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First ride on dirt sends Kanaan's heart racing

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Photos: Prelude to the Dream at Eldora
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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer Updated 10:37 PM Thursday, June 10, 2010

ROSSBURG — Chances are Tony Kanaan was never so happy finishing 24th.

That’s the power of the Prelude to the Dream.

Kanaan, who had never visited a dirt track— let alone driven on one before visiting Eldora Speedway on Wednesday, June 9 — finished 24th out of 27 cars in the dirt late model charity event.

Barely an hour after the race in front of about 20,000 spectators, the IndyCar Series driver was already planning his next opportunity to play in the dirt.

“I need to go testing,” Kanaan, still pumped up from the experience, told track owner and Prelude host Tony Stewart in the pits no less than an hour after the race ended. “I’m already looking to buy a car. You got me into it.”

A few minutes later, as Stewart was meeting with the media, Marcos Ambrose pulled up in a golf cart and told Stewart where he could find him for some post-race camaraderie.

“We don’t need an excuse to screw around and have fun, but this gives us a great excuse to do it,” said Stewart, who volunteered to start in back of the field in pursuit of a charity bonus and finished sixth.

“It’s just neat to see these guys having so much fun doing this.”

Bowyer, oh, Bowyer

Clint Bowyer finished second at the Prelude, but he also found himself celebrating in victory lane.

Bowyer owns the car Jimmie Johnson drove to the Prelude win. Bowyer finished .683 seconds later.

“It’s really cool to be able to have Jimmie in the car,” Bowyer said. “He’s a four-time champion for a reason, and that proves it right there.”

While many drivers tested or even bought their own rides, Johnson said he had not been in a dirt late model since last year’s Prelude.

“Even though I didn’t test this year, the first time I ran this car since last year was today,” Johnson said. “Evidently I filed it away and it worked.”

Crowning achievement

Huber Heights resident Megan Spink concluded her reign as one of Eldora’s queens once the Prelude ended.

The new court was picked on Thursday.

“When I signed up for this and got into the pageant I didn’t even think I was going to make the cut. This experience has been amazing. More than I ever expected,” said Spink, a 2005 Greenon High School graduate. “Coming out to the track, definitely meeting all the fans. Being part of the family here, I’ll miss that.”

Buck stops here

X-Games great and extreme sports star Travis Pastrana nearly collected on his $1 bet with former motocrosser and fellow Prelude rookie Ricky Carmichael.

Pastrana — who was wide-eyed and excited, and maybe had one or two too many Red Bulls (his sponsor) — finished 23rd. Carmichael was 19th.

“I ran out of gas on the last lap, which sucked, so I lost like eight spots from turn 3 to the finish line,” Pastrana said. “Not that it mattered, but it was fun.”

Local racing schedule

KIL-KARE SPEEDWAY

Today: NASCAR Whelen late models, modifieds, sport stocks, compacts; race car rides for kids. Gates open at 6 p.m., racing at 8.

SHADY BOWL SPEEDWAY

Saturday: Late models, sports stocks, Pro-4s, compacts; Megasaurus Show. Gates open at 3 p.m., hot laps at 4, qualifying at 5, racing at 7.

KIL-KARE DRAGWAY

Saturday: Supercharged Thunder. Gates open at noon.

DAYTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB

Friday: Old Time Newsies; vintage racing, block party at Montgomery County Fairgrounds. Racing starts at 1 p.m.

Saturday: Old Time Newsies flat track racing at Montgomery County Fairgrounds; 750 expert, 750 basic twins, 450 expert, 450 pro sport. Practice at 4 p.m., racing at 7.

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