With the 32nd running of the Dirt Late Model Dream around the corner at Eldora Speedway on June 3-6 and with all the action live on FloRacing, here are five things to boost your knowledge about the Crown Jewel event.

The four-race week at the half-mile in Rossburg, Ohio, starts Wednesday with FloRacing Night in America before Dream preliminaries begin Thursday and continue Friday.

Saturday’s 100-lap, $100,000-to-win Dream XXXII feature rounds out the action-packed week.

One Of The Richest Dirt Late Model Races

Paying $100,000-to-win, the 32nd running of the Dream ranks among Dirt Late Model racing’s richest events this year. It’s also one of three Dirt Late Model races paying six figures to the winner, with two of them at Eldora — the Dream and Sept. 12’s World 100, which will pay $100,000-to-win for the first time.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series’ Dirt Track World Championship on Oct. 17 at West Virginia Motor Speedway also pays $100,000-to-win.

Also of note: the Dream has paid six figures since track founder Earl Baltes instituted the event in 1994, and it’ll pay a minimum of $6,000-to-start for the third year in a row. The purse also includes increases for all B-main positions, with the first non-transfer in each B-main now earning $2,500 and B-main start money increasing to $500.

All-Time Winners

The late Scott Bloomquist remains the Dream’s all-time winner, his eight victories towering above every other competitor. That number, of course, would be nine had he not infamously failed to meet the minimum weight requirement after crossing the line first in the 2015 Dream.

Jonathan Davenport, however, has made serious ground on Bloomquist, reeling off three straight Dream victories to push his total to four, now solely second all-time. Ironically, Davenport’s first Dream victory came in 2015 after Bloomquist was disqualified.

Third all-time with three victories is Brandon Overton, whose Dream wins came in 2021’s Double Dreams and again in ’22.

Billy Moyer (1998 and 2010) and the late Freddy Smith (1994 and 2000) are the only other drivers with multiple Dream triumphs.

The following drivers have one Dream victory apiece: Brandon Sheppard (2019), Dennis Erb Jr. (2016), Dale McDowell (2014), Shane Clanton (2012), Don O’Neal (2011), Jimmy Owens (2009), Steve Casebolt (2007), Matt Miller (2005), Darrell Lanigan (2003), Rick Eckert (1999), Jimmy Mars (1997) and Donnie Moran (1996).

VIDEO: Take a look back at the infamous "There's No Green Light" moment at Eldora Speedway. 

Potential First-Time Winners

There are a number of well-known drivers aiming for their first Dream victories, if not their first Eldora crown jewel.

Atop that list is Chris Madden, the 51-year-old who’s come oh-so-close too many times to count in Eldora biggies. The Gray Court, S.C., veteran will be making his 19th Dream start, having finished runner-up in the event three times, most recently in 2023. He also finished runner-up in last October’s Dirt Track World Championship at Eldora.

Reigning Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion Devin Moran, World of Outlaws Case Late Model Series points leader Nick Hoffman — who finished on the podium at the Dream, World 100 and DTWC last year — and former WoO champ Mike Marlar are among those seeking their first Eldora crown jewel, too.

2018 World 100 winner Tim McCreadie, '23 World 100 champ Hudson O'Neal, and Ricky Thornton Jr., the ’25 World 100 champ, have won Eldora biggies, but never the Dream.

The Format

For the third year in a row, Dream preliminaries will be split between Thursday’s and Friday’s programs, with 50-lap, $30,000-to-win semifeatures headlining each night.

Points accumulated during prelims will set Saturday’s heat-race lineups, followed by consolations and the 100-lap, $100,000-to-win Dream XXXII finale.

Since debuting in 2024, the split-field format has already delivered plenty of drama:

• In 2024, Ricky Thornton Jr. won Thursday’s semifeature after Bobby Pierce went up in smoke while leading with 13 laps remaining
• Devin Moran captured Friday’s prelim in 2024 to end the infamous “Moran Curse” — a Moran hadn’t won an Eldora feature since his father Donnie’s 2001 Eldora Million triumph.
• Last year, Jonathan Davenport overtook Thornton with 10 laps remaining to win Thursday’s postponed prelim, a race in which Prattsville, Ark., underdog Timothy Culp started from the pole and led the opening six laps.
• On Friday night last year, Josh Rice charged from fifth and outdueled Pierce, leading the final laps for a dramatic victory.

Davenport's Dominance And Dream Dramatics

Only three times has a driver led all 100 laps of the Dream: Freddy Smith in 2000, Shane Clanton in 2012 and Jonathan Davenport in 2024, when Davenport started from the pole and paced every circuit en route to his third career Dream victory. Davenport’s dominance carried into 2025, too, when he led the final 61 laps and won by a staggering 10.1 seconds for his fourth Dream triumph.

That recent run has altered the Dream’s late-race trend. Before Davenport’s three-peat, six of the previous nine Dream finishes had been decided over the final 30 laps — or at the scales:

• Dale McDowell passing Scott Bloomquist with 22 laps left in 2014
• Bloomquist passing Davenport with 10 laps left in 2015, only to be disqualified at the scales
• Dennis Erb Jr. passing Josh Richards with 11 laps left in 2016
• Brandon Sheppard passing Earl Pearson Jr. with 29 laps left in 2019
• Brandon Overton passing Chris Madden with 15 laps left in 2021
• Overton overtaking Madden again with nine laps left in 2022

How To Stream The Dirt Late Model Dream At Eldora Speedway

The race is streaming live on FloRacing and the FloSports App. Race replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms. 

When Is The Dirt Late Model Dream?

June 3-6 (drivers will run either Thursday or Friday in 50-lap, $30,000-to-win preliminary feature programs; Saturday's 100-lap finale will be preceded by heat and consolations races).

The FloRacing Night in America at Eldora Speedway is on June 3.

Where Is The Dirt Late Model Dream Held?

Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio (high-banked, half-mile clay oval).

How Much Does The Dirt Late Model Dream Pay to Win?

The Dirt Late Model Dream is headlined by a $100,000-to-win Late Model feature.

2026 Dirt Late Model Dream Schedule

(All times local; subject to change)

Wednesday

• 10 a.m.: Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
• 11 a.m.: Pits open
• Noon: Technical inspection begins
• 1 p.m.: Grounds cleared and secured
• 2 p.m.: All gates, suites and concessions open
• 5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting (infield)
• 6 p.m.: Hot laps
• 7:30 p.m. : Opening ceremonies
• Competition
  • Late Model time trials
  • Late Model heats (10 laps)
  • Late Model consolations (12 laps)
  • FloRacing Night in America feature ($20,000-to-win, 50 laps)

Thursday

• 11 a.m.: Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
• Noon: Pits open
• 12:30 p.m.: Technical inspection begins
• 1 p.m.: Grounds cleared and secured
• 2 p.m.: All gates, suites and concessions open
• 5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting (infield)
• 6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
• 8 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
• Competition
  • Late Model time trials
  • Late Model heats (10 laps)
  • Late Model consolations (12 laps)
  • Late Model qualifying feature ($30,000-to-win, 50 laps)

- Following last checkered flag: Live music (fan zone)

Friday

• 11 a.m.: Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
• Noon: Pits open
• 12:30 p.m.: Technical inspection begins
• 1 p.m.: Grounds cleared and secured
• 2 p.m.: All gates, suites and concessions open
• 5 p.m.: Drivers’ meeting (infield)
• 6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
• 8 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
• Competition
  • Late Model time trials
  • Late Model heats (10 laps)
  • Late Model consolations (12 laps)
  • Late Model qualifying feature ($30,000-to-win, 50 laps)

- Following last checkered flag: Live music (fan zone)

Saturday

• 11 a.m.: Ticket office opens (ticket and pit pass sales)
• 11 a.m.: Grounds cleared and secured
• Noon: All gates, suites and concessions open
• 1 p.m.: Outreach service (white tent near pond)
• 3:30 p.m.: Driver autograph session (fan zone)
• 4:30 p.m.: Public drivers’ meeting (fan zone)
• 6:30 p.m.: Hot laps
• 8 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
• Competition
  •  Late Model heats (15 laps)
  •  Late Model consolations (20 laps)
  •  Dream XXXII feature (100 laps)

Who Sanctions The Dirt Late Model Dream?

DIRTcar Racing will sanction the 2026 Dirt Late Model Dream

Who Won Last Year's Dirt Late Model Dream?

Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, Ga., who won his fourth career Dream and third in a row in 2025.

FloRacing Is The Streaming Home For Many Of Racing’s Top Events Each Year

Don’t miss any of the exciting action, which can be enjoyed year-round at FloRacing. Check out the FloRacing schedule for more events.

FloRacing Archived Footage

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloRacing subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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