The odds are against them — just like they’ve been at the previous seven Prelude to the Dream events — but don’t tell Donny Schatz that.

The World of Outlaws sprint car driver doesn’t have experience driving a 2,300-pound, 800-plus horsepower late model, but he knows the Eldora Speedway dirt as well as anyone. Well, maybe except for Steve Kinser.

Tonight, they hope to use that advantage to become the first non-NASCAR Sprint Cup driver to win the Prelude to the Dream, the charity race hosted by track owner and three-time Prelude champ Tony Stewart.

Make no mistake, Schatz and Kinser — and the other seven non-Cup drivers — aren’t coming to be back-of-the pack field fillers.

“Win,” Schatz said of what would make a successful evening. “It’s pretty hard once you get to where you taste victory where you don’t want anything less. It’s the mentality you live by.”

Of the 26 drivers scheduled to race at the Prelude, 17 have Sprint Cup experience. That includes past champions Kenny Wallace, Jimmie Johnson, defending champ Clint Bowyer and Stewart.

Kinser, who has an Eldora-record 35 World of Outlaw A-Main wins at the track, isn’t sure what to expect tonight. But if he finds himself trading paint with Eldora owner Tony Stewart — the guy who field rides for both Kinser and Schatz on the WoO circuit — he’s not backing off to let the boss win.

“No, no. You don’t let him go. You try to win,” Kinser said. “Let’s just hope we’re in that situation.

“I’m just going to go out and try to have some fun. Whatever happens, happens. I’ve been embarrassed before.”

In addition to Schatz and Kinser, non-Cup drivers with significant dirt racing experience include Justin Allgaier (fifth last year) and brothers Austin (eighth) and Ty Dillon.

NHRA drivers Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon, ESPN analyst and former crew chief Ray Evernham and IndyCar’s Tony Kanaan are also among the non-Cup contenders.

“I’d say both Dillons, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, the list keeps growing (as to who can win the race) because these guys keep getting better and better,” Stewart said. “Kenny Wallace, Kenny Schrader. The list keeps growing of guys who can legitimately win this thing.”

WoO driver Danny Lasoski has the best finish of a non-Cup driver with third at the inaugural event in 2005.

NHRA Funny Car driver Ron Capps finished fourth in 2006. Despite that finish, the drivers used to turning left during a race generally have one goal: Finish ahead of dragstrip drivers Capps and Cruz Pedregon.

“If a straightliner beats you, it’s not going to be the best of finishes,” Austin Dillon said tongue-in-check.

Schatz, who said he ran a late model one other time, thinks he can get up to speed quickly when it comes to swapping out his sprint car.

“Late models are so much different the way they drive,” Schatz said. “You have to stay within your capabilities. If something doesn’t feel right, you need to be a bit more cautious.”

Even if it means backing off roaring out of Turn 4 for the win?

“It doesn’t matter who it is you don’t let up,” Schatz said. “That’d be a pretty large sign of weakness and that we’re not. It doesn’t matter if it’s Danica (Patrick) or Jimmie Johnson. We’re going to go for it and try to get a win.

“That might be part of the reason we’ve been invited to do it. I would think me and Steve have a great opportunity to try to win the race. That’s why we want to be a part of it along with Feed the Children.”