2017 Eldora Dirt Derby Explained
The 2017 Eldora Dirt Derby 150 was the 11th stock car race of the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the fifth iteration of the event. The race was held on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, in Rossburg, Ohio at Eldora Speedway, a 0.5miles permanent oval dirt track. The race took the scheduled 150 laps to complete. At race's end, Matt Crafton, driving for ThorSport Racing, would take control of the race on the final restart with 18 laps to go to win his 14th careerNASCAR Camping World Truck Series win and his only win of the season.[1] To fill out the podium, Stewart Friesen of Halmar Friesen Racing and Chase Briscoe of Brad Keselowski Racing would finish second and third, respectively.
Background
Eldora Speedway (nicknamed "The Big E", "Auto Racing's Showcase Since 1954," and "The World's Greatest Dirt Track") is a 0.53NaN3 high-banked clay dirt oval. Located north of Rossburg, Ohio in the village of New Weston, Ohio, it features permanent and festival-style seating believed to be in the range of 30,000. The 22,000 permanent grandstand and VIP suite seats make it the largest sports stadium in the Dayton, Ohio-region according to the Dayton Business Journal.[2]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
*Withdrew due to blowing an engine on their heat qualifying lap.
[3] Practice
First practice
The first practice session was held on Tuesday, July 18, at 7:00 PM EST, and would last for 55 minutes.[4] Stewart Friesen of Halmar Friesen Racing would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 19.547 and an average speed of 92.086mph.[5]
Second and final practice
The second and final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Tuesday, July 18, at 9:00 PM EST, and would last for 55 minutes. Caleb Holman of Henderson Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 19.990 and an average speed of 90.045mph.[6]
Qualifying
Qualifying for the five heats took place on Wednesday, July 19, at 5:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Qualifying would set the grid positions for the heats; first would get first in heat one, second first in heat two, etc in a repeating order until the slowest car.
Stewart Friesen of Halmar Friesen Racing would win the overall heat qualifying pole, setting a time of 20.000 and an average speed of 90mph.[7]
Time Trials
Heat #1
Heat #2
Heat #3
Heat #4
Heat #5
Last Chance Qualifier
The Last Chance Qualifier was held Wednesday, July 19, at 8:45 PM EST. The race was held for all other drivers that were not guaranteed a starting spot in the main feature, with the top seven drivers in the event qualifying to the main feature, leaving one driver to not qualify. Bobby Pierce would win the Last Chance Qualifier and take the 26th spot.[8] At race's end, Tommy Regan, retiring after two laps due to handling issues, would be the only driver to fail to qualify.
Full starting lineup
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 40
Stage 2 Laps: 50
Stage 3 Laps: 60
Standings after the race
- Drivers' Championship standings
- Note: Only the first 8 positions are included for the driver standings.
Notes and References
- Web site: 2017-07-21 . Matt Crafton snaps 27-race winless streak with Eldora Speedway victory . 2022-05-01 . ESPN.com . en.
- Web site: Largest Dayton-Area Entertainment Venues . 2022-05-01 . Dayton Business Journal . en-us.
- Web site: Beard . Brock . TRUCKS: Caleb Holman gives #75 first NASCAR dirt track last-place finish since 1960 . 2022-05-01 . en.
- Web site: 2017 Truck Series Eldora Race Info . 2022-05-01 . Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site . en-US.
- Web site: Bonkowski . Jerry . 2017-07-19 . Stewart Friesen fastest in first of two Truck practices at Eldora . 2022-05-01 . NASCAR Talk NBC Sports . en-US.
- Web site: Bonkowski . Jerry . 2017-07-19 . Caleb Holman, Christopher Bell fastest in 2nd Truck practice at Eldora . 2022-05-01 . NASCAR Talk NBC Sports . en-US.
- Web site: Allaway . Phil . 2017-07-19 . Stewart Friesen Fastest Overall In Eldora Qualifying . 2022-05-01 . www.frontstretch.com . en-US.
- Web site: Seelman . Jacob . 2017-07-19 . TRUCKS: Pierce Rallies For Last Chance Qualifier Victory At Eldora . 2022-05-01 . Race Chaser Online . en-US.
- Web site: 2017 Eldora Dirt Derby - The Third Turn . 2022-05-01 . www.thethirdturn.com . en.