by TonyStewart.com

Updated: July 22, 2005, 9:19 AM EST

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While race teams and fans alike are gearing up for the Mopar Thunder Weekend at Eldora, the minds of the men behind the wheels of the machines are turning too. The event, which draws the best of the best from the sprint car racing scene worldwide, carries enough prestige to entice the most stoic winged drivers to drop the top and ride the cushion in search of the $50,000 prize waiting at the conclusion of the event.

Prize money is great, but the drivers that take on the Eldora Speedway high banks know what getting the win is really about-claiming the bragging rights.

The second running of the Mopar Thunder Weekend at Eldora Speedway will feature some of the biggest names in both the winged and non-winged series of sprint car racing. The World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions Series will bring with them the likes of Sammy Swindell, Danny Lasoski, Steve Kinser, Chad Kemenah and the rest of the winged warriors. The USAC National Sprint Car Series finale will see the non-winged contingent of stars including Jay Drake, Dave Darland, Josh Wise, Levi Jones and other drivers from both coasts do battle for the $50,000 to win purse.

The first two nights of the weekend will feature the exciting action of the All Star Circuit of Champions and the World of Outlaws Sprint Series doing battle for Mopar Thunder bragging rights. The USAC National Sprint Car Series event finale boasts a $50,000 payout to the top finisher in the A-main feature event, and will pay $2,000 to all 26 A-main starters. With a total weekend purse of over $200,000, the event will attract some of the best sprint car drivers in the world.

The outstanding weekend of open-wheel racing at Mopar Thunder will kick off with the All-Star Circuit of Champions on Thursday, August 4, followed by the World of Outlaws on Friday, August 5. Mopar Thunder at Eldora, featuring the USAC National Sprint Cars, will wrap up the events on Saturday, August 6.

Tickets for Mopar Thunder at Eldora can be purchased by calling (937) 338-3815. Log on to www.eldoraspeedway.com for ticket prices and event information. For more information regarding Mopar or the Mopar Thunder event at Eldora, log on to www.moparspeed.com.

Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.