Prelude To The Dream: Now That’s A Must-See
I’m not a shill for Tony Stewart or HBO. And I also realize the tough economic times we’re in.
But if you’re a true race fan and can’t make it out in person to Eldora Raceway in west-central Ohio on Wednesday, I highly encourage you to sign up for the pay-per-view edition of the Prelude To The Dream.
For those of you not quite familiar with the event, it’s arguably one of the most enjoyable times on the calendar for roughly two dozen Sprint Cup drivers, as well as other notables from the world of drag racing, World of Outlaws and other four-wheeled venues.
The drivers compete in a no-holds-barred, old school-style race on a half-mile dirt track that will try to cram in close to 20,000 people and who knows how many hundreds of thousands of fans watching on TV at home, work or their favorite hole.
Sure, the price is steep: $25. But what better excuse to throw a mid-week party at your house by inviting some of your closest friends and asking them to chip in a few bucks to watch the race.
And what a race it is. I regret that this will be the first time in the Prelude’s five-year history that I won’t be in attendance – starting a new job with AOL FanHouse (FanHouse.com) and all that.
But if you want to see real racing, not only with multiple heat preliminaries as well as a fantastic main event, the Prelude is a must-see deal for you.
Even if you’re one of those who have distanced themselves from NASCAR because you’re not happy with some of the changes the sport has undergone over the last several years, this is an opportunity for you to see real hardcore racing without the politics you find in organized motorsports.
But the best part of the whole night is that since its inception, the Prelude has raised roughly $2 million for various charities, including the Victory Junction Gang. If things go well Wednesday night – particularly if there’s no rain (which washed out the original Prelude date back in June) – lots of money is going to be raised for a lot of worthy and needy folks, particularly sick children.
Remember, it’s just $25 bucks. That’s not even a tank of gas these days. But the memories you’ll take from watching the telecast – memories that you can keep for a long time if you tape the race, as well – plus the worthy cause it benefits makes the entry of admission, so to speak, more than worth it.
I wish I was there this year, but it’s not to be. But I can guarantee I’ll be there next year, watching – pardon me, Indianapolis 500, for the sacrilege – one of the greatest spectacles in racing that I’ve ever seen.
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