NASCAR trucks won't race on Ohio dirt this summer

One of the few NASCAR Truck Series races that Sandusky-area fans can comfortably drive to was wiped off an updated 2020 schedule on Wednesday. The annual dirt race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg — the series' only stop in Ohio — will not be held this year because the state health department did not approve Eldora's proposal to host reduced-capacity events amid the coronavirus pandemic, the track said in a news release. Eldora manager Roger Slack called the development "a gut punch for everyone who is a part of it." "We've now lost races for every single local and national division that competes at Eldora," Slack said. "We cannot hold events without healthy race fans and racers. It's that simple. The fastest way for us all to be back together again at Eldora, with full grandstands and full campgrounds, and $2 beers, is another collective team effort. "The virus knows no county line or state border and it's on all of us to do our part to stop the spread. Until we do so, Eldora and a lot of speedways are going to sit empty." Eldora first hosted the NASCAR trucks in 2013 with ThorSport Racing winning two of the six features. Matt Crafton won the race in 2017, followed by Chase Briscoe in 2018. "Eight years later, Eldora remains a highlight of the NASCAR season. The atmosphere in the grandstands is electric, and you can always count on someone having a big career moment that night. This year's lineup of dirt racers who planned to battle the Truck Series regulars was going to produce one of our strongest fields ever." Because Eldora isn't sure when it will be able to host spectators, and if those dates would coincide with available NASCAR, the decision was made to remove the venue from this year's lineup. The race was scheduled for July 30. Eldora's five-year sanctioning agreement with NASCAR ends this year. The track said discussions are ongoing about next year's race. The NASCAR trucks also won't be racing Sept. 6 in Ontario, Canada. The Gander Outdoors Truck Series' revamped schedule includes 13 more races this year with the championship Nov. 6 in Phoenix. New truck dates include: Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 7); Daytona's road course (Aug. 16); Dover (Aug. 21); and St. Louis (Aug. 30). The race on Daytona's road course will be held on the same track that hosts the annual Rolex 24 At Daytona. The next NASCAR Truck race will be Saturday at Kentucky Speedway near Cincinnati (6 p.m., FS1). ThorSport's Ben Rhodes calls the speedway in Sparta, Ky., his home track. Rhodes, who won at Kentucky in 2018, is second in the points standings after six races. He has four top-10 finishes this year. Teammate Grant Enfinger, who has won two races, is third in points. Johnny Sauter is 10th and Crafton is 14th.