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Kevin Kovac
CONCORD, N.C. (June 3) - Veteran car owner Dale Beitler has something on his very accomplished driver Steve Francis.
Beitler, of course, has experienced the thrill of a $100,000 victory in the Dirt Late Model Dream event at Eldora Speedway. Francis has not.
With the 14th annual UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Dream set for this weekend (June 6-7) at Tony Stewart's famed half-mile oval, Beitler has been good-naturedly suggesting that the time has come for his superstar hired-gun to join him on the race's winner's list.
"That's right," smiled the easy-going Beitler. "It's his turn."
Francis, 40, of Ashland, Ky., plans to do all he can to please his boss, who won last year's 100-lap Dream with Steve Casebolt of Richmond, Ind., behind the wheel of his familiar blue-and-white Rocket No. 19. The defending World of Outlaws Late Model Series champion and current co-points leader of the tour would love to add a Dream checkered flag to a bulging resume that already features a 1999 World 100 triumph at Eldora.
"Dale won it last year and we're gonna go try and do it again for him," said Francis, who parked his own equipment this season to run fulltime for Beitler. "But you know, to win one of those (major) Eldora races, you have to have everything go right all weekend long. The truly fastest guy doesn't always win those races."
Francis knows that from experience. Back in 1999, he led nearly three-quarters of the Dream before a cut tire ended his hopes for a six-figure payday.
The 'Kentucky Colonel' also understands how meaningful last year's Dream victory was to Beitler. Francis, you see, was parked alongside Beitler's hauler in the pit area and, after retiring from the A-Main early, he got a first-hand view of his future car owner's emotions as the race wound down.
"I got to stand there on my truck and watch him," Francis said of Beitler. "He was just pacing back-and-forth, walking from one end of the trailer to the other. When Casebolt won that race for him, you could see how happy he was.
"He was the same way at Charlotte this year," added Francis, referring to his drive to a $50,000 victory for Beitler in the WoO LMS Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. "I'd actually watch him at Charlotte under the cautions, pacing up there on that trailer in the pits.
"I'm sure it's harder for (car owners) standing up there than it is for us in the car. They don't know everything that's going on in the car."
Beitler, 51, of West Friendsville, Md., points out that the path he wore out on the roof of his trailer during last year's Dream 100 didn't mean he was nervous.
"Everybody says I was nervous because I was walking up-and-down the trailer," smiled Beitler, a proprietor of Reliable Painting and an owner of dirt Late Models for two decades. "But I've been a lot more nervous at other big races. Last year, I was just saying to myself, 'It looks like we're gonna run at least second here, and that ain't bad. But maybe this kid can pull it off.'
"Well, he did. When (Casebolt) won, I was just like, 'Wow! It really happened!'"
Beitler still struggles to find the right words when he's asked about his Dream triumph.
"Unbelievable. Indescribable," he said, shaking his head in amazement. "I still kind of think it's a dream sometimes - just like it's called. You think of the people who've won that race, the class of people who've won it - the best of the best is there, and we did it last year."
Beitler has acknowledged that winning the Dream gave him a new-found confidence as a car owner. It officially put his Beitler Enterprises outfit on the map as a serious, big-time team, an operation that didn't have to prove it belonged among the sport's elite.
Now partnered with an established superstar in Francis and contending for a coveted WoO LMS title - an accomplishment also worth $100,000 - Beitler's national profile has been raised even more. But the race-loving businessman remains grounded and approachable - just thrilled, really, to employ a champion driver and have his team considered one of the best.
While he jokes about it being Francis's turn to win the Dream, Beitler isn't holding a heavy hand over his driver to bring home the money.
"There's no pressure with me and Steve," said Beitler. "He does the best he can in every race and I know that."
Francis will readily agree with Beitler's assessment of their racing effort.
"More than anything, I think we're having fun," said Francis, whose Dream ride will be the Rocket machine he drove earlier this year in Georgia and Florida (Beitler's mechanical consultant, Robby Allen, has handled its preparation). "Our consistency isn't exactly where we want it, but we kinda know why. I feel like we're still getting better, but we've already won some races and we're up there in the points.
"He's just put a good group of people with me and given me everything I need to go racing. I couldn't be happier about racing with Dale."
Eldora's Dream week will certainly be busy for both Beitler and Francis. Both men will also field cars for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars in Wednesday night's (June 4) Old Spice Prelude to the Dream event, which pits 25 world-renowned drivers against each other in dirt Late Models on the Eldora high banks. Beitler is teamed with recent Sprint Cup All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600 winner Kasey Kahne for the Prelude, while Francis will field the Alltel No. 12 that Daytona 500 champion Ryan Newman will drive in the special event that is available live to home television viewers through HBO Pay-Per-View. (Francis will also have 2006 WoO LMS champ Tim McCreadie drive one of his Valvoline-sponsored cars in the Dream.)
Beitler relishes the opportunity to participate in the Prelude with Kahne for a second consecutive year. Kahne will actually drive the same Rocket car that Casebolt steered to victory in last year's Dream, albeit with a Budweiser red-dominated paint scheme and Kahne's No. 9 on its body.
"The Prelude is a bunch of fun for me," said Beitler. "Kasey's fun and easy to deal with, and he tells you what you need with the car. It's just an enjoyable night for me."
Beitler is even making a family weekend out of the Prelude and Dream. All three of his daughters (ages 20-25) will attend the events with him - "the first time I've had all three of them at Eldora," he said.
Now wouldn't that make for a happy Victory Lane party?
For more information on the Dirt Late Model Dream and the Old Spice Prelude to the Dream, visit www.eldoraspeedway.com.
Additional info about the WoO LMS can be obtained at www.worldofoutlaws.com.
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