NASCAR looking at another dirt race as Eldora is confirmed for 2016

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will once again compete on the dirt at Eldora Speedway next season, sources confirmed to Motorsport.com on Friday.

In 2016, however, the Eldora event may not be the only dirt race on the schedule.

Following last month’s race at Eldora, NASCAR surveyed Truck series teams as to whether they would be amenable to adding a second dirt track to the Truck series schedule.

Why teams want another dirt race

The response was overwhelmingly positive, several sources and team officials confirmed, in part because it would be fiscally beneficial to teams to run the dirt-prepared truck at more than one event.

In addition, NASCAR plans to extend the use of the original 2013 truck design beyond its original three-year approval window, so teams will not have to design a new version.

NASCAR has considered a second dirt event since the success of Eldora’s inaugural Truck series race in 2013, which was the first NASCAR national series race held on dirt in more than 40 years.

Race date

Eldora officials said they do not have a confirmed date as yet, but sources told Motorsport.com the race is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 27, 2016 – the Wednesday night before the annual Brickyard 400, as in years past.

“We have yet to hear from NASCAR with a list of proposed dates for 2016,” said Roger Slack, Promoter of Eldora Speedway. “I have notified them that the 33rd annual Kings Royal, our second largest event behind the 46th World 100, is scheduled for July 15-16.

“They are well aware of our preference for a larger window to turn the facility from one major event to another.”

A July 27 date would give Eldora 10 days as opposed to the four it had this year to prepare for the event turnaround.

NASCAR at Knoxville?

The most-often mentioned possibility for a second Truck series dirt race is Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, home to the famed Knoxville Nationals sprint car event.

A Truck race could be paired the same weekend as one of the Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway, which is located in Newton – about 30 miles north of Knoxville.