DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY - DOVER DE
The track, also known as Dover Downs International Speedway and later Dover International Speedway. In 1966, Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc. began construction on Dover Downs International Speedway, which was specialized for horse racing and auto racing. The race track was completed three years later, and would have its first race on July 6, 1969. It was a one mile asphalt high banked oval and the first race was the Mason-Dixon 300. Richard Petty would lead 150 laps and take the win. Petty would win again in 1970. In 1971 the distance was increased to 500 laps. That distance on a fast high banked track would take it's toll on man and machine. It was normal for a race to take 4 1/2 hours to complete. The track hosted two races per season and only a hand full of drivers managed to find victory lane. Through 1978, Petty
claimed five wins, and David Pearson also won five times. Bobby Allison won on three occasions as did Cale Yarborough. Benny Parson claimed the other two wins over that ten year span. In 1981 Jody Ridley would get his only Cup win here at the tough fast speedway. In 1995, Dover Downs International Speedway replaced its asphalt surface with concrete, making it the second NASCAR Cup Series track after Bristol Motor Speedway to have a racing surface completely composed of concrete. In 1997 the race distance was shortened to 400 miles. There's a long list of drivers who have swept both races in the same season. It starts with Pearson in 1973; then next was Allison in '83; followed by Bill Elliott in 1988, Dale Earnhardt in 1989, Rusty Wallace in 1994, Jeff Gordon in 1996, Tony Stewart in 2000, Jimmie Johnson in 2002 and 2009, and finally Ryan Newman in 2003. In 2001, Dover was next up on the schedule on September 16; but the race was postponed
until November 23rd after the 9/11 attacks. Dale Earnhardt JR won and circled the track flying the American flag afterwards. In 2006, Dover announced a multi-year capital improvement project called "The Monster Makeover", which would begin after the speedway's June NASCAR Cup Series race. Many major improvements were made, Including added "Miles the Monster" a 46-feet tall fiberglass structure, was built in the new Victory Plaza. For many year Dover had been "The Monster Mile" because of it's high wear on man and machine. So it was fitting Miles the Monster was added. The next year saw more
upgrades, including many safety improvements. Due to the 2020 Covid pandemic; and restricted travel regulations; Dovers two races were shorted to 311 laps and run on back to back days. In 2021 the owners of Dover decided to move one of their race dates to a different track they owned. So one race was move to Nashville Super Speedway. The 2021 race at Dover was won by Alex Bowman.
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