ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 11, 2017) – The winning driver of the 34th Annual Kings Royal featuring the World of Outlaws (WoO) Craftsman Sprint Car Series isn’t the only one cashing in this weekend. Many area businesses are also profiting from the crowds attending one of winged sprint car racing’s crown jewel events.The King’s Royal weekend elevates Eldora Speedway and the camp grounds surrounding the historic high-banked, half-mile clay oval into Darke County’s largest town for the three-day event. The population of county-seat Greenville is 13,037. Upwards of 25,000 annually attend the Kings Royal. And all those people have to eat – and if not camping – stay somewhere.

Kings Royal Event Page

“We see a definite impact in guest counts when there are events at Eldora,” said Cassie Campbell, managing partner at The Merchant House restaurant in Greenville. “Typically, we see at least one or two large groups (of 20 people or more) and several other small groups who are headed that way. We also have guests throughout the day who have left the speedway to check out Greenville for the afternoon.”

Hotel rooms can be found, but a search on Google maps shows many with no vacancies up and down the I-75 corridor as far north as Lima and as far south as Dayton. It’s the same from as far west from Richmond, Ind., to the east in Springfield.

“Eldora is a major part of our tourism economy here in Darke County,” said Matt Staugler, Executive Director of the Darke County Visitors Bureau. “Thousands of race fans converge on Darke County several times throughout the racing calendar, and those visitors shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants, and support our small businesses. It’s a big boost to our economy, and we continue to work closely with the Eldora team to make the fan experience in Darke County the best it can be.”

Like many establishments in the area, the Orchard Tree Family Restaurant in Celina said the main rush hits for breakfast.

“I’d say we’re a lot busier than we normally are when race fans come into town,” Orchard Tree manager Shelby Patton said. “All the waitresses tell me how much busier we are during those days.”

The Whistle Stop Bar and Grill in Ansonia, located about seven miles south of Eldora Speedway down State Route 118, has Eldora Speedway’s five major events – The Dream, Kings Royal, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, World 100 and Four Crown Nationals – circled on its calendar every race season.

“Every summer we plan out our goals and objectives around Eldora’s schedule due to the amount of patronage we receive from the Eldora race fans,” said Whistle Stop owner Andrew Riffle. “It is not uncommon that our ordering of product and amount of staffing is almost doubled on the five weekends of Eldora’s major events due to the increased amount of times we turn tables and higher than normal gross sales. We direct a good portion of our advertising efforts to Eldora race fans and welcome them with open arms as we see higher than normal loyalty with race fans on a year to year basis once we get them in the door.”

The 34th Annual Kings Royal Weekend kicks off with the Jokers Wild on Thursday, July 13, with a complete show featuring WoO Series single-car qualifying, Heat Races, C-Main and B-Mains, Dash event and the 30-lap Feature event paying $10,000 to win. The Knight Before the Kings Royal on Friday, July 14, will feature another full night of racing cumulating with a 30-lap, $12,000 to win Feature event. The Kings Royal will conclude on Saturday, July 15, with Heat Races, C-main and B-main events leading up to the 40-lap $50,000 to win finale.

Single day tickets start at just $25 with children (12 & younger) admitted free to general admission all three days of the Kings Royal Weekend. For ticket prices and camping information, please call (937) 338-3815 or visit www.EldoraSpeedway.com.

About Eldora Speedway:
Since carved from a cornfield in the natural amphitheater that existed between the Eldora Ballroom and the Wabash River by bandleader Earl Baltes in 1954, Eldora Speedway has grown to be a frontrunner in motorsports growth and stability. Baltes chose to sell the legendary high-banked clay oval to motorsports entrepreneur and NASCAR, IndyCar and USAC champion Tony Stewart in 2004. Celebrating its 64th season in 2017, Eldora hosts the biggest events in short-track racing including the 23rd annual Dirt Late Model Dream; the 34th annual Kings Royal Weekend; the Camping World Truck Series’ Eldora Dirt Derby – the only NASCAR National Series race on dirt; and the 47th annual World 100. The complete schedule for Eldora’s 64th consecutive season, including ticket and campsite information, is available at www.EldoraSpeedway.com and can be requested by phone at (937) 338-3815. Fans can get behind-the-scenes access of Eldora Speedway by following @EldoraSpeedway on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, hitting ‘Like’ at www.facebook.com/EldoraSpeedway and subscribing to www.youtube.com/EldoraSpeedway.