NCWTS: Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby 150 Preview

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series goes off-road Wednesday at Eldora Speedway for their annual event on dirt. The Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby 150 serves as the 11th event of the season and marks halfway for the series in 2016. Christopher Bell, who will pilot the No. 4 JBL Toyota, enters the weekend as the defending race winner.

The entry list features 38 drivers. Some of the new faces you’ll see include Brady Boswell, Jake Griffin, Stewart Friesen, Kyle Larson, JR Heffner, Wayne Edwards, Donnie Levister, Bobby Pierce, Ken Schrader, Justin Shipley and Sean Corr. Six drivers will not make the annual classic.

Kyle Larson will join GMS Racing on Wednesday at Eldora Speedway behind the No. 24 Chevrolet. Larson grew up cutting his teeth on the dirt tracks and is one of the many favorites going into the race.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to the Truck Series at Eldora Speedway. I have had some success there in the past, and I can’t wait to see what the No. 24 GMS Racing crew has prepared for me,” said Larson in a release. “DC Solar is on the truck this week, and I can’t thank them and GMS enough for allowing me this opportunity. I hope to have a great race and take the No. 24 DC Solar Chevy to Victory Lane.”

Larson holds 11 Camping World Truck Series starts since making his debut back in 2012. He holds one victory, five top five and eight top 10 finishes since. He last raced at Eldora Speedway in 2014 where battled for the lead before making an impact with the wall. The damage was too severe and ultimately ended his night. He left the small short oval with a 26th-place finish.

Bobby Pierce will be back at Eldora Speedway with MB Motorsports after nearly winning the event last season in his debut. Pierce started on the pole for the main event and led 39 of the 154 laps. The young driver is eager to get things started tonight at Eldora.

“I’m excited to get back to Eldora,” said Pierce in a release. “I feel like we have some unfinished business from last year. I want to thank Premier Waste Services, GottaRace.com, everyone who has come on board to support our Eldora effort.”

“Last year we went in to Eldora under everyone’s radar,” said team owner Mike Mittler in a release. “This year the expectations for us are higher.  We have put everything we have into making this another memorable race.  All we can do is put forth our best effort to give Bobby a truck he can race with.  No matter what happens, there is no doubt that Bobby Pierce is one of the most talented drivers out there and I know he will give his all to bring home a strong finish for all our sponsors and marketing partners.”

Pierce holds six starts in the Camping World Truck Series. He goes into Eldora looking to capture his second top five finish and possibly his first career NASCAR win. His last start came at Charlotte Motor Speedway where he finished 27th.

John Wes Townley is still being treated for concussion like symptoms and will not compete in the Wednesday night feature on dirt. The team will tag Brady Boswell to pilot the No. 05 Zaxby’s Chevrolet.

Boswell competes part-time in the ARCA Racing Series with Mason Mitchell Motorsports. The young driver from the same hometown as Townley holds one top five and three top 10 finishes in the series. The Eldora Speedway will mark his first career start in the Camping World Truck Series.

The race will get underway at 9:00 p.m. ET. on FOX Sports 1. The Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Channel 90 will carry the live radio broadcast.

Brett Winningham
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