Eldora Speedway - World 100. Some Car Count History.

[HoosierDirtFan]

From Dirt On Dirt
Eldora Speedway - Rossburg, Ohio - World 100

WORLD 100 - Car Counts over the years of the event
1970's
1971. 68 cars
1972. 87 cars
1973. 140 cars
1974. 120 cars
1975. 168 cars
1976. 148 cars
1977. 178 cars
1978. 190 cars
1979. 223 cars
Total -
Average 146.8

1980's
1980. 148 cars
1981. 150 cars
1982. 127 cars
1983. 133 cars
1984. 117 cars
1985. 180 cars
1986. 204 cars
1987. 196 cars
1988. 193 cars
1989. 208 cars
Total -
Average 165.6

1990's
1990. 225 cars
1991. 180 cars
1992. 203 cars
1993. 186 cars
1994. 206 cars
1995. 227 cars
1996. 222 cars
1997. 242 cars
1998. 247 cars
1999. 227 cars
Total -
Average 216.5

2000's
2000. 261 cars
2001. 224 cars
2002. 202 cars
2003. 222 cars
2004. 215 cars
2005. 215 cars
2006. 195 cars
2007. 203 cars
2008. 175 cars
2009. 172 car
Total -
Average 208.4

2010's
2010. 134 cars
2011. 112 cars
2012. 123 cars
2013. 113 cars
2014. 120 cars
2015. 106 cars
2016. 108 cars
2017. 106 cars
2018. 78 cars
2019. 98 cars
Total -
Average 109.8

2020’s
2020. 46 cars (Covid-19)
2021. 80 cars
2022. 107 cars
2023. ??
Total -
Average 77.6

Average 115.25

[No_Weak_Links]

I was there for all the early to mid 2000's....it was simply awesome! Getting through tech was an adventure. Qualifying was a spectacle in itself. Everybody driving on the ragged edge just to make the top 140 or whatever it was. Tons of good cars in the C and B mains who had to load up and go home. Can't believe it's down to less than 110 cars now.

[lazyifoto]

I was there around 1976 through 1999 have seen a lot of good racing there...used to love it when the WORLD 100 was a sunday race...those were great races in my opinion.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

I was there for all the early to mid 2000's....it was simply awesome! Getting through tech was an adventure. Qualifying was a spectacle in itself. Everybody driving on the ragged edge just to make the top 140 or whatever it was. Tons of good cars in the C and B mains who had to load up and go home. Can't believe it's down to less than 110 cars now.120 was the cut.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

I was there around 1976 through 1999 have seen a lot of good racing there...used to love it when the WORLD 100 was a sunday race...those were great races in my opinion.I’m sure most of us are glad they changed it, with work Monday. With the new format, if you try to hit it all, that’s three days off at least.

[lazyifoto]

Chupp n Bloomer fan, the sunday race would start at 1 if i remember correctly. ...and you were usually on the way home around 4....

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Chupp n Bloomer fan, the sunday race would start at 1 if i remember correctly. ...and you were usually on the way home around 4....Gotcha. Seen one day race at the Big E, so so. Just not much on day racing.

[yenko2]

Early years up until the mid/late 90's ??? you could enter more than 1 car for the event........

[Mindwalker]

JD is still doing it. 😁

[champion24]

200+ cars sounds great!! But Q 1 car at a time, I'll pass!! Yall were (something) for sitting thru hours of mind numbing Q!! Not wild about day racing either!!

[kd1]

200+ cars sounds great!! But Q 1 car at a time, I'll pass!! Yall were (something) for sitting thru hours of mind numbing Q!! Not wild about day racing either!!… and it was 2 rounds!

[zyoung25]

Early years up until the mid/late 90's ??? you could enter more than 1 car for the event........

That got shut down before then I believe. I dont remember seeing a guy with 2 cars in those years, but i could be wrong.

[Phatdaddy]

I had also heard that there was no entry fee for the World back in the day. Can anyone confirm ?? If so, that would definitely contribute to the high car counts.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

I had also heard that there was no entry fee for the World back in the day. Can anyone confirm ?? If so, that would definitely contribute to the high car counts.Yes. I do not remember the year it changed, but you are correct.

[#FALSuperman]

The 2000's average was 208.4, not 186.9

[#FALSuperman]

3rd lowest car count in World 100 History looks like. Only '71 and '72 are lower.

[84wedge]

I've heard Dustin Jarret say a couple times this year about low car counts at events "I don't have a problem with that". You can see how after the NDRA and UMP came along and rule packages changed, the car counts went up dramatically since the local team weren't being priced out. The same thing is happening now and the so called "journalists" of the DLM world, who are more like a White House reporter, won't say anything.

[billetbirdcage]

I've heard Dustin Jarret say a couple times this year about low car counts at events "I don't have a problem with that". You can see how after the NDRA and UMP came along and rule packages changed, the car counts went up dramatically since the local team weren't being priced out. The same thing is happening now and the so called "journalists" of the DLM world, who are more like a White House reported, won't say anything.

100% that the new universal body rules and getting rid of the wedge cars, had a huge effect on car counts. Around 2014ish is when the cars started going back to wedge cars, least as far as the actual bodies are concerned and got worse from there.

Now obviously the economy and gas prices in 07/08 had a factor in the decline and some guys weathered the storm for a year or 2, then got out.

[Driver50x]

When the car counts were over 200, there were a lot of local racers there, who had about zero chance of making it into a heat race, much less of making it into the big show. I’m not saying that was good or bad, but that’s the way it was.

[Jim11h]

Interesting, I seem to remember several locals making heats and big show. New 3 day format kills locals

[84wedge]

At this rate, it'll be like F1 with 20 cars at every event.

[Morgs153]

Back when the unified body rules came into play there were many more weekly racers and weekly tracks. Today there are not as many tracks and not as many tracks featuring open supers as the headliner class.

Today we have tracks and series that run what looks like a super but it is powered by a 602 crate, 604 crate, a steel block, some sort of concept motor, or referred to as a limited, etc. None of those types would dare try and compete against an open super at Eldora. Back in 1986, it was a different scene when Bob Memmer saved late models from themselves.

Besides that, there's usually some good paying regional options now competing on the same weekend as the World. Those events keep some closer to home when they weigh the cost/benefit analysis of traveling to a show which they might not even make even if it is "only" 85-90 cars.

There are multi-varied reasons for this beyond the obvious one, expense.

[dirtcrazy4u]

I'm going to say 20yrs. back then it didn't cost a half million dollars for a tow rig, EMPTY. You have big time ownership money in the sport today. Rolling chassis, 2 of them at a minimum, did not cost 100k. Motors that used to cost 30K are pushing 70 today. Do I need to keep making comparisons? I understand inflation and supplies cost, labor has risen, not as fast but I'm sure longhorn and rocket are paying welders top dollar. Days of firing up your might welder or putting the guts back in the aluminum block on the engine stand are over. That's what is wrong with racing today, you no longer build anything. You pick up the phone and order it.

I wonder when a team rebuilt anything today. Rings and bearings, a carb, you get the picture.

[HoosierDirtFan]

This list has been updated

[play4kps]

The locals did ok back then, the #11 Lawrence motorsports car had Brian Ruhlman and Bowersock in that car, they made the main event most years. Jeep Van Wormer, Casebolt, Chamberlin, Lawhorn, Stinson, Chinn, Gilpin, K-Rob, Shane Yoder, Kris Patterson, and Jerry Rice just to name a few. Back then Eldora ran probably 12-16 late model events each year. Now the motivation for locals to build a car is gone, they barely race late models there, heck, they barely race there at all anymore, it resembles more of a nascar track than a small time track anymore. sad. anyways, have a fantastic day!

[BloomerHarvickFan]

That got shut down before then I believe. I dont remember seeing a guy with 2 cars in those years, but i could be wrong.

My first World 100 was 1995, and they couldn't enter 2 cars then.
The reason I remember is because Bloomquist had Dale McDowell in an 18x car, so that if Dale made the race, but Scott didn't, he could jump into his car and start tail end. They said that also the 99 of Johnny Johnson was available for the same. I don't know what the rules were for driver swaps, but that is how it was explained to me.

[Driver50x]

Interesting, I seem to remember several locals making heats and big show. New 3 day format kills locals“Zero chance” was a poor choice of words. I should have said not much of a chance. A few of them did make it happen, as you said.

[Driver50x]

My first World 100 was 1995, and they couldn't enter 2 cars then. The reason I remember is because Bloomquist had Dale McDowell in an 18x car, so that if Dale made the race, but Scott didn't, he could jump into his car and start tail end. They said that also the 99 of Johnny Johnson was available for the same. I don't know what the rules were for driver swaps, but that is how it was explained to me.In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s quite a few teams were bringing two cars. Then they would race whichever one qualified the best. I think Earl put a stop to that in about 1992 or so, because he said he was running out of space in the pits.

[Phatdaddy]

I also heard that street stocks ran during the early a.m. hours of the World 100s *up through the 80's*

[dirty-white-boy]

Eldora has honestly become a joke in the past 5 to 8 years. Its honestly sad. Just look at this past weekend. Thursday paid a Million to win, Friday paid $20k, Saturday paid $175k. 90 laps of sprint car racing (the million even had a fuel break to change tires!) and not one single pass for the lead!

They now have the 2 biggest late model races of the year left to go. Should be super exciting!

The product on the track is horrible in Sprints and Late Models. People keep buying tickets and cheap beer so Tony will continue on. Nothing will change until cars and fans stop watching/going. 'Merica!

[Big Daddy 37]

Eldora has honestly become a joke in the past 5 to 8 years. Its honestly sad. Just look at this past weekend. Thursday paid a Million to win, Friday paid $20k, Saturday paid $175k. 90 laps of sprint car racing (the million even had a fuel break to change tires!) and not one single pass for the lead!

They now have the 2 biggest late model races of the year left to go. Should be super exciting!

The product on the track is horrible in Sprints and Late Models. People keep buying tickets and cheap beer so Tony will continue on. Nothing will change until cars and fans stop watching/going. 'Merica!


Whatever....

I'll be there, with about 25,000 others.

Eldora is more than just a race...

Don't like it?? Stay home.

[Buford.Justice]

I always liked Bob Memmer early on. But my opinion changed when he began to sound like Adolf Hitler on track microphones. He gave this very seriuos speech at Barren County Speedway acting like he was the new ruler of late model racing and UMP. "We are organized! blah blah blah. He seemed to take his position like a real control freak. One rule Bob had that fortunately most did not conform to was making the side driver window a huge opening, thus makiing the roof of the car raise quite a bit and making the guys cars that went along with it look rather odd and funny with the roof so high.

Then one night at a UMP event at Florence Speedway, some awful sicko cut his beloved dog that he always had with him at the track. It happened in his vehicle. It died when it was cut open at the stomach. That was so sad and just horrible. I felt very sad for Bob and you could tell that really hurt him bad from then on.

[Driver50x]

Eldora has honestly become a joke in the past 5 to 8 years. Its honestly sad. Just look at this past weekend. Thursday paid a Million to win, Friday paid $20k, Saturday paid $175k. 90 laps of sprint car racing (the million even had a fuel break to change tires!) and not one single pass for the lead! They now have the 2 biggest late model races of the year left to go. Should be super exciting!The product on the track is horrible in Sprints and Late Models. People keep buying tickets and cheap beer so Tony will continue on. Nothing will change until cars and fans stop watching/going. 'Merica!To be fair there were a LOT of slider passes going on, all through the field, even though they mostly finished where they started. It wasn’t the best racing I’ve ever seen, but it was above average in my book. Tony definitely treats the fans right, just like Earl always did.

[Trax53]

Takes up too much time to qualify all the cobs that have no business being out there. I'm good with a car count under 100. You've still got the best of the best there. Only 28 or 30 start the World 100 anyway.

[Jim11h]

3 non qualifier features at 2am we're excellent racing after all that qualifying and gave them something to race for. Not to mention those were far better competition than your typical Saturday night local track.

Some of them cobs are who buy your photos Trax, SMH.

[Trax53]

Some of them cobs are who buy your photos Trax, SMH.

NOBODY buys my photos... I pretty much quit taking them. Everyone just saves them for free. No money in it. I just quit giving them the product. Got some mediocre camera equipment for sale....

[84wedge]

NOBODY buys my photos... I pretty much quit taking them. Everyone just saves them for free. No money in it. I just quit giving them the product. Got some mediocre camera equipment for sale....I tried checking out your site but got a warning the connection wasn't private.

[84wedge]

102 cars in 2023

[SLlDlNG SIDEWAYS]

Whatever....

I'll be there, with about 25,000 others.

Eldora is more than just a race...

Don't like it?? Stay home.

This is part of why Eldora don't race as good as it should. This bone head attitude toward going to eldora for the party. How bout if you came for the puke fest stay home? More folks would rather see a good race. Morons like you keep the seats full I guess.

[play4kps]

Sliding sideways, you are spot on! These people have this attitude, Ill watch a bucket of sh!t, if it means I can get plastered and party all night. When the expectations of good racing is gone, this is what you wind up with. And notice the crowds keep getting older and older, very few young fans at these type of races anymore. Trust me when the drunkards die off, Eldora will be hallowed grounds. save the sport.

[Cyberwhip]

Around 2010 to 2015, there were local tracks running directly against the World, I remember Oakshade running and had a decent payout. I think that was kind of the reason Eldora went to the new format of multiple races with better payouts throughout the weekend.

[latemodelman]

Cyberwhip it was 2010 when Brian Rhulman decided to have a race against the World 100 at Oakshade. Also Moler and I think a few others ran that weekend. Eldora would be better in my opinion to go back to 2 days. Maybe run double features Friday then come back Saturday and have them draw to see what heat they are in and then have them hotlap/qualify based on heat and have an invert of 6.

[Mike]

Has the new unified national tire rule for DLM racing saved the sport yet?

[Mike]

100% that the new universal body rules and getting rid of the wedge cars, had a huge effect on car counts. Around 2014ish is when the cars started going back to wedge cars, least as far as the actual bodies are concerned and got worse from there.

Now obviously the economy and gas prices in 07/08 had a factor in the decline and some guys weathered the storm for a year or 2, then got out.

There was a very small group of people back then that tried to warn people the direction we were headed in, nobody wanted to listen though. We were ridiculed and told we had no clue. It was always about the tires back then. What latest greatest tire rule would save the sport. Even as more and more tracks move away from weekly DLM racing the powers that be still only want to focus on the tires. Remember the big off season announcement the new unified national tire rule. I’ve seen more tracks going away from weekly DLM racing this season going to a limited number of races. Yeah that new tire rule will save the sport.

[Mike]

Eldora has honestly become a joke in the past 5 to 8 years. Its honestly sad. Just look at this past weekend. Thursday paid a Million to win, Friday paid $20k, Saturday paid $175k. 90 laps of sprint car racing (the million even had a fuel break to change tires!) and not one single pass for the lead!

They now have the 2 biggest late model races of the year left to go. Should be super exciting!

The product on the track is horrible in Sprints and Late Models. People keep buying tickets and cheap beer so Tony will continue on. Nothing will change until cars and fans stop watching/going. 'Merica!

This is exactly what I said 10 years ago about the national series ( WoO and Lucas Oil) As the bodies started getting out of hand and cars started producing extreme downforce (downforce =$) and the racing started to suffer. As long as the fans continued to pack the stands and the local racers supported those series when the rolled into town nothing would change.

10 years later the “local racer” pool has dwindled. Tracks have moved away from weekly DLM racy. A lot are only running a limed number of races. There is no long enough local racers to support multiple tracks within a few hours of each other to run them on the same night. We are headed towards the extinction of local DLM racing.