Lug-Nuts Invades Dover International Speedway

Thought I’d do a little background research on the races this weekend up in Dover Delaware not being very familiar with the track or the area.

The research kind of fell into place as a result of looking through what Harold Brasington was faced with to get Darlington built (minnow ponds and all) back in the late forties. By comparison, Dover International Speedway started out about 20 years later than Darlington.

The track around 1965.

The original idea was to have two types on racing on the same site, motor vehicle and horse racing. It appears that with the advent of slot machine gambling being legalized on Delaware’s pari-mutuel horse racing facilities, the Dover Downs Raceway fell into a very lucrative business combining all three ventures and eventually building what is today a four star hotel (I wonder if they allow Speed Beagles to stay there?) and casino complex next to the race tracks.

The site today. Quite a change!

This place is really something. Construction and improvements were ongoing for over 15 years with the speedway’s seating capacity finally topping out at 135,000 seats in 2001. Changes have continued to transform the track to this day with some of the most imaginative creations seen in the motor sports racing world.

Miles...

Miles the Monster came into being as a result of the concrete track’s nick name, “The Monster Mile”, and the ownership group, Dover Motorsports, Inc., has played this angle to the hilt. They recently had a huge statue erected outside the track’s main entrance and even incorporated Miles into the Sprint Cup trophy.

The Monster Bridge! Seats 56 patrons...

The Monster Mile Bridge is an innovation seen nowhere else in motor racing. If you can not only afford one of those seats during a major racing event, but can actually get your hands on one of the tickets, it’s got to be really something watching drivers right through their windshields as they come at you. The bridge is set up just as the drivers have to slow going into turn three off the back straightaway. Gene tells me he sits in one of those nice loge seats every year with Miss Hurst Shifter at his side for the Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY®’S Milk & Milkshakes. Must be real nice and cozy there dude!

Another feature offered at Dover International Speedway that I haven’t heard of before (I’m not sayin’ they don’t do these things elsewhere, I’m just sayin’ I haven’t heard of it if they do) is for a price you can pay to take a spin around the Dover Speedway in a Sprint Cup type car.

For a hundred dollars you can ride shotgun for four laps with one of the track’s racing instructors. For a little less than $400 you can drive the car yourself for 10 laps with packages going up to as many as 30 laps for slightly less than a grand (chump change for klvalus!).

These are just racing attractions. Throw in the Las Vegas style casino, the high class accommodations, top restaurants, etc., etc. and this place is one classy joint!

I was also interested to find that within a 300 mile radius of the track there are 70 million Americans!


Here’s a look at who, based upon past performances, ought to do well at this year’s races:

The top five active drivers are (top to bottom) Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, and Tony Stewart.

Looking at the highest average finish at this track among active drivers, the top five are Clint Bowyer 17.9 in 8 starts, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 18.2 in 20 starts, Tony Stewart 19.2 in 22 starts, Bill Elliott 19.3 in 58 starts (Way to go Bill!), and Johnny Sauter 19.8 in five starts…

The most wins among active drivers looks like this: Jeff Gordon with 6, Bill Elliott with 4, Michael Waltrip with 3 (is he still running?), Jamie McMurray with 2 and several with 1 win.

Jon… Where’s Kevin? For that matter where’s Kyle Busch?

Will the old guard step up on the one mile concrete track or will one of the young guns grab on and not let go?

Here are some scenes from last year:

Logano Goes Through The Spin Cycle:

Johnson Duels Martin For The Win Last Fall:

And Last but not least, Here's How They Do It In Dover, England!

Don't think I'd leave my tractor parked out there OR be standing nearby!

How's the old Beatle tune go? Why don't we do it in the road...

Here's hoping that everybody enjoys the races except Gene, cuz that goes without sayin'!