Make no mistake about it: the Eldora Million at Eldora Speedway was the biggest race in dirt racing history. In the middle of Ohio cornfields, Jonathan Davenport walked away from "The House That Earl Built" on Thursday with a million dollar check and a life-changing victory. 

But the Eldora Million isn't the only major event that will be contested this week at the historic Rossburg, Ohio dirt oval. 

After the checkered flag waved and Davenport’s name was written on the one-million dollar check, attention shifted to the prestigious Dirt Late Model Dream on June 10-11. 

Prior to the announcement that the Eldora Million would be returning for the first time since the inaugural edition of the event in 2001, the Dirt Late Model Dream was the richest race on the calendar for dirt late model racers. Outside of the Eldora Million, the $128,000 check that will go to the winner on Saturday, June 11 will be the largest winner's check cashed by a dirt late model racer this year. 

First held in 1994 under the leadership of track owner Earl Baltes, the Dirt Late Model Dream is exactly what the name says it is: a dream to win. 

"Earl didn't know what name to call it and then somebody said, 'It'd be a dream to win $100,000.' That's how the dream came up," Billy Moyer explained.

For dirt late model racers who race for a living, the Dirt Late Model Dream has always been the one race that can make or break a season. 2009 race winner Jimmy Owens once said, "it makes a good year a great year and a bad year a good year." 

A win in the Dirt Late Model Dream can help pay off expenses encountered during a racing season, put money in the bank for the remainder of the season, or in some cases it can improve the quality of food on the kitchen table.

"I guess me and (son) Blane and (wife) Rachel all eat steaks that week instead of bologna sandwiches," Jonathan Davenport said with a laugh. 

VIDEO: Relive the excitement from the 2021 Dirt Late Model Dreams at Eldora on FloRacing.

In 27 previous editions of the Dirt Late Model Dream, Scott Bloomquist has visited Eldora Speedway victory lane on eight occasions. Bloomquist, inaugural winner Freddy Smith, two-time winner Billy Moyer and defending winner Brandon Overton are the only four drivers to have multiple wins in the race. 

Last year, two Dirt Late Model Dreams were held at Eldora after the event was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overton pulled off the remarkable feat of winning two Dreams in one week, collecting $273,000 along the way. 

This year, there will be only one opportunity to win the Dirt Late Model Dream. The stakes will be higher than ever before and one driver will leave Rossburg, Ohio with a season-changing victory. 

The 28th running of the Dirt Late Model Dream features posted awards of $446,915. This includes a pair of $12,000-to-win preliminary features on June 10 and the $128,000-to-win Dirt Late Model Dream on June 11. 

All of the action from both the Dirt Late Model Dream and the Eldora Million will be streamed live, June 8-11, on FloRacing. If you're not already a subscriber, click here to become one today.