DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS
Mailing Address:
Dover International Speedway, P.O. Box 843, Dover, DE 19903
Physical Address:
1131 N. DuPont Hwy.(Route 13)
Dover, DE 19903
Phone: (302) 674-4600, (302) 857-3241
Tix Phone: (302) 734-RACE or (800) 441-RACE (7223)
Fax: (302) 672-0100 tickets; (302) 734-3124
Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 1.0-mile oval
Banking: turns: 24 degrees; straights: 9 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch - 1,076 feet; Backstretch - 1,076 feet
Pit Stalls: 42 (1 shared) 15" wide x 28" long
Grandstands: ~147,000
Websites:
www.doverspeedway.com
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide
- New Race Record at Dover International Speedway, not for the fastest, but Sunday's win by Mark Martin in the MBNA 400: A Salute to Heroes, was the slowest race speed average for a Cup race at Dover, 97.042mph, the old record was in Sept 1993 by Rusty Wallace with an average speed of 100.334mph.(6-7-2004)
- Watch LIVE online as the Monster Monument is assembled at Dover UPDATE:: On Monday, April 28, 2008, the design team from ACI Composites will be on-site at Dover International Speedway to assemble the Monster Monument at its permanent location in the new Victory Plaza area. A majority of the fiberglass monster structure will be erected by the end of the day, weather permitting, and fans can watch the progress live online. Visit DoverSpeedway.com and click on the "Monster Monument! Watch the Progress Live" box at the bottom of the homepage. The page will be redirected to the DelDOT website featuring live video from a camera mounted on the top of the skybox complex on the back side of Dover's frontstretch. The monster's head, torso and arms were shipped to Dover on Friday, April 25, as six flatbed trucks made their way from ACI Composites' factory in Lancaster, Pa. The wide-load convoy received a Delaware State Police escort from the Delaware border and arrived at the track shortly after 11 a.m. Photos of the Monster Monument, as it arrived on the property today, can be found on DoverSpeedway.com. NASCAR returns to Dover International Speedway on May 30-June 1 and Sept. 19-21, 2008. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.(DIS)(4-27-2008)
UPDATE postponed to Tues: High winds and rain postponed the assembly of the Monster Monument at Dover International Speedway on Monday. The forecast calls for thunderstorms throughout the day in Dover -- poor conditions for building a monster! The design team from ACI Composites will be on-site early in the morning on Tuesday to assemble the monument in one day as originally planned. Media are invited to arrive any time on Tuesday, but the construction should be in full swing by 11am/et.(DIS)(4-28-2008)
- Sprint Cup Series race at Dover to be named the "Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks": Dover International Speedway and Best Buy officials announced that the June 1, 2008 Sprint Cup Series race will be named the "Best Buy 400 benefiting Student Clubs for Autism Speaks." A variety of initiatives are planned for Dover's May 30 - June 1, 2008 NASCAR race weekend to increase awareness and raise funds for Autism Speaks. While Best Buy is in its fourth season as a team sponsor, with its iconic yellow tag logo appearing on Elliott Sadler's #19 Gillett Evernham Motorsports entry in select 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, this race marks the first time the company has sponsored a NASCAR event. This event also marks the second year Autism Speaks has partnered with Dover International Speedway. Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Student Clubs for Autism Speaks (SCAS) helps further the mission of Autism Speaks by creating the opportunity for students to engage and actively participate in positively affecting the lives of people with autism. Through education, awareness, friendship and fundraising, SCAS includes students at the middle school, high school and college level.(Dover Raceway/Best Buy PR)(4-22-2008)
- Dover's Monster Monument is coming together - one limb at a time: Dover International Speedway's big addition for the 2008 season - The Monster Monument - is coming together on schedule at ACI Composites in Lancaster, Pa. The 46-foot structure is much too large to be housed indoors, so Miles' current home is just outside the front door at the factory. The ACI team has completed welding together the inner support beams of the monster including the head and face, torso and shoulders. Within the next few weeks, the crew will begin assembling the arms and hands of the monster along with putting the finishing touches on the full-size Dodge 'Car of Tomorrow' stock car that will be mounted in his right hand. Once those pieces are finished, they will be temporarily mounted on the monster before the entire structure is carved out of sprayed foam and then wrapped in fiberglass. The large shards of broken concrete have been built, assembled and sprayed with fiberglass. These pieces will be mounted on top of the base of the structure and will give the appearance of the monster breaking through the ground. In late-April, the entire structure will be disassembled and shipped in several large pieces, to be erected again on-site in its permanent location outside of Turn 4 at Dover International Speedway. The monster will be placed atop a 7-foot-tall, 60-foot-round base, which will include a chronological listing of all past Dover winners by race and series. A grand unveiling of the Monster Monument, Victory Plaza, the expanded FanZone and more is scheduled for May 14, 2008 with special guest Jeff Gordon. The Monster Monument will be complete when NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile for the May 30 - June 1 and Sept. 19 - 21, 2008 race weekends.(Dover International Speedway PR)(3-12-2008)
- The Monster Monument at Victory Plaza planned for Dover: He's been portrayed as an intimidating, car crushing creature who wreaks havoc on NASCAR's most skilled competitors. He's been molded into the winner's trophy, playfully mimicked by victorious drivers, featured in a comic book, and posed as an action figure. In 2008, Miles the Monster will become the largest attraction at a NASCAR track and will be one of the tallest fiberglass structures in the world. The Monster Monument will stand 46-feet-tall amongst race fans in the newly created Victory Plaza at Dover International Speedway. The Monster Monument at Victory Plaza will be completed prior to the May 30 - June 1, 2008 race weekend and will become a new focal point for race fans visiting the Monster Mile. Nearly five stories tall, the structure depicts the monster bursting out of the concrete ground, carrying with him a full-scale stock car in his right hand that will hover high over race fans below. Glowing red eyes and a menacing grin will make the monster a "must see" for race fans visiting the Monster Mile in June, September, and all year round. Motorists on Route 1, the major highway behind the Speedway, will also be able to see the Monster Monument's bright red eyes when commuting past the track.
The 60-foot-round base of the monument will serve as a tribute to all Dover race winners and legendary drivers who make their mark at the Monster Mile. Special driver dedications will be commemorated around the base of the monument which will also include a chronological listing of Dover winners by race and series. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison, each with seven career wins at Dover, will be the first drivers to be honored. Details regarding the special dedications and ceremonies will be announced prior to the June race weekend.
Located outside Turn 4 of the one-mile oval, Victory Plaza will welcome race fans who are entering the facility from Leipsic Road, the various RV lots, and the parking areas located on the east side of the Speedway. Fans will walk through a new archway and up a colorful walkway as they make their way towards the Monster Monument, new FanZone, souvenir haulers and frontstretch grandstands.
The FanZone has doubled in size since last year and now encompasses 7.8 acres of land at the Speedway. The expansion eliminates the road formerly known as Old Leipsic Road. The FanZone features fan experiences, sampling, interactive attractions, driver appearances and more. It's free and open to the public every day of race weekend. Also under construction is a 3,800 sq. foot emergency services building that will be completed in time for the May 30 - June 1, 2008 event weekend. The building is centrally located near Gate 1 of the Speedway, and will provide an improved base of operations for Dover's emergency response system. The new facility will further enhance the Speedway's emergency response efforts on race weekends.
NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile May 30 - June 1 and Sept. 19 - 21, 2008. Dover continues to offer event ticket insurance for all events, along with an array of ticket options including special 3-day ticket packages, all-inclusive hospitality packages, early-buy discounts, and a variety of payment plans. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway)(1-28-2008)
- Tickets for Fall Races at Dover go on sale Monday, Dec. 10: As the second race in the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” the Monster Mile has been known to throw a high-banked wrench into the 10-race championship playoffs. The concrete, one-mile oval has become a track most of the “Chasers” worry about surviving, while fans in the stands have come to know Dover’s Sept. race as one of the most entertaining and exciting races in the Chase. Beginning on Monday, Dec. 10 at 8:00 a.m., fans can secure their seats for the Sept. 21 Sprint Cup Series race, Sept. 20 RoadLoans.com 200 Nationwide Series race and Sept. 19 Sunoco 150 Grand National Division, East Series race by calling 800-441-RACE or at DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway PR)(12-9-2007)
- Dover Motorsports reports lower quarterly revenues: Dover Motorsports Inc. officials say the expected decrease in NASCAR television revenues were to blame as the company reported lower revenues for the financial quarter that ended Sept. 30. The track operator said it had revenues of $40.951 million, down from $42.441 million in the comparable quarter of 2006, after promoting seven major motorsports events in each quarter. The company said in a press release that broadcast rights fees from the new industry-wide TV contract with NASCAR decreased in 2007 by 10 percent and represented substantially all of the decrease in revenue during the third quarter. (SceneDaily.com)(10-28-2007)
- Tickets now on sale for the June 2008 NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Dover: Tickets are now on sale for the May 30 - June 1, 2008 NASCAR tripleheader race weekend at the Monster Mile. Next year will mark Dover International Speedway's 40th season of racing and race fans will want to lock in their seats today to guarantee that they'll be at the Monster Mile for the first of two monumental race weekends in 2008. By ordering early, fans can take advantage of improved seat selection, better ticket availability and the opportunity for groups to purchase the best blocks of tickets for the June 1 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the May 31 Nationwide Series race, and the May 30 AAA Insurance 200 Craftsman Truck Series race. Tickets for the Sept. 21 "Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup" race, Sept. 20 RoadLoans.com 200 Nationwide Series race, and Sept. 19 Sunoco 150 NASCAR Grand National Division East Series race will go on sale to the public on December 10, 2007. Dover International Speedway continues to offer event ticket insurance for all
events, along with an array of ticket options including special 3-day ticket packages, all-inclusive hospitality packages, early-buy discounts, and a variety of payment plans.
To purchase tickets or for more information, call 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover PR)(10-20-2007)
- Dover International Speedway activities not affected by Delaware State University incident: Local officials believe the shooting incident that occurred at Delaware State University early this morning is isolated and poses no threat to patrons or activities at Dover International Speedway. All events at the Speedway are on schedule for this weekend and are currently operating according to plan. Nextel Cup qualifying is scheduled for 3:15pm/et today, followed by the Sunoco 150 Busch East Series race at 4:45pm/et. Traffic patterns have not been affected. On Friday, September 21, 2007 at approximately 12:54 a.m., a double shooting occurred at Delaware State University, which is located near Dover International
Speedway. The Delaware State University police department continues to investigate this incident, and any inquiries should be directed to them at (302) 857-6290.(DIS PR)(9-21-2007)
- DelDOT Welcomes NASCAR Fans to Dover International Speedway: The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) greets NASCAR fans to Dover for the 2007 Nextel Cup Series, Busch East Series, and Busch Series at the Dover International Speedway beginning on Friday, September 21 through Sunday, September 23. DelDOT and DART First State encourage motorists to use the two Race Express Bus Services that will be available on Sunday, September 23. For $ 20.00 per car, race fans can park at the Blue Hen Corporate Center on Bay Road in Dover, and all vehicle occupants can once again ride the Race Express Bus to and from Dover International Speedway. The Blue Hen Corporate Center Race Express Bus will avoid race day traffic congestion by traveling south on Bay Road, away from the traffic, and enter Route 1 to an exclusive, buses-only exit ramp leading directly to Dover International Speedway. The total trip will have race fans at the racetrack in only 12 minutes. The service will begin at 8:00 a.m., and will be available to transport passengers back and forth until 1 hour after the race. For more information and the full release, goto the Dover International Speedway site.(9-21-2007)
- Grand Marshal change at Dover, Nardelli in; Spade out: Bob Nardelli has been named Grand Marshal for the Dodge Dealers 400 Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007 at Dover International Speedway. Nardelli [formerly of Home Depot], chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC, will command the 43 drivers to fire their engines and prepare to take to the high-banked Speedway. Nardelli will join actor R. Lee Ermey in the pre-race festivities. Ermey, Honorary Starter for the Dodge Dealers 400, is best known for his role as Sgt. Hartman in the military film "Full Metal Jacket." He is currently the celebrity spokesperson for GLOCK "Safe Action" Pistols and can be seen each week on his show "Mail Call" on The History Channel. Nardelli replaces actor David Spade who was previously announced as Grand Marshal of the race. Spade has cancelled his appearence due to a change in the production schedule for his television show [Rules of Engagement on CBS]. The "Chase" returns to Dover International Speedway on Sept. 23 for the Dodge Dealers 400 Nextel Cup Series race. Tickets are still available for the entire Sept. 21-23 race weekend and can be purchased by calling 800-441-RACE.(Dover Intl Speedway PR)(9-19-2007)
- America's Got Talent finalist Julienne Irwin to perform National Anthem at Dover: Julienne Irwin's got natural talent. The Bel Air, Md. native demonstrated it as a finalist on the second season of NBC's America's Got Talent, television's highest rated summer program. She will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the "Dodge Dealers 400" Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007. Irwin is currently an eighth grade student at Harford Christian School in Darlington, Md., and recently became class president. Tickets are still available for the entire Sept. 21-23 weekend and can be purchased by calling 800-441-RACE or online at DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover Intl Speedway PR)(9-11-2007)
- Kahne Kicks Off Dover Ticket Donation on Sept 5th: Kasey Kahne will be on hand to officially announce the Dodge Dealers' donation of 3,000 Nextel Cup tickets to the USO. Tickets to the Sept. 23 "Dodge Dealers 400" Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway will be distributed to troops and their families in the region. Leadership from Dodge, Dover International Speedway, the USO and Dover Air Force Base are expected to attend this event at AMC Museum, 1301 Heritage Road, Dover AFB, DE at 10:30am/et.(Dover International Speedway PR)(9-2-2007)
- Grand Marshal & Starter named for Dover: Two important NASCAR traditions will be served by two famous and funny film stars to start the "Dodge Dealers 400" on Sept. 23 at the Monster Mile. Actor, comedian and Grand Marshal David Spade will give the command to start engines, and Honorary Starter R. Lee Ermey, well known for his role as
Sgt. Hartman in the war movie classic "Full Metal Jacket," will wave the green flag to get the second race in the ten race "Chase for the Nextel Cup" underway at Dover. David Spade can currently be seen in Sony Pictures Television's hit series, "Rules of Engagement" which returns to CBS for its second season beginning Monday, September 24 at 9:30pm/et/pt. Instantly recognizable and known for his thunderous voice and intimidating stature, R. Lee Ermey has appeared in more than 60 films since retiring from the United States Marine Corps in 1972. Ermey was a Golden Globe nominee and won the Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket." Ermey is also the celebrity spokesperson for GLOCK "Safe Action" Pistols and can be seen each week on his show "Mail Call" on The History Channel. Ermey rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving in the military before turning his attention to acting. In 2002, he received a promotion to E-7 Honorary Gunnery Sergeant becoming the first retiree in the history of the Marines to be promoted. The "Chase" returns to Dover International Speedway on Sept. 23 for the Dodge Dealers 400 Nextel Cup Series race. Tickets are still available for the
entire Sept. 21-23 race weekend and can be purchased by calling 800-441-RACE or online at DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway)(8-28-2007)
- Dover Fall race gets a sponsor: When the Nextel Cup Series returns to Dover next month, the concrete oval will be the same monster it has always been. The race itself will take on a new identity: the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway. The primary sponsorship builds on the strong presence Dodge has had as the official vehicle of the "Monster Mile." To kick off the Dodge Dealers 400, David Spade, "Saturday Night Live" alum and current star of the CBS comedy "Rules of Engagement", will serve as grand marshal. R. Lee Ermey, the recognizable host of "Mail Call," will serve as the honorary starter and wave the green flag. Dodge is giving fans the opportunity to get involved in the racing action by
offering them fast fun with a high-speed spin in the Dodge SRT Thrill Rides. Fans can ride for free in a Dodge Viper SRT10 or Dodge Charger SRT8 on a high-speed, closed course.
Dodge also is inviting consumers throughout the region to join in the fun:
-- Any customer that purchases a Dodge car or truck from dealers in the Baltimore, DelMarVa Peninsula, Norfolk, Richmond or Roanoke areas or in West Virginia, between August 13 and September 10, will receive four tickets to the September 23rd Dodge Dealers 400 race. Visit www.FreeDoverTickets.com for details.
-- Fans also can enter a "No Purchase Necessary" sweepstakes, simply by visiting www.FreeDoverTickets.com. Entrants will have a chance to win numerous prizes, including the Grand Prize - a VIP Experience at the Dodge Dealers 400. Five first-place prize winners will receive a pair of tickets to the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover and 125 second-place winners will receive Dodge merchandise.
-- In a gesture of thanks to the men and women that defend the United States, 3,000 tickets will be distributed through the USO to active-duty servicemen and women and their families so they can enjoy the Dodge Dealers 400 in person. For more information on Dodge and Dodge Motorsports, visit www.Dodge.com.(DIS PR)(8-16-2007)
- Dover confirms 2008 NASCAR race dates will follow tradition on NASCAR's annual schedule: Despite some industry speculation to the contrary, Dover International Speedway officials confirmed that the Monster Mile will host race weekends on May 30-June 1 and September 19-21, 2008. Dover International Speedway has played host to similar dates since 1987, and has hosted NASCAR's premiere series since 1969. The 2008 season will mark the 40th year of racing at the high-banked, one-mile oval. Tickets for the June 1, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, May 31 NASCAR Busch Series race and May 30 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race will go on sale to the public beginning on Monday, October 1, 2007. Tickets for the Sept. 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, Sept. 20 NASCAR Busch Series race, and Sept. 19 NASCAR Busch East Series race will go on sale on Monday, December 10, 2007. NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile on September 21-23, 2007 as the "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" races into Dover International Speedway. Race fans who purchase tickets to the upcoming event weekend, or any of the 2008 events, can now add event ticket insurance to their purchases. The new insurance option, provided by World Access, provides greater peace of mind and offers a full refund of the purchase price if the Dover ticket holder cannot attend the event for a number of unforeseen personal, medical or travel reasons. The Monster Mile offers a long list of ticket options including 3-day ticket packages, all-inclusive hospitality packages, early-buy discounts and a variety of payment plans. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the Dover International Speedway ticket office at 800-441-RACE or visit DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway PR)(7-27-2007)
- Dover & World Access to offer event ticket insurance to race fans: If an event at Dover International Speedway [the Monster Mile] is postponed due to weather - as it was for the June 3, 2007 Nextel Cup Series race - fans who opt for event ticket insurance can now take comfort knowing that they will receive a full refund if they must work on the date of the rescheduled event. The new insurance option, provided by World Access, provides greater peace of mind and offers a full refund of the purchase price if the Dover ticket holder cannot attend the event for a number of unforeseen personal, medical or travel reasons. Dover International Speedway leads the way by becoming the first motorsports venue hosting NASCAR-sanctioned events to offer this level of service and protection for its fans. The insurance may be used for all NASCAR events held at Dover International Speedway, including the Nextel Cup Series, Busch Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and Busch East Series races. All add-on fan hospitality options at Dover, like the Monster Mile Club and Blue Crew Premium Seating, may also be insured. All Dover fans will have the opportunity to add the event ticket insurance to their September 21-23, 2007 race tickets, beginning in late-July 2007. For more information, visit DoverSpeedway.com or by call the ticket office at 800-411-RACE. Dover International Speedway is partnering with World Access, a leading insurance and assistance company, to provide this coverage. World Access supplies the travel industry, financial institutions and healthcare companies with a wide variety of customized travel insurance and assistance services. The event ticket insurance is available for 5% of your total purchase, with a $6.25 minimum. If a medical issue, a traffic accident, a mechanical breakdown, or any of the other covered categories prevent the insured from attending an event, 100% of the ticket price, including shipping fees, is returned to the covered person. For more on this, see DoverSpeedway.com. The three other Dover Motorsports, Inc. venues - Gateway International Raceway, Memphis Motorsports Park and Nashville Superspeedway - will soon provide this same insurance option for their events.(DIS PR)(7-12-2007)
- Dover spring race to April? NASCAR officials are contemplating moving the spring races at Dover International Speedway from June to April as part of a plan to revamp the first half of the racing schedule next season. It's a possibility that Denis McGlynn, president and CEO of Dover Motorsports Inc., would rather not think about. McGlynn said it's "way too early" to predict what will happen with the spring race weekend. The culmination of this spring's race weekend, the Autism Speaks 400 Nextel Cup race, was rained out Sunday and is scheduled to be made up today at noon. This is the first time Dover's spring Nextel Cup race has been postponed since 1975, when the race was held in May. It would seem that having the Dover spring races in April would be worse. For one, the weather is much more unpredictable than it is the weekend after Memorial Day, when the spring races have been held since 1987. In addition, the track's harness racing season doesn't end until mid-April, and McGlynn said there wouldn't be enough time to get the NASCAR track ready for auto racing by the end of the month. The only alternative in May would be a Mother's Day race weekend, which for the past three years has been held in Darlington, S.C. The annual Old Dover Days takes place the first weekend in May. The Nextel All-Star Challenge is held two weeks after that. Typically, Nextel Cup takes the third week of the season off. NASCAR is considering pushing that first off-week back to the first weekend in June, the spot now occupied by the spring Dover race. "We're looking at ways to fill that hole" in the third week of the season, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "We're looking to run more races before the break." Poston said NASCAR would like to get a consensus from track owners and driver teams before changing the schedule. He said pushing the first break back a few months would keep the momentum going from the start of the season. The 2008 schedule will be released in August.(Delaware News Journal)(6-4-2007)
- Fans at Dover: NASCAR today announced that the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa Nextel Cup Series race has been postponed and will be held on Monday, June 4, 2007. Grandstands will open at 9:00am/et with the green flag scheduled to fly at
12:00pm/et. A steady rain held the Nextel Cup cars on pit road and the fans underneath the grandstands for most of the afternoon. The announcement came 30 minutes after the jet-dryer trucks attempted to dry the track, but a steady rain dampend any chance of the cars actually taking to the Speedway. Parking at the Speedway will be free of charge on Monday, June 4. All Sunday tickets will be honored at the gates. A ticket or ticket stub is required for admission. Tickets can be purchased on Monday at the main ticket office and at Gate 4. The Will Call, at Gate 4, will be open until 1 :00pm/et. For more information, call 800-441-RACE.
- Dover track & police ready for influx of fans: Dover International Speedway, the Delaware Dept. of Transportation, Delaware State Police, and City of Dover Police are prepared for the influx of visitors that come along with the upcoming June 1-3, 2007 event weekend. Race weekend brings approximately 250,000 visitors to the City of Dover for each tripleheader NASCAR race weekend. To help alleviate the stress of getting to the big race, Dover International Speedway suggests the following:
-- Ride the DART First State's Race Express Bus from the Blue Hen Corporate Center on US 113 and get to Dover International Speedway in just 12 minutes! Park at the Blue Hen Corporate Center for only $20.00 per car, and everyone in your vehicle can ride the bus to and from the race track for free. Service will begin at 8:00 AM and will operate until 1 hour after the race.
-- From New Castle County and points north, fans will want to consider DART First State's Race Express Bus from the Christiana Mall Park & Ride, located off of exit 4A of I-95. The Race Express Bus departs from the Christiana Mall at 7:30 AM, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. After the race, the Express Bus will take you to the Blue Hen Corporate Center. From there the shuttle will IMMEDIATELY take you back to Christiana Mall. The cost per person is $10.00 round-trip, exact change only, with children 46" in height or under riding for free.
-- Mass transit is encouraged, and those that opt for this route reap the benefits. Buses are permitted to use the emergency exits off of Route 1, which provides them with direct access to the back of the property and the Dover International Speedway bus lots.
To help coordinate what is one of the largest logistical challenges in the state, officials from Dover International Speedway, DelDoT, DART, the Delaware State Police, and the City of Dover Police meet on a monthly basis throughout the year. These meetings result in comprehensive traffic plans to identify control points and traffic flow. Officials stress that patience and proper planning are paramount when traveling to and from the track.
Tickets are still available for the June 1-3, 2007 NASCAR race weekend. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE, or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway PR)(6-1-2007)
- No lights planned for Dover: For now, the improvements [at Dover International Speedway] do not include the installation of lights, which many speedways have added in recent years in order to host races in prime time. "We don't have lights on the near-term schedule," Denis McGlynn, CEO of Dover Motorsports, said. "If push came to shove and we had to do it, we'd take a serious look at it, but there's a lot of moving parts on that issue that would need to be addressed and I'm not sure we're there yet."(Delaware News Journal)(5-31-2007)
- Grand Marshal, Starter, National Anthem at Dover: Actress Catherine Bell will command the most famous words in motorsports - "Gentleman, start your engines!"- as the Grand Marshal for the "Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa" Nextel Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, June 3. For nine seasons, 16 million Americans tuned in every Friday to watch the
stunning Bell on the award winning adventure drama JAG. Beginning on June 3 at 10:00pm, Bell can be seen in the new series Army Wives on Lifetime Television. The opportunity to be the Honorary Starter for the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa was auctioned online, and the winning bid was $13,010. The winning bidder's name will be announced shortly. All proceeds from the auction will benefit Autism Speaks. The charitable winner will have the unique opportunity to wave the green flag to start the June 3 Nextel Cup race; be on stage for driver introductions; watch the race in a catered suite above the frontstretch with three guests; receive a pit and garage tour; and ride in the pre-race parade lap.
Tiffany Affair, Reprise Warner Brothers recording artists, will deliver the National Anthem before the race. Ayanna, 18, Bianca, 18, and Gabrielle, 16, make up the R&B group widely known for their hit singles, "Start A Fire" and "Over It." Both songs are featured on their latest album, Flavors, which is slated for a summer 2007 release.
"Psychogang Extreme Motorcycle Racing Team" and "Hell on Wheels" BMX riders will entertain race fans with high flying stunts during pre-race festivities. Parachute jumpers, fireworks, a flyover featuring four F-16's from the 149th Fighter Wing Lackland AFB, TX, and a free concert by the band Hoobastank at the Garnier display outside of the track at 11:00am/et will provide plenty of pre-race entertainment prior to the 1:30pm/et start time.
Tickets are still available for the June 1-3, 2007 NASCAR race weekend. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway PR)(5-29-2007)
- Infield media center expansion is complete at Dover: Construction that began soon after the last hauler pulled out of Dover International Speedway on September 24, 2006 is now complete. A 2,100 square-foot expansion to the infield media center at the Monster Mile adds space and amenities to better accommodate the local, regional and national media that report on each Dover race weekend. The infield media center is located at the entrance to the Nextel Cup garage, inside Turn 4 of the one-mile, concrete oval. The expansion adds 60 new seats for public relations representatives and photographers; a remodeled deadline seating area; an expanded stage for driver
interviews; 18 flat-panel televisions; a spacious dining area; two new interview rooms; a new work area and office for Dover public relations staff; and four new bathrooms. Each individual seat in the media center is now equipped with improved connectivity. New inputs at each seat provide high-speed internet, a phone line, two AC outlets, and the ability to listen to - and record - a variety of audio feeds from the event weekend. Each seat has the ability to toggle between the Motor Racing Network, television audio, the track announcer, and additional media center audio feeds.
The expansion is part of the Monster Makeover, a multi-year capital improvement project underway at Dover International Speedway. Dover race fans will notice a vast array of improvements to the facility in 2007, including the addition of a new skybox complex with 12 suites, each with a premium view of pit road, victory lane and the entire racetrack. The new complex is also home to Velocity, an all-inclusive suite now available to individual fans at the Monster Mile. Additional improvements include widened walkways behind the Allison, Petty and
Earnhardt grandstands; six renovated restroom facilities; additional paved handicapped parking areas; expanded bus parking; continued beautification and landscaping of the entire property; a new grandstand sound system with improved audio quality for broadcasting and music; a larger, and combined, hospitality tent village; and a new alcohol- and tobacco-free Family Seating Section.
Tickets are still available for the June 1-3, 2007 NASCAR race weekend. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway PR)(5-28-2007)
- Dover June Cup race named "Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa": Dover International Speedway announced that the June 3, 2007 Nextel Cup Series race will be named the "Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa." Autism Speaks is an organization dedicated to increasing understanding and knowledge of autism spectrum disorders; to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism; and to advocating for the needs of affected families. From now until June 1, Dover International Speedway will donate $5 to Autism Speaks from each ticket purchased with a Visa card for the June 3 "Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa" race. Fans can visit www.autismspeaks.org to learn more and donate to this worthwhile cause.
As part of the entitlement, a special one-of-a-kind experience will be auctioned, with all proceeds going directly to Autism Speaks. The prize includes the opportunity to wave the green flag as the honorary starter for the June 3 race; an autographed flag signed by the starting lineup of the Nextel Cup Series race; the chance to be on stage for driver introductions; a ride in the pre-race parade lap for four guests; four tickets to watch the race from a skybox suite; four pit passes; and a guided tour for four of the Nextel Cup garage. To participate in this unique auction and support Autism Speaks, go to www.autismspeaks.org/dover400. NASCAR returns to Dover International Speedway on June 1-3 and Sept. 21-23, 2007. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway PR)(5-19-2007)
- Science lessons on the Monster Mile: Driving around the high banks of Dover International Speedway and getting a small taste of just how enormous NASCAR race weekends are is enough to spark almost anybody's imagination. For seventh-grade teacher Julie Rickansrud and her 22 accelerated science students at Garnet Valley Middle School, in Glen Mills, Pa., a trip to the track known as the "Monster Mile" proved to be almost beyond words Tuesday morning [April 24th]. The Garnet Valley students got lessons in history, NASCAR and science on a field trip that was hosted by Gerry Wright, director of public relations and marketing for Monster Racing, which operates a fan driving experience at the track. The trip far exceeded Rickansrud's expectations. She especially enjoyed the grins on her students' faces after they climbed up the track's 24-degree banking in the first turn. After all, just two of them admitted to being NASCAR fans when they got off their bus.
There were plenty of interesting nuggets that the students picked up on at Dover, such as:
• The majority of people who work on NASCAR race cars these days have backgrounds in engineering, debunking the misconception that stock cars are built out in a barn in the South, a la Tom Cruise's "Days of Thunder."
• Current NASCAR race cars are far from being actual "stock cars," as they are tweaked in wind tunnels for aerodynamic sleekness and, yes, the headlights are just stickers.
• Wright also touched on how sensitive it is for pit crews to set up a race car for a particular track. For example, every gallon of fuel burned results in eight fewer pounds in the rear end of the car, which affects the handling. And that is constantly changing, since the cars get just four miles per gallon of fuel.(Delaware News Journal)(4-26-2007)
- Dover 2007 Cup sanction fees: $11 million: Dover's two Nextel Cup races will cost the track more than $11 million in sanction fees in 2007, according to its annual report. The June race's sanction fee (including Dover's contribution to the purse) is $5,914,346, and the September purse contribution and sanction fee is $5,293,075. (The figures are for this year, not 2006, as SceneDaily initially reported.) Dover Motorsports operates four speedways - Dover International Speedway, Gateway International Raceway, Memphis Motorsports Park and Nashville Superspeedway. The company also listed an "impairment charge" of more than $61 million for Nashville, Memphis and Gateway - devaluing the value of those tracks because of the lower-than-anticipated television revenues generated by the four Busch races at those tracks. Dover expected the new TV deal, which went into effect this year, to allot a bigger percentage to Busch races than the 5 percent allocated in the 2001-2006 package. But NASCAR is allotting only 5.75 percent of the new contract for Busch events. With that impairment charge, Dover reported an overall loss of $35.345 million last year. It's after-tax adjusted earnings for last year were $5.7 million, the same as for 2005.(SceneDaily.com)(4-10-2007)
- Construction continues at Dover International Speedway: The "Monster Makeover" continues as Dover International Speedway is currently in the midst of adding new elements in the first phase of its multi-year capital improvement project. Two new structures have been erected at Dover including a new skybox complex featuring Velocity, a luxury suite option for individual race fans, and a 2,100 square foot addition to the infield media center. Updated construction photos are posted on www.DoverSpeedway.com every Wednesday. Dover race fans will notice a vast array of improvements to the facility in 2007 including widened walkways behind the Allison, Petty and Earnhardt grandstands; six newly renovated restroom facilities; additional paved handicapped parking areas; expanded bus parking; continued beautification and landscaping of the entire property; a new grandstand sound system with improved audio quality for broadcasting and music; and a new alcohol- and tobacco-free Family Seating Section. The existing hospitality tent villages at Dover have been combined and will now be situated behind turn one, on the north end of the facility. With the relocation of the village, an expanded, fan friendly midway will be created behind turn four and will feature exhibits, vendors, and Monster Mile and NASCAR team merchandise. The new skybox complex will include 12 new suites, each with a premium view of pit road, victory lane and the entire one-mile concrete oval at Dover International Speedway. The new complex is also home to Velocity, an all-inclusive suite now available to individual fans at the Monster Mile. A limited number of tickets to Velocity are still available and include access to all three days of the NASCAR tripleheader race weekend, appearances by NASCAR personalities, convenient parking, pit and garage tours, unlimited food and beverages, high quality audio and video, and many other premium amenities. A 2,100 square foot addition to the infield media center is also well underway with insulation and drywall now in place. Located inside turn one, the infield media center accommodates local, regional and national media who cover races at Dover. The expansion will add 60 seats for working media; 18 flat-panel televisions; a larger, revamped dining area; additional restrooms; two new interview rooms; and a new work area for Dover public relations staff. Most improvements will be completed in time for the June 1-3, 2007 NASCAR race weekend.(images and more at the Dover Intl Speedway site)(3-2-2007)
- Dover keeps traditional early start times: The Nextel Cup Series schedule has evolved over time, and with the influence of television, NASCAR has opted to begin many of its races later in the afternoon or early evening hours. With the recent announcement of most of the 2007 Nextel Cup Series start times, fans of the Monster Mile received good news. Stemming from the voice of race fans accustomed to the traditional start times for the races at Dover International Speedway, NASCAR has announced 1:30pm/et start times for both the June 3 and September 23, 2007 Nextel Cup races. Dover has claim to two of the three earliest Nextel Cup Series race start times in 2007. All other races are scheduled to begin after 2:00pm/et. NASCAR returns to the Monster Mile on June 1-3 and September 21-23, 2007. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover Intl Speedway PR)(2-27-2007)
- Tickets for Sept. races at Dover on sale Dec 20th: on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2007, tickets go on sale for the September 21-23, 2007 NASCAR tripleheader at Dover International Speedway. Tickets for the June 1-3, 2007 race weekend are currently on sale.
Race fans can gain an advantage over the competition with even more choices by purchasing early. Improved seat selection, ticket availability in most price ranges, and the ability to purchase blocks of tickets to keep your group together are among the best reasons to order your tickets now. Tickets will be available at www.DoverSpeedway.com, and by calling the Dover International Speedway ticket office at 800-441-RACE, beginning at 8:00am/et on Wednesday, Dec. 20.(Dover International Speedway PR)(12-20-2006)
- Construction underway at the Monster Mile: At Dover International Speedway, the roar of cars has been replaced by the sounds of construction crews, as work on a new skybox complex and infield media center is taking shape at the one-mile track. The additions will be completed in time for the June 1-3, 2007 NASCAR race weekend in Dover. The new skybox complex will include 12 new suites, each with a premium view of pit road, victory lane and the entire concrete oval. The structure will connect to the existing skyboxes near the start/finish line at the one-mile track. Footers were in place before the September 22-24, 2006 race weekend, and
construction of the steel infrastructure has been steady since the haulers pulled out of Dover after race weekend. The complex will add two tiers to the top of the grandstands, measuring the same height of the existing skyboxes, and includes "Velocity," a luxury suite for
individual race fans. Velocity is a new 90-person, all-inclusive suite option that offers fans a chance to experience a race at the Monster Mile like never before. Velocity offers fans a blend of modern conveniences and impressive amenities. Positioned above the frontstretch, and boasting a premium view of the entire track, a ticket to Velocity provides guests with access for all three days of race weekend, including qualifying; multiple state-of-the-art viewing screens with superb audio and video; convenient premium parking and private restrooms; upscale, unlimited gourmet food selections; in-seat beverage service, with non-alcoholic, beer, wine and spirit options; a trackside tour that puts guests on the track on Sunday of race weekend; and much more.
Along with the skybox construction, a 2,000-square-foot addition to the infield media center is also underway to accommodate the news media that report on Dover's races. The infield media center expansion will add approximately 60 seats for public relations representatives and photographers that attend race weekends in Dover; 18 flat-panel televisions; a revamped dining area; two new interview rooms and an office; additional bathrooms; and a new work area for Dover PR staff.
NASCAR returns to Dover International Speedway on June 1-3 and Sept. 21-23, 2007. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com.(Dover Intl Speedway PR)(11-27-2006)
