Bowyer earns Prelude bragging rights

Another first time winner at the Prelude, Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart proclaimed after Clint Bowyer won the main event. Not only was Bowyer a first time winner at the Prelude, he led every lap from the pole, in front of an estimated 20,000 fans at the track and more on Pay-Per-View on HBO.

Of the 7 years the Prelude has been run, only 2 drivers have let start to finish, Stewart in 2008 and Jimmie Johnson in 2010.

Stewart is the only repeat winner and has done so 3 times. Well, it IS his track. Other winners have been Johnson, Carl Edwards and Kenny Wallace.

Tony, who has been a rather contentious soul in the past, has a heart as big as Montana – not Montoya, we said Montana. Every year, he puts on the Prelude to the Dream, a benefit race at Eldora where some of racing’s finest come in to compete for charity, not to mention bragging rights. More than $3 million has already been raised for charity.

In the past, beneficiaries have been Victory Junction Gang Camp (2004-2008), four military themed organizations in 2009 including Fisher House, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Homefront and Wounded Warrior Project. Last year’s beneficiary were Cincinnati Children's Hsopital, Levine Children's Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

This year’s charity was actually four children’s hospitals - St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Levine Children’s Hospital, Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Only 4 of the 28 drivers making it to the main race were DNFs – Ray Evernham, Ron Hornaday, Tony Kanaan and Jason Leffler.

Results were (top 10 in order) Bowyer, J.J. Yeley, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Carmichael, Ken Schrader, Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Kasey Kahne.

Finishing out the field were (from 11th – 28th) Denny Hamlin, David Reutimann, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, Kenny Wallace, Ron Capps, Jimmie Johnson, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Stewart, David Gilliland, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, Marcos Ambrose, Ray Everhnam (21 laps, out, mechanical), Ron Hornaday (20 laps, out, mechanical), Tony Kanaan (18 laps, lost wheel) and Jason Leffler (16 laps accident).