4 – Trucks Go Dirt Racing
One of the most highly-anticipated races of the year was not on the Sprint Cup series calendar, nor was it part of the Nationwide Series, but the Camping World Truck Series. For the first time in 43 years, one of NASCAR’s national touring series [Cup, Nationwide or Trucks] was held at a dirt track. The race was announced on November 28 2012 to be held on July 24 2013, and was completely sold out in January 2013.
The first ‘Mudsummer Classic‘ featured five 8-lap qualifying races, a 15-lap ‘Last Chance’ qualifying race before the 150-lap Main Event race. The final race was split in to three segments of 60, 50 and 40 laps each, with teams allowed to make pit stops and adjustments between each segment. Austin Dillon won the inaugural event, with his truck, winner’s trophy and jar of dirt he shovelled put on display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
(Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/NASCAR via Getty Images)
