The only NASCAR-sanctioned race on dirt has a new presenting sponsor.
The July 20 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway will be sponsored by Aspen Dental, speedway owner Tony Stewart confirmed on Friday (April 29) at Talladega Superspeedway.
The Rossburg, Ohio, track confirmed the news in a release.
“During our five year partnership with Stewart Haas Racing, we’ve successfully ignited conversation and buzz about what is often an overlooked healthcare issue – oral health,” said Bob Fontana, CEO of Aspen Dental Management, Inc. in the release. “The Truck Series race at Eldora is a unique event in NASCAR that generates plenty of buzz and conversation, too. With 45 Aspen Dental-branded locations in Ohio alone and dozens more throughout the Midwest, we’re excited that Aspen Dental will serve as the title sponsor of this fan-favorite event.”
The announcement comes in the midst of another Aspen Dental-sponsored event, the Aspen Dental Weekend at Talladega. The dental provider also serves as a sponsor for Danica Patrick, a Sprint Cup Series driver for Stewart’s own Stewart-Haas Racing team.
“The Truck Series race at Eldora has become one of our most popular events,” said Roger Slack, general manager of Eldora Speedway. “The excitement in the stands and the buzz on social media, especially from within the NASCAR industry, is incredible. We look forward to hosting NASCAR’s only dirt race again in July.”
The summer NCWTS race at Eldora Speedway has been held since 2013. The speedway announced in December that the race, formerly referred to as the “MudSummer Classic”, would go through a name change after an agreement with Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., whose All-Star game is referred to as the “Mid-Summer Classic.”
“We hope all of the baseball fans who traveled to Rossburg, Ohio the past three years in anticipation of the MLB All-Star Game enjoyed the race and the $2 beers,” Slack said in a statement provided by Eldora in December.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.