AAA 400
Dover International Speedway
By Richard Tix
This weekend NASCAR heads to Dover International Speedway for the third Chase races of 2015. You know what that means? It means it is elimination time and after the race NASCAR will have just 12 drivers left for the next three races.
Heading into Dover some big name drivers are in trouble of advancing including 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kevin Harvick. This comes just one week after the team gambled on fuel when they knew they were definitely short. But, all of that can be reveresed with a great finish. However, the only way to lock himself into advancing is if he can pull off a trip to Victory Lane on Sunday.
So will Harvick, or any other driver on the brink of elimination be able to win and get past Jimmie Johnson at Dover?
Heading into Dover some big name drivers are in trouble of advancing including 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kevin Harvick. This comes just one week after the team gambled on fuel when they knew they were definitely short. But, all of that can be reveresed with a great finish. However, the only way to lock himself into advancing is if he can pull off a trip to Victory Lane on Sunday.
So will Harvick, or any other driver on the brink of elimination be able to win and get past Jimmie Johnson at Dover?
The Good
- Jimmie Johnson- Yup, JJ is still really good at Dover. Earlier this year he won his 7th race in the last 13 Dover races. He also only has two non top 10 in that same time.
- Jeff Gordon- After starting 22nd earlier this year, Gordon finishes with another Dover top 10 finish. That made 5 top 10's in his last 6 races including a win and four top 5's.
- Matt Kenseth- Kenseth had car issues earlier this year at Dover, but before that he has three straight top 10's and 11 top 10's in 14 races. He is normally a front runner here and might push for a top 5 once again.
The Middle
- Clint Bowyer- Once again, Bowyer is borderline in the "Good" category at this track. But again, he only finished top 10 and couldn't get a top 5 early in the season. He has 9 straight Dover top 10's, but only two top 5's in that time. Most of his finishes have been 8-10, which is good, but we would like to see more.
The Bad
- Kasey Kahne- Before his top 5 earlier this year at Dover, Kahne had five straight races outside the top 10. He only has 6 top 10's in 23 Dover starts, so not much is expected of him this week.
- David Ragan- Ragan did run well here earlier this year (finishing 13 after qualifying 15th), but the rest of his career has left more to be desired. He has zero top 10's in 18 attempts and only 3 top 15's. He needs to start notching top 15's to be a factor on Sunday.
- Austin Dillon- In four starts Dillon has still yet to record a top 10 or top 15. In fact, he only has one top 20 in that same time period. Don't expect to see him up front much on Sunday.
About the Track: Dover
Track Stats
- Richard Petty won the first 3 of 4 races at Dover, including the first two in 1969 and 1970
- The race has been won from the Pole 13 times.
- Kyle Petty won after starting 37th in 1995, the furthest back a Dover race has been won
- Toyota hasn't won a Dover Cup race since 2010 (Kyle Busch), or 10 races. Dodge has won twice since then
- The most cautions was 16 in 1993, Rusty Wallace eventually won the race
- Current drivers with more then 1 Dover win (Jimmie Johnson-10, Jeff Gordon-5, Ryan Newman-3, Tony Stewart-3, Kyle Busch-2, Matt Kenseth-2, and Greg Biffle 2)
- Current drivers with one Dover win (Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte (part time), Martin Truex Jr, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Kurt Busch)
- Most career wins at Dover: Jimmie Johnson (10), Richard Petty (7), and Bobby Allison (7).
- Most career top 5s at Dover: Mark Martin (24) followed by Dale Earnhardt (19)
- Most career top 10's at Dover: Mark Martin (33), Richard Petty (26), and Ricky Rudd (26)
- Most career pole awards at Dover: David Pearson (6), Rusty Wallace (5), and Mark Martin (5)
- Most career starts at Dover is Ricky Rudd with 56.
Track Info
- Surface: 1995-Present: Concrete
- Was Asphalt from 1969-1994
- Length: 1 mile
- Banking
- Turns: 24 degrees
- Straight: 9 degrees
Dover
International Speedway
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Race
|
Date
|
Cars
|
Winner(s)
|
St
|
Make / Model
|
1969-29
|
7/6/1969
|
32
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'69 Ford
|
1970-41
|
9/20/1970
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'70 Plymouth
|
1971-22
|
6/6/1971
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
'69 Mercury
|
1971-43
|
10/17/1971
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
'71 Plymouth
|
1972-13
|
6/4/1972
|
40
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
'72 Chevrolet
|
1972-26
|
9/17/1972
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
2
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-13
|
6/3/1973
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'71 Mercury
|
1973-24
|
9/16/1973
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'71 Mercury
|
1974-12
|
5/19/1974
|
35
|
Cale Yarborough
|
3
|
'74 Chevrolet
|
1974-25
|
9/15/1974
|
40
|
Richard Petty
|
2
|
'74 Dodge
|
1975-12
|
5/18/1975
|
35
|
David Pearson
|
1
|
'73 Mercury
|
1975-22
|
9/14/1975
|
37
|
Richard Petty
|
3
|
'74 Dodge
|
1976-12
|
5/16/1976
|
39
|
Benny Parsons
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1976-24
|
9/19/1976
|
36
|
Cale Yarborough
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-12
|
5/15/1977
|
36
|
Cale Yarborough
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1977-24
|
9/18/1977
|
40
|
Benny Parsons
|
7
|
Chevrolet
|
1978-11
|
5/21/1978
|
40
|
David Pearson
|
3
|
Mercury
|
1978-24
|
9/17/1978
|
37
|
Bobby Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1979-12
|
5/20/1979
|
31
|
Neil Bonnett
|
5
|
Mercury
|
1979-25
|
9/16/1979
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1980-12
|
5/18/1980
|
34
|
Bobby Allison
|
8
|
Ford
|
1980-25
|
9/14/1980
|
40
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1981-12
|
5/17/1981
|
32
|
Jody Ridley
|
11
|
Ford
|
1981-25
|
9/20/1981
|
34
|
Neil Bonnett
|
3
|
Ford
|
1982-11
|
5/16/1982
|
32
|
Bobby Allison
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1982-24
|
9/19/1982
|
35
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
3
|
Buick
|
1983-10
|
5/15/1983
|
36
|
Bobby Allison
|
10
|
Buick
|
1983-24
|
9/18/1983
|
36
|
Bobby Allison
|
7
|
Buick
|
1984-11
|
5/20/1984
|
36
|
Richard Petty
|
5
|
Pontiac
|
1984-24
|
9/16/1984
|
40
|
Harry Gant
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1985-10
|
5/19/1985
|
32
|
Bill Elliott
|
4
|
Ford
|
1985-22
|
9/15/1985
|
39
|
Harry Gant
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-10
|
5/18/1986
|
37
|
Geoffrey Bodine
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1986-23
|
9/14/1986
|
40
|
Ricky Rudd
|
11
|
Ford
|
1987-11
|
5/31/1987
|
39
|
Davey Allison
|
2
|
Ford
|
1987-23
|
9/20/1987
|
40
|
Ricky Rudd
|
13
|
Ford
|
1988-11
|
6/5/1988
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
17
|
Ford
|
1988-23
|
9/18/1988
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
3
|
Ford
|
1989-11
|
6/4/1989
|
35
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1989-23
|
9/17/1989
|
40
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
15
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-11
|
6/3/1990
|
36
|
Derrike Cope
|
15
|
Chevrolet
|
1990-23
|
9/16/1990
|
40
|
Bill Elliott
|
1
|
Ford
|
1991-11
|
6/2/1991
|
35
|
Ken Schrader
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
1991-23
|
9/15/1991
|
40
|
Harry Gant
|
10
|
Oldsmobile
|
1992-11
|
5/31/1992
|
40
|
Harry Gant
|
15
|
Oldsmobile
|
1992-23
|
9/20/1992
|
36
|
Ricky Rudd
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-12
|
6/6/1993
|
38
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
1993-24
|
9/19/1993
|
37
|
Rusty Wallace
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
1994-12
|
6/5/1994
|
42
|
Rusty Wallace
|
6
|
Ford
|
1994-25
|
9/18/1994
|
40
|
Rusty Wallace
|
10
|
Ford
|
1995-12
|
6/4/1995
|
42
|
Kyle Petty
|
37
|
Pontiac
|
1995-25
|
9/17/1995
|
40
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-12
|
6/2/1996
|
42
|
Jeff Gordon
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
1996-25
|
9/15/1996
|
41
|
Jeff Gordon
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
1997-12
|
6/1/1997
|
43
|
Ricky Rudd
|
13
|
Ford
|
1997-26
|
9/21/1997
|
42
|
Mark Martin
|
1
|
Ford
|
1998-12
|
5/31/1998
|
43
|
Dale Jarrett
|
4
|
Ford
|
1998-26
|
9/20/1998
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
1
|
Ford
|
1999-13
|
6/6/1999
|
43
|
Bobby Labonte
|
1
|
Pontiac
|
1999-27
|
9/26/1999
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
8
|
Ford
|
2000-13
|
6/4/2000
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
16
|
Pontiac
|
2000-27
|
9/24/2000
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
27
|
Pontiac
|
2001-13
|
6/3/2001
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2001-27
|
9/23/2001
|
43
|
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
|
3
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-13
|
6/2/2002
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
10
|
Chevrolet
|
2002-28
|
9/22/2002
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
2003-13
|
6/1/2003
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
1
|
Dodge
|
2003-28
|
9/21/2003
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
5
|
Dodge
|
2004-13
|
6/6/2004
|
43
|
Mark Martin
|
7
|
Ford
|
2004-28
|
9/26/2004
|
43
|
Ryan Newman
|
2
|
Dodge
|
2005-13
|
6/5/2005
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
2
|
Ford
|
2005-28
|
9/25/2005
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
5
|
Chevrolet
|
2006-13
|
6/4/2006
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
19
|
Ford
|
2006-28
|
9/24/2006
|
43
|
Jeff Burton
|
19
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-13
|
6/4/2007
|
43
|
Martin Truex, Jr.
|
26
|
Chevrolet
|
2007-28
|
9/23/2007
|
43
|
Carl Edwards
|
15
|
Ford
|
2008-13
|
6/1/2008
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
3
|
Toyota
|
2008-28
|
9/21/2008
|
43
|
Greg Biffle
|
5
|
Ford
|
2009-13
|
5/31/2009
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2009-28
|
9/27/2009
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2010-12
|
5/16/2010
|
43
|
Kyle Busch
|
4
|
Toyota
|
2010-28
|
9/26/2010
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
1
|
Chevrolet
|
2011-11
|
5/15/2011
|
43
|
Matt Kenseth
|
24
|
Ford
|
2011-29
|
10/2/2011
|
43
|
Kurt Busch
|
2
|
Dodge
|
2012-13
|
6/3/2012
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
2
|
Chevrolet
|
2012-29
|
9/30/2012
|
43
|
Brad Keselowski
|
10
|
Dodge
|
2013-13
|
6/2/2013
|
43
|
Tony Stewart
|
22
|
Chevrolet
|
2013-29
|
9/29/2013
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
8
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-13
|
6/1/2014
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
4
|
Chevrolet
|
2014-29
|
9/28/2014
|
43
|
Jeff Gordon
|
6
|
Chevrolet
|
2015-13
|
5/31/2015
|
43
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
14
|
Chevrolet
|