Determined preparation for 2013 NASCAR event results in Teamwork and Mission Awards

ROSSBURG, OH (January 10, 2014) — A recent trip to Concord, NC for the annual NASCAR Summit not only provided Eldora Speedway representatives with the latest safety, security and training practices for the upcoming 2014 race season, but with exciting news for the entire Eldora community as well.

During opening ceremonies of the meeting attended by safety and security specialists from facilities hosting NASCAR National Series events, the .500-mile clay oval, owned by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, was honored with two prominent awards. The awards recognized the 1-800 CarCash Mudsummer Classic for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, marking NASCAR’s first dirt race in nearly 43 years.

The Teamwork Award, presented by NASCAR’s Medical Liaison department, celebrated the Premier Health Infield Care Center team assembled at Eldora by Miami Valley Hospital and CareFlight. Liz Denlinger, R.N., nursing director at Eldora’s infield care center and Emergency Department nursing director at Miami Valley Hospital, accepted on behalf of a group including Andy Hawk, M.D., medical director of CareFlight Air and Mobile Services at MVH; Dr. Keith Bricking, medical director of Eldora’s infield care center and Emergency Department medical director at MVH and Terry Kibler, the track’s safety director.

“The Eldora team went above and beyond our expectations to provide NASCAR and the competitors a safe and comfortable environment. The assembled team’s hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence for their first-ever NASCAR National Series event was amazing,” stated Lori Sheppard, NASCAR Senior Manager Medical Liaison.

Moments later, Eldora was again summoned to the podium by NASCAR’s Track Services department. Eldora Speedway and Michigan International Speedway were named co-recipients of the 2013 Mission Award honor for their spirit of collaboration and cooperation for the inaugural running of the 1-800 CarCash Mudsummer Classic.

“The exceptional teamwork to meet the rigid NASCAR standards in the presentation of their debut NASCAR Camping World Series event made NASCAR’s return to dirt track racing a success,” said Mike Phillips, NASCAR’s Senior Manager of Track Services, as he complimented the Eldora team represented by Terry Kibler.

NASCAR President Mike Helton presented both awards.

The NASCAR Summit is the Daytona, FL based sanctioning group’s only annual meeting for representatives from the facilities that host NASCAR National Series events, and addresses topics related to large event operations, risk management, fire and rescue training and emergency medical services issues. This year’s Summit attracted in excess of 700 attendees from all corners of the United States and into Canada.

Information and guidance from the Summit will be applied to all Eldora events, including the highly anticipated return of NASCAR and the Camping World Truck Series for the July 23 return of the 1-800 CarCash Mudsummer Classic. Event tickets and campsites for the event, which was a sell-out in 2013, are now on sale via www.EldoraSpeedway.com or by calling the track office at (937) 338-3815 during normal business hours.

Race fans and teams can get the latest news on the 1-800 CarCash Mudsummer Classic and other exciting Eldora events by following @EldoraSpeedway on Twitter, become a fan by hitting ‘Like’ at Facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway or downloading the Eldora Speedway app for iPhone and iPad via iTunes or Android via Google Play.