NASCAR National Series News & Notes - Dover Motor Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400

The Place: Dover Motor Speedway

Track Length: 1 Mile Concrete Oval

The Date: Sunday, July 20

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

The Purse: $11,055,250

TV: TNT, 1:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 400 miles (400 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 120),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 250), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: BetRivers 200

The Place: Dover Motor Speedway

Track Length: 1 Mile Concrete Oval

The Date: Saturday, July 19

The Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,651,939

TV: CW, 4 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 200 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: TSport 200

The Place: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

Track Length: 0.686 Mile Asphalt Paved Oval

The Date: Friday, July 25

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

The Purse: $782,900

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 137.2 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

Where To Watch NASCAR This Weekend:

Friday, July 18

ARCA: General Tire 150 (FS1 at 5 p.m. ET)

Saturday, July 19

NXS Practice & Kennametal Pole Qualifying (CW App at 11 a.m. ET)

NCS Practice & Busch Light Pole Qualifying (truTV, PRN, SiriusXM at 1:30 p.m. ET)

NXS Race: BetRivers 200 (CW Network, PRN, SiriusXM at 4:30 p.m. ET)

Sunday, July 20

NCS Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400(TNT, PRN, SiriusXM at 2 p.m. ET)

NCS Race: Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400– Challenge Altcast (truTV, PRN, SiriusXM at 2 p.m. ET)

NASCAR Cup Series

Dover Storylines and Insights:

· This weekend marks the 107th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway (1969-2025), 2025 is the fifth straight season Dover hosted one race a year.

· The stage end laps for this weekend’s race are laps 120, 250 and 400.

· Denny Hamlin won this race last year, he is the only repeat winner in the last seven Dover races.

· Hendrick Motorsports (eight) and Joe Gibbs Racing (six) combined won 14 of the last 19 Dover Cup races.

· A Dover race winner finished outside the top-10 in a stage in only one of the 24 stages at Dover.

· The stages and race win were swept three times in track history: Kevin Harvick in 2018 and 2020, and Denny Hamlin in 2020.

· Only three of the last eight Dover races had a final green flag stretch less than 62 laps.

· Dover has produced only two first-time Cup winners: Jody Ridley in May 1981 and Martin Truex Jr in June 2007.

· The Dover race winner led at least 68 laps in each of the last eight races.

· None of the last eight Dover races ended in overtime.

· The driver starting first failed to win in the last 24 Dover races.

· The driver leading the most laps won only three of the last nine races including Denny Hamlin last year.

· Laid in 1995, Dover’s concrete track surface is the oldest oval surface on the Cup series schedule.

· Alex Bowman (5/21) and Denny Hamlin (8/20, 4/24) are the only drivers to win in the last 28 Dover races who don’t have a Cup championship.

· The winners of the last five Dover races combined made a total of four green flag pit stops, all were in the last two races (two each).

· Three of the last eight Dover races ended on Monday including two of the last three.

· Alex Bowman’s six top-10 finishes at Dover since the start of 2019 are the most among all active drivers and are tied for the most with Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick.

· Joey Logano is making his 600th Cup start at Dover this weekend, he made his NASCAR debut in the top 3 series at Dover in 2008 NXS race, finishing sixth. The only driver to win in their 600th Cup start was Richard Petty at Richmond in February 1973.

· Logano will be the youngest driver to make 600 starts.

· Joey Logano will be the sixth driver to make their 600th career Cup start at Dover.

· Chris Buescher will be making his 350th career Cup start and 200th start with RFK Racing this weekend. Three drivers have won in their 350th Cup start, most recently Tony Stewart at Talladega in October 2008.

· Daniel Suarez is making his 200th consecutive start this weekend at Dover.

· Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in Cup Series wins at Dover Motor Speedway with three (2008, 2010, 2017).

· A total of six of the 39 NASCAR Cup Series Dover Motor Speedway race winners are active this weekend:

Active Dover Cup Winners	Wins	Seasons
Kyle Busch	3	2017, ‘10, ‘08
Denny Hamlin	2	2024, ’20
Chase Elliott	2	2022, ‘18
Alex Bowman	1	2021
Kyle Larson	1	2019
Brad Keselowski	1	2012

· There were only five cautions at Dover last April, the fewest in the last five races there.

· Qualifying has only been held in seven of the last 15 Dover races, only twice in the last six.

· No driver has ever won at Dover from below the Playoff cutline in the regular season.

· Under the current points format (2017-2025), only one driver has ever pointed into the Playoffs from below the cutline at this point or later in the season (Clint Bowyer, was -2 in 2019).

· A driver has won their way into the Playoffs at this point or later in the season every year since 2020.

· Bubba Wallace has been on the regular season Playoff bubble (16th or 17th in the standings) more than any other driver in the Next Gen era (22 times).

· In 2024, three drivers that were above the cutline after race 20 ended up missing the Playoffs (Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace).

· The last six consecutive seasons have seen at least one driver above the cutline at this point or later in the season go on to miss the Playoffs.

· Chase Elliott was the best finishing Hendrick Motorsports’ driver in four of the last five races of 2025, he was the best finishing Hendrick driver in only one of the first 15 races.

· Eight Stage 2 winners in 2025 went on to win the race, the most through 20 races in a season and the most in a season since 13 in 2021.

· Shane van Gisbergen’s three wins from pole in 2025 are the most by a driver in a season since Jimmie Johnson in 2008, and are tied for the most of all drivers in the Next Gen era (Joey Logano).

· Kyle Larson’s average finish in the eight races since the Indy 500 is nearly 10 positions worse than the first 12 races of the season.

NCS Clinch Scenarios Following Sonoma Raceway:

Already Clinched

· The following four drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Shane Van Gisbergen.

Can Clinch Via Previous Wins

· The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by William Byron, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Shane Van Gisbergen:

• William Byron: Could only clinch with help

• Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help

Can Clinch Via Win

· The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

• William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Josh Berry

Understanding the In-Season Challenge:

· The top 32 in driver points following Nashville were eligible for the In-Season Challenge (Shane van Gisbergen, Cole Custer, Riley Herbst and Cody Ware failed to qualify among full-time drivers).

· The three races at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono established the seeding for the challenge based on the best driver finishing positions over those races.

· The five races (or Rounds) for the In-Season Challenge are Atlanta, Chicago, Sonoma, Dover and Indianapolis.

· The drivers will compete in a bracket-style tournament until the final two drivers face off in the finale at Indianapolis with the best-finishing driver winning $1 million.

· Four drivers remain in the In-Season Challenge: John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Dillon, Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick.

In-Season Challenge Round 4 Matchups:

· John Hunter Nemechek (No. 12 seed) Vs. Ty Dillon (No. 32 seed)

• Dillon has made 11 Cup starts at Dover compared to Nemechek’s three.

• Nemechek (21.3) has a better average finish at Dover than Dillon (25.1).

• Dillon has a best finish of 14th at Dover; Nemechek’s best finish at Dover is 20th.

· Ty Gibbs (No. 6 seed) Vs. Tyler Reddick (No. 23 seed)

• Reddick has made six Cup starts at Dover compared to Gibbs’ two.

• Gibbs (11.5) has a better average finish than Reddick (14.5) at Dover.

• Reddick has two top-10 finishes at Dover; Gibbs has one top-10 finish at Dover.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Dover Storylines and Insights:

· This weekend marks the 79th running of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway (1982-2025).

· 79 races is the third-most races in Xfinity Series history – Bristol-82, Charlotte-80, Dover-79 (includes 2025).

· The NASCAR Xfinity Series has raced at Dover Motor Speedway every season since 1982.

· There are seven races left in the regular season and five Playoff spots remain open.

· Cousins Jeb Burton and Harrison Burton are separated by 16 points at the Playoff cut line, Jeb is in while Harrison is currently out.

· Harrison Burton has been within 16 points of the Playoff cutoff after every race this season; his high was +16 after Atlanta 1 and his low is -16 after Sonoma

· The drivers from 10th-13th in the Playoff standings are separated by 54 points, less than one race.

· Sheldon Creed gained 54 points to the cut in the last two races.

· Carson Kvapil gained 55 points to the cut in the last four races.

· Taylor Gray gained 14 points to the cut at Sonoma.

· Ryan Sieg lost 60 points to the cut in the last three races.

· Connor Zilisch’s win at Sonoma broke a streak of nine different winners in nine races this season.

· Connor Zilisch’s seven straight top fives since returning from back injury is the longest top-five finish streak of the season; Zilisch is the youngest driver with more than five straight top-five finishes.

· JR Motorsports won 10 races this season with a series-record six different drivers, all six drivers won in the last 10 races.

· JR Motorsports is two wins away from 100, only three other teams won at least 100 NXS races (Joe Gibbs Racing-217, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing-138, Richard Childress Racing-100).

· JR Motorsports is the third team all-time to win 10 times in the first 19 races of a season.

· JR Motorsports #88 won four races with three different driver/crew chief combos this season.

· JR Motorsports had all five cars in the top 10 at Sonoma, the third race this season with all five drivers in the top 10.

· JR Motorsports had at least one car finish Top 2 in eight straight races, tied for the third-longest streak all- time.

· JR Motorsports finished top-five in 21 straight races and is one away from tying the longest streak all-time.

· Chevrolet won the last eleven races this season, tied for the longest winning streak by a manufacturer all- time.

· Ross Chastain will drive JR Motorsports’ #9; Chastain finished inside the top-10 in all three starts this season.

· Ross Chastain and Carson Kvapil could become JR Motorsports’ seventh different winner this season.

· Joe Gibbs Racing won 15 times at Dover, more than any other team.

· Ryan Truex will drive Sam Hunt Racing’s #24; Truex won the last two races at Dover.

· 11 different drivers won back-to-back races at Dover; Joey Logano is the only driver to win three or more consecutive Dover races.

· Two active drivers won at Dover in the Xfinity Series: Justin Allgaier (2) and Ryan Truex (2).

· Nine drivers on the entry list won at Dover in either Xfinity, Trucks, ARCA or ARCA East.

· Two drivers will be making Xfinity Series debut at Dover: Jake Finch in Hendrick Motorsports’ #17 and Lavar Scott in Alpha Prime Racing’s #45.

· Rajah Caruth will attempt to make his first start of the season, driving the Jordan Anderson Racing’s #32.

· William Sawalich got his first career top-five finish with a third at Sonoma.

· Five crew chiefs got their first NXS win in 2025: Chad Haney at Atlanta, Sam McAulay at Darlington, Adam Wall at Bristol, Cory Shea at Mexico City & Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono.

· Justin Allgaier’s 28 career wins are ninth on the all-time wins list and one away from tying Matt Kenseth.

· Justin Allgaier is six top 10s away from 300 in his career, he would be the first driver with 300 top 10s.

· Justin Allgaier leads all drivers with 10 top-five finishes and 648 laps led in 2025.

· Justin Allgaier’s 10 top-five finishes in 2025 are his most ever after 19 races in a season.

· Justin Allgaier won the Fastest Lap Award five times this season, no other driver has more than two.

· Sam Mayer leads all drivers with top-15 finishes in 15 of 19 races this season.

· Five races this year ended with a last lap pass.

· Six of the last nine races this season had a pass for the win in the final six laps.

· Seven of the 19 races this season went to overtime.

· There hasn’t been an overtime finish in the last six races, the longest streak without an OT since Sept/Oct 2023.

· Chevrolet led 2,364 of 3,093 laps this season.

· Chevrolet won 17 of 19 races, the most all time by a manufacturer through 19 races in series history.

Race To The Playoffs – Only Five Spots Remain:

· It’s possible to get more than 12 series winners with seven races remaining in regular season.

· If there are more than 12 winners after 26 races, the winner with the fewest regular season points will miss the Playoffs.

· Sam Mayer is currently sixth in the Playoff standings up +163 points on the cutline – the most among winless drivers this season.

· Jeb Burton and Harrison Burton are separated by 16 points at the cut line.

· Harrison Burton has been within 16 points of the cutoff after every race this season; the high was +16 after Atlanta 1, and the low is -16 after Sonoma.

· Sheldon Creed in 10th to Harrison Burton in 13th are separated by 54 points, less than one race

· The three drivers in 15th-17th are all rookies – Dean Thompson (15^th), Christian Eckes (16^th), Daniel Dye (17^th).

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Looking Ahead – Indianapolis Storylines and Insights:

· This season marks the 21st running of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

· Defending series champion, Ty Majeski, has won the last two consecutive Truck races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (2023-24). Grant Enfinger (2022) is the only active driver with a win at IRP.

· Ty Majeski currently occupies the 10th and final Playoff transfer spot in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver point standings, up +38 points on Jake Garcia in 11th, and up +65 points on Giovanni Ruggiero in 12th.

· Kaden Honeycutt in eighth (+67) and Grant Enfinger in ninth (+64) hold healthy leads above the Playoff cutline with three races to go.

· Corey Heim has won five of the 15 Truck Series races this season, his best finish at Indianapolis is fifth (2022).

· Corey Heim has accumulated 39 Playoff points this season. The all-time most Playoff points a Truck Series driver has earned to take into the Playoffs is 49 by John Hunter Nemechek in 2021.

NCTS Clinch Scenarios Following Lime Rock Park:

Already Clinched:

· The following seven drivers have clinched a spot in the 10-driver postseason field: Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Ankrum, Stewart Friesen and Rajah Caruth.

Can Clinch Via Win:

The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:

· Kaden Honeycutt, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Jake Garcia, Giovanni Ruggiero, Ben Rhodes, Tanner Gray, Connor Mosack, Matt Crafton, Andres Perez De Lara, Jack Wood, Matt Mills, Dawson Sutton, Spencer Boyd, Toni Breidinger and Frankie Muniz.

Can Clinch Regular Season Championship:

Additionally, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:

· Corey Heim: Would clinch with 39 points.

NASCAR & Dover, Etc.

Historical and Significant Events at Dover Motor Speedway:

Dover Motor Speedway, a.k.a. ‘The Monster Mile,’ opened in 1969 as a unique dual-purpose facility designed to accommodate both harness racing and motorsports events.
Melvin Joseph owner of Melvin Joseph Construction oversaw the building of the Speedway and served on the Board of Directors until his death in 2005.
The first speedway race was a NASCAR Cup Series race, the “Mason-Dixon 300,” on July 6, 1969 won by Richard Petty.
Attendance at the first race was 22,000. Attendance increased in the 1980’s and the track added seats for 16 consecutive seasons, 1986-2001, to a peak of 135,000. Current capacity is reported to be 85,000.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series has visited the track each season since its inception in 1982.
The first Dover race on the concrete surface was 6/4/1995 won by Kyle Petty from 37th place starting position; the deepest in the field a winner has started.
In 2002, Dover Downs International Speedway became Dover International Speedway as the gaming side of the company split off and Dover Motorsports, Inc. was created to exclusively oversee racing.
Dover Motorsports at one time owned and operated Memphis Motorsports Park, Gateway International Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway and the Long Beach CA Grand Prix, in addition to Dover International Speedway. Denis McGlynn has been the CEO since March 2002.
The 56 seat Monster Bridge over Turn 3 was opened in 2004.
The track has undergone many improvements and additions in recent years. In 2006 the ’’Monster Makeover” was launched This long-term program includes an expanded Media Center, enlarged pit road, new Skybox complex, new sound system, overall beautification, fan plaza and an outdoor concert area.
Miles The Monster the 46-foot tall sculpture at Victory Plaza was introduced in 2008.
A new pit road was constructed for the 2009 season which added a pit stall by extending the length of pit road, bringing the total to 43 stalls at 32 feet each and extended the width of pit road by four feet.
Dover Motorsports Inc. in collaboration with Red Frog Events has hosted the Firefly Music Festival at The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway since 2012, a four day music festival held during mid-summer.
Just before the halfway point of the June 2014 race, a piece of concrete came up from the track. Jamie McMurray #1 hit the concrete causing front end splitter damage. The race was red flagged for more than 20 minutes while repairs were made to the track. An epoxy type filler was used which is the same filler that’s used any time repair is required at the track, whether it be asphalt or concrete.
Dover began “right sizing” their facility in 2009 first widening seats reducing capacity from 135,000 to 113,00. In 2014 the first major removal of grandstands reduced capacity to 95,500. Between 2015 and 2015 more removal took the track to its current capacity to 85,000 seats.
With NASCAR reducing the size of its Cup field from 43 to 40 cars, the track removed three pit stalls and increased the length of its stalls from 32 feet to 34 feet. The track is known for having some of the tightest pit stalls on the circuit.
Dover added an additional 500 feet of SAFER Barrier for the October 2016 race on the outside wall in Turn 2, under the walkover bridge, and the outside of Turn 4, entering the front stretch following a violent crash involving Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and Jamie McMurray.
Dover replaced the guard rails on the inside of Turn 3 with approximately 500 feet of SAFER Barrier for 2017.
1,800 feet of new SAFER barrier was also installed along the front and backstretch.
December 2021 Speedway Motorsports Inc. completed the purchase of Dover making it Dover Motor Speedway.