Danica Patrick is one of the biggest names ever to be added to the lineup for June’s ‘Prelude to the Dream’ Dirt Late Model event at Tony Stewart’s Eldora Speedway, where the former IndyCar race winner will make her debut on the dirt.
The event – which takes place on the evening of Wednesday June 6 (U.S. time) – has become a pay-per-view sensation on the HBO Network and has raised thousands of dollars for charity since its inception some years ago.
Having made the switch this year to NASCAR to be racing in the Tony Stewart stable, the announcement Patrick will join the likes of IndyCar star – Tony Kanaan, Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Labonte and drag racers, Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps among others doesn’t come as a huge surprise – but placing the drivers onto the dirt in an 800 horsepower sedan is something that Patrick admits she is approaching with some nervousness:
“I raced on dirt once before in a go-kart when I was young, but that’s about it. It’s going to be a challenge for sure, but I know Tony has offered to help in any way possible. I’m excited about it, but I’m also nervous,” stated Patrick. “It’s a totally different style of racing, so I’m not sure what to expect. But, it’s for a great cause with Feed The Children benefiting from the money raised this year, so I’m ready to give it a shot.”
The current driver list for the Prelude to the Dream includes: Danica Patrick, Bobby Labonte, Tony Kanaan, Kenny Wallace, Ty Dillon, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Dave Blaney, Ryan Newman, Ron Capps, Jimmie Johnson, Justin Allgaier, Bill Elliott, Ray Evernham, David Gilliland and Cruz Pedregon.