IT'S ON! Trucks To Eldora In 2013

NASCAR today announced the 2013 schedule for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, a slate that includes two exciting firsts: the series’ first race on dirt and its inaugural international event.

On July 24, the trucks will make their dirt debut at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, the.5-mile track owned by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. This event will be the first of two Wednesday night races for the series, joining Bristol Motor Speedway’s popular mid-week race on Aug. 21.

“We’ve had talks about getting the trucks on dirt in the past,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “The door-to-door racing that our truck series is known for plus Eldora’s popularity and Tony’s dedication to putting on great shows for the fans is a perfect fit. We’ll have a maximum starting field of 30 trucks at Eldora. More details on the race format are still being developed.”

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course in Bowmanville, Ont., will host its inaugural truck event on Sept. 1, becoming the first road-course track for the series since 2000, and ensuring a NASCAR national series presence in Canada for a seventh-consecutive season.

“It’s very important that we maintain our national series presence in Canada,” O’Donnell said. “We’ve accomplished that goal while also bringing a world-class venue like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on board. The Canadian fan base is so passionate and has a high regard for NASCAR. We’re excited to increase our role with our great partners at Canadian Tire while also introducing the truck series to our fans in Canada.

CTMP, which has hosted NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events since 2007, becomes the fifth different track to hold a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series road-course event, and first since Watkins Glen International on June 24, 2000.

Also beginning in 2013 as was recently announced by NASCAR, at road courses and tracks measuring 1.1 miles in length or less, the driver age restriction will be lowered to 16 years old. Currently, the minimum age to compete at the national series level is 18.

The balance of the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck schedule, the series’ 19th season,maintains a familiar feel, opening with Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22 and culminating on Nov. 15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Next year’s schedule also includes a return to Rockingham Speedway for the second consecutive season. Earlier this season, Rockingham re-joined NASCAR national series competition for the first time since 2004.

2013 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

2/22 Daytona International Speedway
4/6 Martinsville Speedway
4/14 Rockingham Speedway
4/20 Kansas Speedway
5/17 Charlotte Motor Speedway
5/31 Dover International Speedway
6/7 Texas Motor Speedway
6/27 Kentucky Speedway
7/13 Iowa Speedway
7/24 Eldora Speedway
8/3 Pocono Raceway
8/17 Michigan International Speedway
8/21 Bristol Motor Speedway
9/1 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
9/8 Iowa Speedway
9/13 Chicagoland Speedway
9/28 Las Vegas Motor Speedway
10/19 Talladega Superspeedway
10/26 Martinsville Speedway
11/1 Texas Motor Speedway
11/8 Phoenix International Raceway
11/15 Homestead-Miami Speedway