,002,023-to-win feature. Competitors will earn points in Wednesday’s preliminary action that will help seed Thursday night’s events. Wednesday’s program doubles down on racing action with competitors split into groups.
Each group will compete in a full racing program highlighted by $12,000-to-win and $1,000-to-start main events. In total, Wednesday’s purse exceeds $115,000.
“This format will offer an exciting, unique program of racing on Wednesday and Thursday for fans and competitors, said Jerry Gappens, general manager of Eldora. “Wednesday’s program is a ‘big bang for the buck’ for the fans with all the racing plus twin 25-lap features. For competitors, it basically compresses two nights of preliminary action into one night and guarantees 48 different cars will race in a feature. We will detail more information on the complete two-night format when the official entry form is released in the spring. Fans will be able to look forward to various entertainment elements and that information will be forthcoming as well.”
Ticket and camping renewals for all of Eldora’s traditional marquee events will begin showing up in patron accounts next week and run through January 31, 2023. Due to the unique nature of the Eldora Million, patrons who had tickets for the 2022 Kings Royal Saturday night race will have the first opportunity to purchase those same seats for Wednesday, July 12 (The Eldora Million prelim) and Thursday, July 13 (The Eldora Million) as part of the event renewal process.
FloSports will provide exclusive live streaming coverage of the event.
The Eldora Million Feature Purse: 1st) $1,002,023; 2nd) $100,000; 3rd) $50,000; 4th) $25,000; 5th) $15,000; 6th) $12,500; 7th) $10,000; 8th) $9,000; 9th) $8,500; 10th) $8,000; 11th) $7,500; 12th) $7,000; 13th) $6,900; 14th) $6,800; 15th) $6,700; 16th) $6,600; 17th) $6,500; 18th) $6,400; 19th) $6,300; 20th) $6,200; 21st) $6,150; 22nd) $6,100; 23rd) $6,050; and 24th) $6,000.