Night one of the historic Eldora Million is in the books. A total of 83 drivers showed up for their chance at a life changing win. After the night was over, one theme was evident, the best drivers always rise to the top regardless of the format.
The big winners of the night were the six guys who will be starting on the pole for what will be some of the most intense heat races we will ever see. Brad Sweet won the first feature and Rico Abreu was victorious in the second. Logan Schuchart and David Gravel got their nights off to a great start by earning quick time in their respective groups.
Carson Macedo was the high point man and will start in the pole in heat one. Schuchart ended up second in points, followed by Gravel, Sweet, Kyle Larson and Aaron Reutzel. All of those guys will be on the pole for the six heat races. Joining them on the front row will be Justin Peck, Abreu, Jacob Allen, Gio Scelzi, Brian Brown and Donny Schatz.
Top 50 in Points
- 41 Macedo – 590
- 1s Schuchart – 588
- 2 Gravel – 583
- 49 Sweet – 579
- 57 Larson – 575
- 8 Reutzel – 573
- 13 Peck – 573
- 24 Abreu – 572
- 1a Allen – 566
- 18 Scelzi – 562
- 21 Brown – 561
- 15 Schatz – 557
- 19 Marks – 552
- 83jr – Kofoid – 548
- 83 McFadden – 546
- 22 Duncan – 546
- 49X Thomas – 538
- 9P Price-Miller – 532
- 17 Haudenschild – 532
- 5 Cisney – 522
- 48 Dietrich – 519
- 55 Madsen – 518
- 5 Bayston – 516
- 11 Eliason – 513
- 21h Bacon – 511
- 7BC Courtney – 510
- 55T Haase – 502
- 91 Reinhardt – 500
- 52 Hahn – 497
- 55 Pittman – 495
- 25R Ryan – 495
- 21T Macedo – 494
- 4 Windom – 484
- 25 McHugh – 483
- 71 Stewart – 479
- 26 Wise – 478
- 67 Whittall – 477
- 7 Madsen – 476
- W20 Wilson – 476
- 81 Jacobs – 476
- 17B Balog – 475
- 20G Gass – 473
- 35 Bishop – 472
- 45 Shaffer – 463
- 23z DeVault – 462
- 9 Kahne – 461
- 39M Dewease – 460
- 19p Polyak – 459
- 17AU Veal – 457
- 39 Schuerenberg – 454
Notes
Zeb Wise got his night started off with a poor qualifying effort and then backed it up by not passing any cars in his heat race. That put him in 16th in his B Main and boy did he put on a show. Wise ended up transferring out of the B to start last in the A Main. He then passed 16 cars in the feature to finish ninth. The points won’t show it, but Wise is extremely fast. He definitely passed the most cars on night one.
McKenna Haase turned some heads when she opened her night by going 10th quick in group A time trials. That set her up good in the points and she was able to hold off Danny Dietrich in her heat to advance to the A Main. She started on the pole, and put together a strong race, ending up in 18th. Her performance was good enough for 27th in overall points.
Those PA POSSE boys put on a good showing on night one. Austin Bishop and Dylan Cisney were able to capture heat race wins. Brent Marks, Danny Dietrich and Justin Whittall were also able to transfer to feature events. Marks, Cisney and Dietrich all had solid point performances that will set them up nicely for night two. Lance Dewease struggled a bit in the Macri 39M but if there is a decent bottom groove tonight and they get the car to his liking, he could be a big mover on Thursday.
Ohio regulars led by Cole Duncan had some impressive runs throughout the night. Duncan ended up as the 16th man in overall points. Jordan Ryan finished 14th in the group B feature. Lee Jacobs captured a heat race win and Greg Wilson finished in 15th in his A Main. Zane DeVault was also able to transfer to an A Main.
The disappointing performances were led by Hunter Schuerenberg in his first time out in the Swindell Speedlab no. 39. He was able to win his heat, but got behind the eight ball in time trials and ended up last in the group A feature. Brock Zearfoss, Zach Hampton, Chase Randall and Garet Williamson were some other names that are buried in points. They will all have some work to do tonight.
It was heartbreak for Shane Stewart, as a brake issue caused the driver to pull in before the start of the group B feature. Stewart was in position to start in a qualifying spot if he was able to have a decent run. Garet Williamson suffered mechanical failure while leading his heat race. Chase Randall was involved in a lap one incident that sent Cory Eliason flipping in the turn in their heat race. Eliason was able to rebound to an extent, but will still have some work to do on Thursday.
Night two of the Eldora Million will bring all of the excitement, as some very talented and determined drivers are on the outside looking in.
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