Press Release

THE HISTORICAL BIG “1” RETURNS TO ELDORA IN 2022

The Original $100,000-to-win Sprint Car Race Will Be Showcased Thursday of Expanded Kings Royal Week

ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 17, 2021) – Eldora Speedway officials today announced The Historical Big 1 – the original $100,000-to-win sprint car race – will return in 2022 after a 19-year absence from the schedule.

First held in 1993, Eldora Speedway founder Earl Baltes chose an early August weekend to promote The Historical Big One on 11 occasions through 2003.

The modern-day iteration will continue the tradition of paying $100,000-to-win. However, the purse will be expanded, pay deeper throughout the field, and the event will take place on the Thursday night of the 39th Kings Royal Week, which will officially expand to four days in 2022.

As part of Kings Royal Week, The Historical Big 1 expands on the multiple-year agreement announced in November 2020 between Eldora Speedway and World Racing Group. The event will be sanctioned by the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and livestreamed exclusively on DIRTVision.

Past winners of the event include Eldora fan-favorite ‘The Wild Child’ Jac Haudenschild, who won the inaugural event; followed by fellow Holmes County, Ohio-native Kenny Jacobs in 1994; and ‘The King of the Outlaws’ Steve Kinser in 1995 and 2000. They were followed by: Mark Kinser (1996); Dave Blaney (1997); Dale Blaney (1998); Kevin Gobrecht (1999); P.J. Chesson (2001); Donny Schatz (2002); and Daryn Pittman (2003).

Additional details will be released in the coming weeks via Eldora Speedway’s official social channels and on 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.

Eldora celebrates its 68th season of racing in 2021 and the full event calendar, including ticket and campsite information, is available at www.EldoraSpeedway.com. Race fans can join a community of over 1,000,000 people from around the world who enjoy behind-the-scenes access by following @EldoraSpeedway on social channels Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Exclusive video content posted on www.youtube.com/EldoraSpeedway has nearly eight million views.