2013 Mudsummer Classic

The last race run on dirt in a NASCAR national touring series occurred on September 30, 1970, at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh in a Grand National Series race, which was won by Richard Petty.[4] Afterwards, NASCAR sanctioned the Busch All-Star Tour, a dirt late model series, which lasted from 1985 to 2002.[5]

Eldora Speedway, where the race was held

Eldora Speedway, which opened in 1954,[6] is a 0.5 mile (0.80 km) oval with turns at a 24 degree banking, while the straightaways are 8 degrees. The track's grandstands can fit 17,782 spectators, and the hillside seating can fit an unlimited number of fans.[7]

On October 15, 2012, track owner Tony Stewart and Austin Dillon held a private test at the track, driving trucks.[8][9] On November 28, NASCAR announced that Eldora Speedway would be on the schedule as the first of two Wednesday Truck races, along with the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway for 2013.[10] Although the track does not have any SAFER barriers, Tom Gideon, NASCAR Director of Safety, stated the track meets NASCAR regulations.[11] By January 29, 2013, the 17,782 grandstand seats had been sold out,[12] with purchasers from 48 states and six countries.[6]

"We've been looking at getting the trucks back to short tracks – to the roots of racing including the dirt – and we’re excited to announce our 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race at Eldora Speedway in July. The door-to-door racing that our truck series is known for plus Eldora's popularity and [Tony Stewart]'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."

— Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations[10]

Various non-Truck regulars entered the race for reasons such as to help a team in the owners' championship, with teams hiring drivers who are familiar with dirt racing to assist them in the championship. Examples include dirt track specialists Scott Bloomquist, who won The Dream and the World 100 at the track six times and three times, respectively; Tracy Hines, who had 85 career wins, including six at Eldora, and 52 starts in the Truck Series; Jared Landers, who won 100 features in his career; J. R. Heffner, who won the big-block modified championship at Lebanon Valley Speedway twice; Jeff Babcock, who won an American Late Model Series race at the track during 2013;[13] and Joe Cobb, a dirt modified racer and the father of Truck Series regular Jennifer Jo Cobb.[14] Cup Series drivers Dave Blaney, Ken Schrader and Ryan Newman, along with Nationwide Series drivers Austin Dillon, Kenny Wallace and Kyle Larson also ran in the event.[13] Babcock, Blaney, Bloomquist, Hines, Schrader and Wallace had all won races at Eldora in various disciplines.[15] Jason Bowles was later announced as the driver of the No. 5 for Wauters Motorsports,[16] while Chris Jones was originally listed as the driver of the No. 93 for RSS Racing,[17] but eventually withdrew.[16]

In preparation for the race, tire provider Goodyear created new tires, branded "Wrangler",[18] based on a previous dirt tire that the company made. To give the trucks more grip, the tires were widened by one inch to eleven. The bias-ply tires (instead of radial tires)[16] also had treads to remove dirt quicker, in a block pattern,[18] along with being softer. The left-side tires were staggered three inches shorter to 85.5 inches than the right tires (88.5)[18] to assist in handling.[19] Meanwhile, the trucks had mesh shields and hood deflector screens attached to prevent debris from the dirt from entering the radiators[20] and damaging the vehicles.[21] The trucks also had the front spoilers[6] and splitters removed, the grille closed, and the rear spoilers raised[22] and enlarged by 40 square inches to generate more downforce.[20] The trucks' windshields remained, meaning the track crew had to keep the track dry, to prevent mud from making them unable to be cleared.[6] On the hoods, bug deflectors, which were 8 by 12 inches, were installed to prevent stones from hitting the windshield. Teams added under panels to the trucks' chassis to prevent dirt from increasing the trucks' weight.[20]

Entering the race, Matt Crafton led the points standings with 357 points, followed by Jeb Burton and James Buescher, both with 319 and 317 points, respectively. Ty Dillon and Johnny Sauter finished the top five with 309 and 305 points, respectively. Ryan Blaney had 290 points, and behind him were Miguel Paludo (285), Timothy Peters (281), Brendan Gaughan (280) and Darrell Wallace Jr. (272).[23]

In victory lane, race winner Austin Dillon (pictured in 2013) stated, "This is real racing right here, this is all I've got to say."[43]

The race started at 9:35 P.M. EST and televised live on Speed, while being broadcast on radio by Motor Racing Network.[44] Krista Voda hosted Speed's prerace show, while Rick Allen, Phil Parsons and Michael Waltrip called the race from the booth; the network's pit reporters for the event were Ray Dunlap, Hermie Sadler and Bob Dillner.[16] 1.4 million people viewed the race on television, the tenth-most viewed Truck race in series history, and the highest-watched event of the day; the race also had a Nielsen rating of 1.20.[3] The weather for the race was mostly clear with a temperature of 68 °F (20 °C).[45] The St. Henry High School band performed the national anthem,[46] while the parade lap featured a four-wide salute by the trucks to the fans.[47]

Due to the lack of a pit road,[22] the race was split into three segments of 60, 50 and 40 laps so teams can make pit stops and adjustments between each segment,[27] and there would be no positions gained nor lost during stops.[22] In segment 1, Timothy Peters took the lead from pole-sitter Ken Schrader on lap 15, and led for 23 laps until Kyle Larson took the lead on lap 39, who led for the remainder of the segment. In the final five laps of the segment, the first caution of the race flew for debris, and the beneficiary was Max Gresham, who was the first driver at least a lap down, which allowed him to regain a lap.[48] In the second segment, Larson continued to lead for a total of 50 laps until Austin Dillon passed him on lap 89[49] after the former collided with Germán Quiroga.[50] One lap later, another caution was flown for debris, and Gresham was again the beneficiary.[48] On lap 116, Jared Landers' truck became loose in turn 2, collected Ty Dillon and made contact with Johnny Sauter.[51] Quiroga was the beneficiary on the resulting caution.[48] Larson and Austin Dillon dueled for the remainder of the race, with Dillon allowing Larson to pass on lap 122, but Dillon managed to get past Larson on the following lap. Two more cautions for debris (first on the front stretch, the second in turn 4) were eventually flown,[48] and a green–white–checker finish was initiated due to debris in turn 4 on lap 149. Dillon retained the lead on the GWC to win, beating Larson by 1.197 seconds.[52][53] Behind Dillon and Larson, Ryan Newman finished third, followed by Joey Coulter, Brendan Gaughan, Timothy Peters, Darrell Wallace Jr., Matt Crafton, Dave Blaney and Max Gresham. Sauter (accident) and Jeff Babcock (engine) failed to finish the race.[48]

The race concluded with four different leaders, eight lead changes, and six cautions. Dillon led the most laps with 64, followed by Larson (51), Peters (23) and Schrader (15). Despite winning the race, Dillon, along with six other drivers,[48] did not receive Truck Series points due to a rule that allowed drivers to compete in only one series' drivers championship.[54] The win was Dillon's first of 2013[55] and fifth Truck Series victory in 53 starts.[21] It was also the 29th Truck Series win for owner Richard Childress and Richard Childress Racing's second Truck win of 2013.[56]

In August, Dillon's truck, his winner's trophy and a jar of dirt he shoveled at the start/finish line were placed on display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.[57]