In 1994, Earl Baltes announced that Eldora Speedway would be hosting a $100,000-to-win dirt late model race called the Dirt Late Model Dream. For the drivers who would be competing in the race, the name of the race fit like a glove. Having the chance to cash a six-figure check at a dirt late model race was truly a dream. 

“You always dream of something like and you hear rumors of guys are gonna try it. But if anybody can do it, we figured Earl Baltes would be the one to come up with the money, and sure enough he’s the man that did it, and it's just a dream come true," Jerry Rice said prior to the inaugural race in 1994.

At the time of Baltes' announcement, dirt late model purses weren't as hefty as their sprint car counterparts. The creation of the Dirt Late Model Dream helped to change that narrative. 

“I’m really glad Earl put this deal on," Steve Francis said in 1994. "Late Model racing needed something like this to put it back up where the Sprint Cars are.”

Hear From Dirt Late Model Legends Prior To First Dirt Late Model Dream

Fast forward 29 years and the Dirt Late Model Dream continues to carry the title as the richest dirt late model race of the season and one of the richest races in dirt track racing. 

A lot has changed in the dirt late model landscape since the inaugural Dirt Late Model Dream. Over the years, a handful of races like the Eldora Million have actually paid more, but no race has consistently paid out as much money as the Dirt Late Model Dream. 

VIDEO: Watch highlights from the 1994 Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora Speedway. 

Starting with the inaugural race in 1994 up until the 24th running of the race in 2018, the race paid $100,000 to the race winner. In 2019, Eldora Speedway bumped the purse up to $125,000 for the 25th running of the race. From there, the purse has increased $1,000 for each year the race has been held. 

For today's racers, a $129,000 check awaits the winner of the 29th Dirt Late Model Dream on June 10. Despite how much things have changed, the impact of winning the Dirt Late Model Dream remains the same.

“That one race can pretty much make a shitty year turn into a really good year," said Brandon Overton, the three-time defending race winner. "We put a lot of emphasis on it, make sure our cars are good and all of that stuff. I’ve won the World 100, so it’s like alright I’ve got a World. If I had to pick one, it would obviously be the Dream.”

Brandon Overton Relives Unprecedented Dirt Late Model Dream Three-Peat

In winning the last three Dirt Late Model Dreams, Overton collected over $400,000 in those races alone. Scott Bloomquist, an eight-time Dirt Late Model Dream winner, has collected $800,000 in his winning efforts. 

The 29th Dirt Late Model Dream gets underway on Thursday, June 8 with the first of two preliminary nights that will help set the lineup for the main event on Saturday, June 10. 

Fans unable to make it to "The Big E" will be able to watch all three nights of racing live on FloRacing. If you're not a FloRacing subscriber, click here to sign up today.