I watched the event as I do every year on PPV…but the other day I was searching around and I found a photo album that had some GREAT photos from the event. I wanted to share some of my favorites  (after the jump):

Ron Capps prepares to drive during practice before the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images North America)

Carl Edwards inspects his car in the garage area before the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America)

A general view of the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America)

Tony Stewart waits in his car prior to practice for the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America)

Ricky Carmichael, driver of the #4 Monster Energy Drink Chevrolet, leads a pack out of turn four during the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America)

A tire from the car driven by Tony Kanaan (not pictured) bounces on the track during the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images North America)

Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Crawford Supply/Klotz Synthetic Lubrication Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the running of Prelude To The Dream at Eldora Speedway on June 8, 2011 in Rossburg, Ohio. (June 7, 2011 - Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America)

You can check out the entire photo album here.  None of these photos are mine. All of them are great.

1. You have 10 days to enter this month’s 14 for 14 drawing at OfficeDepotRacing.com…this month you can win one of 14 autographed hats. Enter now then come back and read the rest of this entry and enjoy some Tony pictures.

(Borrowed from the Tony Stewart facebook page: Photo by Rusty Jarrett MRD/CIA Copyright, CIA Stock Photography, Inc.)

2. Have you bought your raffle ticket for the 2011 Convertible Camaro raffle that benefits the Tony Stewart Foundation yet? Each raffle ticket is only $25.00 and there isn’t just a car up for grabs but a VIP NASCAR race weekend package as well as a VIP Eldora race package! To to SmokesChevy.com to get your raffle ticket now.

2011 Prelude To The Dream Poster

3. The Prelude to the Dream charity race will be on June 8th, 2011 this year- benefiting four children’s hospitals.   If you can’t attend in person- how about supporting the kids by holding a viewing party and ordering the Pay-Per-View.  Keep up to date on all the Prelude To The Dream charity race at the Prelude To The Dream Facebook page.

The Mobil 1 paint scheme from Richmond (borrowed from TonyStewart.com's media section)

4. Speaking of The Tony Stewart Foundation- don’t forget this Friday May 6th is Checkered Flag Friday.  These eBay auctions are a great way to support the Tony Stewart Foundation and get something great in return.  Checker Flag Fridays are the first Friday of every month!

Tony and Ryan during practice for Richmond's Matthew and Daniel Hansen 400 (borrowed from the Tony Stewart Facebook page: Photo by Rusty Jarrett MRD/CIA Copyright, CIA Stock Photography, Inc.)

5. Don’t forget the Official Small Business of NASCAR competition that Tony and Greg Biffle are helping with.  I posted about the contest just yesterday but I wanted to remind you- even if you don’t have a small business,  mention it to one you frequent- they just might end up with a chance to win $1 million dollars

Tony Stewart exclusive poster for the month of May

6. Also at the OfficeDepotRacing website is the coupon for this month’s exclusive Tony Stewart poster- pick yours up at the printing department of your local Office Depot!

I think this picture needs a caption...any ideas? (borrowed from the Tony Stewart facebook page: Copyright, CIA Stock Photography, Inc.)

The Southern 500 is at Darlington this Saturday. Darlington is one of the two tracks Tony has yet to win a race on. Let’s all make sure we send Tony some extra luck Saturday! #GoTonyGo!

That’s right up to 100 of you can get a FREE Proglide Razor. Cool offer right? I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to let you guys get something for free!  I did get one razor to try as well (full disclosure and all). I was going to give it to my dad to try since it is marketed towards the male market but I decided to day to heck with that- I am gonna just use it myself.

Heat race winners were: Jimmie Johnson (driving a car owned by Clint Bowyer), Kasey Kahne and Aric Armirola.  Joey Logano totalled the rear end of his car during his heat race- beyond repair. He ended up driving Tony’s backup car in the Main. Denny Hamlin did not make it to the Main despite wicked fast times in the hot laps and during his heat race because of a bent valve pusher.  The disappointed Hamlin was the only driver not to start the Main.  During the 30 lap Main, Tony started 6th but quickly made his way towards the front of the pack, finally passing Kenny Wallace for the lead just before the halfway point.  Once Tony got to the lead, much like last year, he checked out and was virtually unstoppable.  The real race was between Bowyer and Wallace for second place, when Wallace spun his tires on a restart and Bowyer ran into the back of him, cutting his tire. The racing was close and fast and fun on the TV I can only imagine what going to the race was like in person!

Again all the money raised from ticket sales, pay-per-view fees will be split evenly among four military charities that support wounded soldiers and their families.  If you want to help but weren’t able to make it to the prelude or watch it on pay per view, you can donate using your cell phone by texting PRELUDE to 90999. The donation will be $5.00 and will be added to your next cell phone bill.

Notes about the Prelude:

• Clint Bowyer may not have gotten the win that he wanted- but I think he should get a special prize for having the shiniest race car! That #33 car was GOLD as in Metallic. It was actually quite pretty and I have never been a fan of gold (cars or jewlery).
• Joey Logano trashed his car…and then crashed Tony’s back up car.  Good think Tony didn’t need it.  But in his defense when he was driving he was doing pretty good for the most part. Until he hit the wall.
• Speaking of hitting the wall, too bad Jimmie hit the wall- he seemed to be a real contender until he did that.

I can’t wait until Next Year’s Prelude.

The rescheduled Prelude To The Dream charity dirt race is on Pay Per View tomorrow at 7 pm ET.  DirecTV viewers can order it on channel 121…but it should be available on all cable and satellite systems. Order it up and enjoy some high quality dirt racing with some of the highest caliber drivers (and not just NASCAR) around.  The drivers get to race for the pure joy of the competition and the win.  They race for a cool trophy and the insane bragging rights. Proceeds will be split evenly among a list of military charities.

Here are three great examples of things coming up (of course these are all Tony Stewart Related):

The Prelude To The Dream.  I talked about the Prelude A WHOLE LOT last season. I haven’t been doing it quite as much this season. Do I think anything has changed? NO! I am still GREATLY looking forward to the race on Wednesday. One day I will go in person.  What is so great about this race? Let me tell you: Lots of Big Name Drivers (Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Kasey Kahne, Ron Capps (NHRA), Cruz Pedregon (NHRA), Ray Evernham, Bill Elliot, are just a few.  ON DIRT. For no money, no points…just a trophy and bragging rights. I have ordered it on PPV for the last three years and have NEVER been disappointed. The cause this year are four charities that support injured and fallen military heroes- all proceeds go to these four charities. The goal this year? A million dollars.  If you can afford it- check out the PPV race (Channel 125 for DirecTV customers, for others check your listings. THIS IS THIS WEDNESDAY.

Invest N Vests. A collaborative effort between the Tony Stewart Foundation and The Greg Biffle Foundation to raise funds for to outfit 192 K-9 officers with bullet and knife resistant vests.  For each $10.00 donation fans are entered for a chance to win 25 percent of the pot (the rest going to www.vest4k9.com).  At this writing the pot is currently at $14,680.00.  The drawing is on Wednesday June 16th. Both the Tony Stewart Foundation and The Greg Biffle Foundation are committed to animal causes.

Smoke’s Camaro. Capitalizing on the love of cars many NASCAR fans have The Tony Stewart Foundation is having a raffle of a 2010 Camaro. Raffle tickets are limited (currently there are only 5,926 left out of 6014 available raffle tickets).   The winner not only wins Tony’s 2010 Chevrolet Camaro (in Victory Red), but they win a trip for two to Charlotte, NC and a personal tour of the Stewart-Haas Racing Shop as well as a lunch where Tony will present you with the keys himself (you also get money to help offset the cost of fees, licensing and taxes). Buy your raffle ticket early to also be included in the running for early bird prizes as well.  Camaro drawing is on October 5th, 2009. Proceeds raised by raffle will go directly to the Tony Stewart Foundation to provide funding for children, animals and injured drivers in need.