He is survived by berneice, his wife of 67 years, daughter starr and husband joe schmitmeyer, son terry and wife dee, beloved sister susie barga and six grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren. For 50 years earl baltes was one of the most popular and successful promoters in auto racing. He was born april 27, 1921 in versailles, ohio, son of the late leroy and ellie frantz baltes. Owner tony stewart split the dirt modified race to the previous night in order to match that race with a winged sprint car race when both races were sanctioned by the same organisation. Military pinup kit moran by moran, earl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The dream late model special at eldora speedway was not a new track for me. A tripleheader of racinga action and the final late model tuneup before the world 100. Earl baltes turns 90 years old and we look at his life and times in celebration. 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. For more information, the baltes family and author dave argabright documented his memoirs in the book earl. Factory stocks countdown to the onedirt world short track championship.
The books contain the stories of auckland speedway personalities, mainly former competitors, their careers at the speedway and their. Eldora speedway founder, earl baltes, celebrates 90th. Baltes and author dave argabright documented his memoirs in the book earl. These words well describe earl baltes, one of the most successful shorttrack promoters in american history. Moyer wins baltes classic as eldora speedway readies for. The history of the most famous dirt short track in america, 195420 bill holder on.
Eldora speedway the most famous short track in america by holder, bill. Eldora founder earl baltes passes away performance. 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. Earl was the yardstick other track promoters measured themselves by. Baltes was a musician and dancehall owner when he happened upon a sprint car race at new bremen. Its the final late model tuneup before the world 100. Building eldora speedway in 1943, baltes claimed that he had stumbled onto a race at new bremen speedway and was impressed by the big, enthusiastic crowd.
Rossburg, ohio may 4, 2012 there had to be a full moon hiding behind the incoming storm friday night at eldora speedway. Royal, the eldora dirt derby for the nascar camping world truck series, the. Christopher bell earned his first nascar victory after topping fellow dirt track ace bobby pierce in the mud summer classic camping world truck series race at eldora speedway. Mar 25, 2015 earl baltes went from a total racing neophyte to the founder of eldora speedway in ohio, which became one of americas most legendary dirt race tracks. Jul 26, 20 the phenomena that is eldora speedway and its evolution from earl baltes vision into the worlds most famous short track. Earl baltes 1988 world 100 interview at eldora speedway. Baltes, who was born on april 27, 1921 in nearby versailles, ohio, had stumbled onto a race at new bremen speedway and was so impressed by the big, enthusiastic crowd that he decided to build his own race track. Eldora speedway founder earl baltes died monday morning, the track confirmed via its website. Ascot park speedway cra sprint car race program 4291974ron hawleyfrg. Earl baltes was the yardstick other track promoters measured. His name was just as easy to spot in the record books as well. Big bills path to talladega eldora speedway founder and longtime promoter earl baltes died monday morning at an ohio hospital. Open wheel leader eldora speedway earl baltes field of.
Description eldora speedway the history of the most famous dirt short track in america 195420. Tyler courtney capitalized on a rare mistake by kevin thomas jr. Billy moyer, jon henry and paul pardo win during eldora speedways baltes classic sports rossburg the late models, dirtcar ump modifieds and. Drivers cut their teeth racing at eldora speedway in the sprintcar and late model series before moving to nascar and indycar. Nascar camping world truck series eldora dirt derby. It was the ungodly fast and historic eldora speedway in rossburg, ohio, scraped from literally nothing by its founder and ageless promoter, the irrepressible earl baltes. Sep 06, 2017 sixtime world 100 champion billy moyer powered around canadian andrew reaume on lap seven to take the lead and then survived a couple of midrace restarts to capture sundays 10 th annual baltes classic presented by coors light at eldora speedway. Learn about the deals and promotions that changed the course of american motorsports. Eldora speedway new weston, oh was built in 1954 by earl baltes, a prominent area bandleader with no. Earl baltes was the owner of eldora speedway from 19542004. Shortening its name to a single word, baltes opened eldora speedway on. These words well describe earl baltes, one of the most successful shorttrack.
Tony stewart has more than made his mark the boston globe. The now named eldora ballroom is still there, while the racetrack has grown into national treasure. Jan 18, 2015 jerry clum interviews earl and he shares his thoughts on the world100. Earl baltes went from a total racing neophyte to the founder of eldora speedway in ohio, which became one of americas most legendary dirt race tracks. All coolers will be inspected for compliance to this law. Eldora founder earl baltes passes away performance racing. Baltes built the famous dirt track in rossburg, ohio, in 1954 and helped promote it into. Eldora speedway displays a live feed from timing and scoring during most race events. Dirt late model hall of famer billy moyer pocketed the super late model win, while jon henry raced to the modified triumph. The world of outlaws at eldora speedway may 5, 2012 photo.
Christopher bell wins his first truck series race at. Australian speedway history books caged heat limited edition poster liverpool city raceway midgets motor racing motor racing books motorsport side cars solos speedway action speedway book speedway memorabilia speedway poster sprint cars sprintcars 2 supermodifieds super sedans tasman cup tasman series tshirt. Kemenah dodges the carnage to claim victory at eldora. The now named eldora ballroom is still there, while the racetrack has grown into a national treasure. Sixtime world 100 champion billy moyer powered around canadian andrew reaume on lap seven to take the lead and then survived a couple of midrace restarts to capture sundays 10 th annual baltes classic presented by coors light at eldora speedway moyer, of batesville, arkansas, showed up at eldora on sunday, looking to redeem himself after a disappointing 2016 world 100. Eldora speedway the most famous short track in america by.
Baltes classic kicks off world 100 week at eldora speedway. A master of promotion, caretaker of eldora speedway for 50 years, and the man that made tony stewart a racetrack owner. Watch every lap live on your computer, tablet or phone. He died this week at age 93, one of the most acclaimed promoters in the history of the sport. The fact that hbo payperview is at eldora speaks to the tracks visionary nature a vision founded and implemented for 50 years by earl baltes, the former owner of eldora speedway. Earl baltes, eldora speedway founder passes at 93 speed51. The world of outlaws at eldora speedway may 5, 2012. Nascar driver tony stewart purchased the speedway in late 2004 from earl baltes, who built the speedway from the ground up in 1954. Mar 23, 2015 the now named eldora ballroom is still there, while the racetrack has grown into national treasure. Baltes built eldora, nestled in rural westcentral ohio, in 1954 and slowly shaped it into a showplace for. With his colorful, straightforward style earl tells of the many deals and promotions that changed the course of american motorsports. The feed displays driver info, lap times, running order and more in real time. It was a rough, tough, daring journey, and now you can ride along.
The ohio native picks up his first world of outlaws win since 2009. Big bills path to talladega eldora speedway founder and longtime promoter earl baltes died. I make it back to eldora, one of my favorite tracks, at least once a year. The 10th annual earl baltes classic was held at eldora speedway rossburg, ohio as the dirtcar ump super late models and dirtcar ump modifieds took center stage.
Jul 07, 2016 his name was just as easy to spot in the record books as well. Rossburg, ohio march 23, 2015 earl baltes, the founder and longtime promoter of eldora speedway in rossburg, ohio, passed away this morning at miami valley hospital in dayton, ohio. Jerry clum interviews earl and he shares his thoughts on the world100. Longtime track promoter built ohio track in 1954 related. In an age before massmanufactured sprint car chassis and with few safety regulations on the books, ferkel was driving a car he had built by tig welding together the tubing from a childrens swing set. Rossburg the 10th running of the baltes classic by coors light kicks off eldora speedways biggest week of the year with a rare sunday night event this labor day weekend honoring eldoras. Baltes told stewart he was a perfect candidate to take over because he and his wife believed stewart. Parnelli jones and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Tony stewart, owner, eldora speedway, said, earl was the yardstick other track promoters measured themselves by. Now the earl of eldora speaks out in his own straightforward style in this delightful, fascinating autobiography. Originally aired during the 20 broadcast of the inaugural mudsummer. The phenomena that is eldora speedway and its evolution from earl baltes vision into the worlds most famous short track. Legendary eldora speedway founder earl baltes dead at 93. Eldora speedway statement on the passing of earl baltes.
Buy a cheap copy of eldora speedway the most famous short. Eldora speedway usac sprint car race program 1973sam sessionsearl baltesvf. Earl baltes, eldora speedway founder passes at age 93. This series of three spiral bound, softcovered books has been written by speedway enthusiast harry chambers with the aim of securing the history of the characters associated with western springs speedway. In this hmm space, weve frequently profiled influential promoters and operators of drag strips going back to the straightline sports earliest days. Apr 27, 2011 a master of promotion, caretaker of eldora speedway for 50 years, and the man that made tony stewart a racetrack owner. Eldora speedway new weston, oh was built in 1954 by earl baltes, a prominent area bandleader with no previous racing experience. The earl of eldora tells the story of his life, his dreams, and his experiences. Jones, and of course, tony stewart and earl baltes, this book has something for everyone. Billy moyer, jon henry and paul pardo win during eldora. Earl baltes, the founder and longtime promoter of eldora speedway, has died. Mar 23, 2015 longtime track promoter built ohio track in 1954 related.
The people, the places, and the emotions youll never. His first money earned driving a sprint car came as a result of finishing last in earl baltes eldora 500 at ohios eldora speedway. Threetime nascar cup series champion tony stewart purchased the speedway in late 2004 from baltes. As a matter of fact, i have made 34 separate trips back to this famous racing venue in very rural ohio. Watch every lap of action from the comfort of your home. Baltes built the famous dirt track in rossburg, ohio. Then on april 1, during a board meeting at eldora speedway in rossburg, ohio, darmofal and his partners joined eldoras earl baltes and jean lynch. Lastcallformethanol three division sprintacular season. This book covers the exciting sixdecade history of eldora speedway which has the unique capability of being a national leader in both stock cars and open wheel machines. Mar 23, 2015 eldora speedway founder earl baltes died monday morning, the track confirmed via its website.
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