Stewart Wins Eldora Charity Race

Rossburg, OH (AHN) - Mother Nature threatened to postpone one of the biggest charity races of the year, but the skies cleared enough for some of racing's biggest names to do the dirt in the fourth annual Old Spice Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway Wednesday night.

Race and event host Tony Stewart admitted almost getting an ulcer over concerns as to whether the event would be contested, but in the end it was Stewart who led all 30 laps and won the race before 23,000 in attendance over a million more on HBO Pay Per View.

Stewart skirted past race leaders Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth on the opening lap and 30 laps later he presented a $1 million check to Kyle Petty for The Victory Junction Gang II Camp that will be built in Kansas City.

The two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion won the race for the second time in four years and finished ahead of Robby Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Kenny Wallace and Denny Hamlin

Bowyer and Wallace have their own dirt teams, Hamlin tested for the event in Georgia and Gordon has been an off-road racer for years. They still didn't measure up to Stewart, who grew up on the dirt rings of the Midwest.

Last year's winner, Carl Edwards, left the race early with an overheating car and had to settle for 18th-place.