The 2011 Prelude to the Dream will consist of 24 drivers and each will be divided amongst four teams and each will represent one of the four following children’s hospitals:
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Bowyer, Clint Car Owner: Clint Bowyer Sponsors: Cheerios, Dollar General Car # 33 Bowyer returns to Eldora as one of the most consistent Prelude participants and is the only Prelude participant to finish in the top 5 in each Prelude event from 2007 to 2010. Bowyer currently drives the #33 car for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Bowyer grew up racing on the dirt and currently owns his own dirt teams and also provides a dirt late model car for Jimmie Johnson for the Prelude event.
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Capps, Ron Car Owner: John Kennedy Sponsor: NAPA Auto Parts Car # 28 Capps is one of five drivers who have participated in every Prelude event since 2005. The NHRA star looks to continue to improve upon his recent finishes of 13th and 20th over the past two years.
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Edwards, Carl Car Owner: Stacy Holmes Sponsor: Aflac Car # 99 Edwards returns for his fourh Prelude event after posting a podium finish (3rd) in 2010. Carl grew up racing on dirt and quickly found success at Eldora as he won as a rookie at the 2007 Prelude after battling Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon on the waning laps of the feature.
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Gilliland, David Car Owner: Tim Logan Sponsor: Gander Mountain Car # 34 Gilliland comes to Eldora for his first Prelude event. David grew up in California and cut his teeth on the dirt at Perris Auto Speedway. Time will tell how if his experience in a dirt stock car will translate into success in a dirt late model at Eldora Speedway.
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Leffler, Jason Car Owner: Chris Wall Sponsors: ApplianceZone.com; Great Clips Car # 38 Leffler joins the Prelude field as a last minute replacement for Joey Logano. Jason drives the Great Clips Nationwide car for Turner Motorsports. He won the USAC Midget championship three straight years from 1997 to 1999. Although he'll be making his first Prelude appearance, his USAC roots will lead to high expectations.
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Newman, Ryan Car Owner: Ernie Davis Sponsor: U.S. Army Car # 39 Newman grew up racing on dirt and won the USAC Silver Crown championship in 1999 setting the stage for his transition to NASCAR. The pilot of the #39 for Stewart-Haas Racing comes back to the Prelude for his sixth consecutive year and looks to rebound from his 16th place finish in 2010.
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Schrader, Ken Car Owner: Ken Schrader Sponsor: Federated Auto Parts Car # 9 Schrader is one of only five drivers that will be participating in his seventh Prelude event. After retiring as a fulltime NASCAR driver, Schrader continues to turn laps in just about any vehicle with four wheels. Schrader has posted four top 10s at the Prelude and could be the favorite in 2011.
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Almirola, Aric Car Owner: Clint Smith Sponsor: Rimrock Design Car # 88 Almirola is a promising young driver who currently pilots the #88 for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Almirola returns for his sixth Prelude after finishing 14th in 2010. Expect Almirola, along with fellow Prelude participant, Justin Allgaier, to challenge for the Nationwide Series title in 2011.
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Ambrose, Marcos Car Owner: J.W. Kinzer Sponsors: Stanley, Dewalt Car # 9 The two time Australian Supercar champion is now making a name for himself in the United States thanks to back to back Nationwide Series wins at the Watkins Glen road course in 2008 and 2009. Ambrose drives the #9 car for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Ambrose returns for his third Prelude after finishing a respectable 14th and 15th in his first two trips to Eldora.
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Yeley, J.J. Car Owner: Sanford Goddard Sponsor: Manpower To Horsepower Car # 1G Yeley returns as a late replacement for Dave Blaney. This is J.J.'s fourth Prelude event and first since 2008. Yeley has two top 10 finishes in his 3 career Prelude starts.
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Kanaan, Tony Car Owner: GRT Race Cars Sponsors: GEICO, Lotus, Honda Car # 82 Kanaan comes back to Eldora after making his dirt debut in 2010. Tony struggled a bit as a rookie, but logged well needed laps and track time. Tony will once again drive a GRT house car and expectations for a top 15 finish will be high.
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Kenseth, Matt Car Owner: Wayne Reese Sponsor: Blain's Farm & Fleet Car # 17 The 2003 Spring Cup and 2009 Daytona 500 champion continues to develop as a dirt track driver by running non-asphalt races when his schedule permits. Kenseth is one of only five Prelude drivers to participant in all six events. Kenseth finished a disappointing 18th in 2010.
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Stewart, Tony Car Owner: Mark Richards Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Office Depot, Mobil 1 Car # 14 Stewart enjoyed racing so much at Eldora Speedway he decided to buy the track in 2004. In his first full season of ownership (2005) Stewart unveiled the Prelude and has since won the event three times. Stewart started the 2010 race from the back of the field and finished 6th.
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Vickers, Brian Car Owner: Donald Bradsher Sponsor: clotconnect.org Car # 83 Vickers descends upon Eldora Speedway for his second Prelude after finishing a reputable 12th in his 2009 rookie campaign. The Red Bull driver and former NASCAR Nationwide Series champion was forced to skip the 2010 event due to an inury. Expectations are lofty in 2011 for Vickers.
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Dillon, Austin Car Owner: Mike Dillon Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops, Jack Link's Car # 3 Austin Dillon comes to Eldora for this first Prelude event with a vast experience on the dirt. While competing full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Dillon competes in select dirt late model races across the southeast. Don't let his 'rookie' status fool you; expect his car to be up front in the closing laps in 2011.
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Elliott, Bill Car Owner: Ray Cook Sponsor: VP Racing Fuels Car # 9 Elliott has been become a dirt track fixture since retiring from NASCAR fulltime. The 1988 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion currently drives on a part time basis in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott returns to the 2011 Prelude after posting a 10th place finish in last year's event.
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Evernham, Ray Car Owner: Brian Lillie Sponsor: WIX Filters Car # 98 Evernham returns to the 2011 Prelude to the Dream for the fifth consecutive time. The former NASCAR Modified Tour driver, turned crew chief, turned car owner, turned track owner looks to improve upon his 17th place finish in 2010 and career best finish of 15th in 2008.
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Hamlin, Denny Car Owner: Billy Moyer Sponsors: FedEx, Denny Hamlin Foundation Car # 11 Hamlin has limited dirt experience, but plenty of late model knowledge running asphalt bullrings in his home state of Virginia. Hamlin had one of the fastest cars in the 2010 Prelude event finishing a respectable 5th. Hamlin continues to drive the #11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and is expected to contend for the 2011 Championship.
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Johnson, Jimmie Car Owner: Clint Bowyer Sponsor: Lowe's Summer Salute Car # 48 The five time defending Sprint Cup Champion visits Eldora for the fourth time after posting his first career Prelude victory in 2010. Johnson dominated the 2010 race leading all 30 laps. He will look for a back to back titles in 2011 racing for car owner, Clint Bowyer.
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Pedregon, Cruz Car Owner: Cruz Pedregon Sponsor: Snap-On Tools Car # 75 Pedregon returns to Eldora for the fifth consecutive year. After posting a sixth place in 2009, Pedregon finished a disappointing 25th in 2010. Like Clint Bowyer and Bobby Labonte, Pedregon owns his own late model team and when he isn't racing in straight lines in the NHRA Series, he turns laps on the dirt.
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Reutimann, David Car Owner: Neat Racing Inc. Sponsor: Aaron's Car # 00 The third generation driver began racing dirt Modifieds throughout his home state of Florida before breaking into the NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Series in 1997. Reutimann broke through in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2009 with his first career victory at the 50th Coca-Cola 600. Reutimann looks to rebound from his 21st place finish in 2010.
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ALLGAIER, JUSTIN Car Owner: Raymond Childress Sponsors: Brandt Professional Agriculture, Brandt Monterey, Trademark Nitrogen Car # 31 The 2008 ARCA Series champion is now making a name for himself in NASCAR driving for Turner Motorsports. He won the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series rookie of the year award. Allgaier is far from a rookie on dirt as he grew up racing midgets and late models in the Midwest. Allgaier finished 26th in his inaugural Prelude event after mechanical issues forced him to retire early.
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Busch, Kyle Car Owner: Scott Bloomquist Sponsor: M&M's Car # 18 Busch comes back to Eldora for his fifth consecutive Prelude event after a fourth place finish in 2010. Busch has won races in nearly every Series that he has driven. The one exception – the Prelude to the Dream. Busch nearly won in 2007 when he finished 2nd to Carl Edwards and crossed the line third last year in 2009.
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Carmichael, Ricky Car Owner: Mike Dillon Sponsor: Monster Energy Car # 4 Ricky Carmichael is returning to Eldora Speedway for only the second time, but he’s hardly a neophyte on the dirt. Carmichael is well known for his success on two wheels on the dirt, but recently made the transition to NASCAR and currently drives for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series.
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Hornaday, Ron Car Owner: Terry Pannell Sponsors: Fast Fixin', WhackyLegs.com Car # 33 The four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck champion makes his Prelude debut in 2011 driving for car owner, Terry Pannell. The 52 year old veteran has competed in all three of NASCAR's elite divisions and currently drives full time for Kevin Harvick Inc.
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Kahne, Kasey Car Owner: TBD Sponsor: Red Bull Car # 4 Kahne cut his teeth on the dirt in USAC competition and maintains his dirt track ties by owning a World of Outlaws team. Kahne arrives for his fifth Prelude event as a candidate to win. Kahne currently drives the #4 car for Red Bull Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
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Labonte, Bobby Car Owner: Bobby Labonte Racing Sponsor: Lucas Oil Car # 47 Labonte returns to Eldora in 2011 for the second consecutive year The former Cup champion looks to improve upon his 12th place finish last year. Similar to Clint Bowyer and Cruz Pedregon, Labonte owns his own dirt late model and expectations for a top 5 finish will be high.
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Wallace, Kenny Car Owner: Brian Shirley Sponsor: Federated Auto Parts Car # 36 Wallace won the inaugural Prelude event in 2005 and has posted top 5 finishes in three of the six Prelude events. In 2009 Wallace was challenging for the lead when his tire was cut by Clint Bowyer delegating Wallace to a 17th place finish. Dirt late model racing is a staple of Wallace’s routine and expect Wallace to contend for his second Prelude title in 2011.
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