Dover Motor Speedway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dover Motor Speedway

The Monster Mile
Oval (1969–present)
Location	1131 North Dupont Highway Dover, Delaware 19901
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (UTC−04:00 DST)
Coordinates	39°11′22.56″N 75°31′49.12″W / 39.1896000°N 75.5303111°W / 39.1896000; -75.5303111
Capacity	54,000
Owner	Speedway Motorsports (November 2021–present)
Broke ground	October 1967; 57 years ago (1967-10)
Opened	8 March 1969; 56 years ago (1969-03-08)
Construction cost	US$5.2 million
Former names	Dover International Speedway (2002–2021) Dover Downs International Speedway (1969–2002)
Major events	Current: NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (1969–present) Dover 400 (1971–2020) NASCAR Xfinity Series BetRivers 200 (1982–present) Drydene 200 (1986–2020) Former: NASCAR Truck Series KDI Office Technology 200 (2000–2020) Indy Racing League (1998–1999) USAC Championship Car (1969)
Oval
Surface	Concrete (1995–present) Asphalt (1969–1994)
Length	1.000 mi (1.609 km)
Turns	4
Banking	Turns: 24° Straights: 9°
Race lap record	0:19.622 (183.468 mph (295.263 km/h)) ( Greg Ray, Dallara IR-7, 1998, IRL)

Dover Motor Speedway is a famous one-mile (1.6 km) oval race track. It is located in Dover, Delaware. This exciting venue has hosted major racing events since it first opened in 1969. These events include races from NASCAR and IndyCar.

Today, Dover Motor Speedway can hold 54,000 fans. The track is next to Bally's Dover. It is owned by Speedway Motorsports and managed by Mike Tatoian.

The track first opened in 1969. It was a place for both horse and auto racing. In its early years, the track faced money problems. However, its popular NASCAR races helped keep it going. The track grew bigger in the 1980s and 1990s. This was thanks to NASCAR's growing popularity. Also, slot machines became legal in Delaware. In 2002, the horse racing track and the auto racing oval became separate companies. Dover Motorsports took over the auto racing track. After a big economic slowdown in the late 2000s, the track became smaller. In 2021, Speedway Motorsports bought Dover Motorsports. This gave them control of the speedway.

About Dover Motor Speedway

Track Design and Features

An overhead photo of Dover Motor Speedway in 2025.

Dover Motor Speedway is one mile (1.6 km) long. Its turns are banked at 24 degrees. This means they are sloped quite a bit. The straight parts of the track are banked at 9 degrees.

Inside the Dover Motor Speedway is a 5/8-mile (1 km) horse racing track. This horse track is now part of Bally's Dover. It is owned by a different company, not Speedway Motorsports.

Visitor Amenities

Dover Motor Speedway is easy to get to in Dover, Delaware. It is served by major roads like U.S. Route 13 and Delaware Route 1.

As of 2022, the track has 54,000 permanent seats. There are also about 3,000 spots for camping. This includes places for overnight camping. At its busiest, the speedway could hold 140,000 people.

Miles the Monster Mascot

Miles the Monster has been the official mascot of Dover Motor Speedway since 2000. He looks like a strong, rocky creature. He was inspired by the "concrete" theme of the track. Miles first appeared in 1993 as a dinosaur. He was then redesigned into his current monster form in 2000.

In 2008, a huge statue called the Monster Monument was built. It is 46 feet (14 m) tall. This statue honors past winners at Dover Motor Speedway.

History of the Track

Building the Speedway

David P. Buckson (pictured in 1969) announced the construction of Dover Downs in 1967. He became the track's first president.

On June 18, 1967, David P. Buckson announced plans for a horse racing track. It would be called Delaware Downs. The original plan was for a 5/8-mile (1 km) horse track. It would cost about $1.5 million. It would have 10,000 seats.

The plan was approved by the Delaware government. Construction began in October 1967. The plans grew to include a one-mile (1.6 km) auto racing oval. This oval would be built around the horse track.

However, building the track faced many delays. A strike by steel truckers caused problems. Also, a winter storm slowed things down. The opening was pushed back several times.

By April 1969, there were financial issues. Buckson teamed up with John W. Rollins and Melvin J. Joseph. They helped get $3 million to finish the project. Rollins was the main supporter. Joseph oversaw the building work. This help allowed the track to pay off its debts. The opening was finally set for March 8, 1969.

Early Years and Challenges

NASCAR driver Richard Petty (pictured in 2016) won the first major auto race at Dover Downs' auto racing oval on July 6, 1969.

After many delays, the $5.2 million facility opened on March 8, 1969. The first horse races were held. The auto racing oval, called Dover Downs International Raceway (DDIS), held its first NASCAR race on July 6. Richard Petty won this first race.

In its early years, Dover Downs had money troubles. It faced lawsuits for unpaid bills. In 1973, horse owners almost boycotted the track. They wanted more money for races. An agreement was eventually reached.

In 1974, the track's general manager admitted they were in a "serious financial situation." There were ideas to add dog racing or get tax help. Some tax help was approved in 1975. However, auditors later found the track owed more money.

In 1977, the FBI even investigated possible race-fixing. Despite these problems, the auto racing part of the track remained profitable. John W. Rollins, the owner, often provided money to keep the track running. He said he never made a profit from it.

Growth and Changes

Expanding the Race Track

In November 1979, Denis McGlynn became the new president of Dover Downs. The track continued to have money problems in the early 1980s. In 1982, the track was renovated. New betting windows and color televisions were added.

In 1984, McGlynn announced a big expansion plan for the auto track. This was because more fans were coming to NASCAR races. In 1986, the track was repaved. This cost about $500,000.

From the mid-1980s, Dover Downs International Speedway grew a lot.

• In 1986 and 1987, 3,200 new seats were added each year.
• In 1988, 5,100 more seats were added. This brought the total to 41,000.
• By 1989, a new media center and more seats were finished.
• In 1991, a 5,383-seat grandstand was built.
• More expansions were approved from 1991 to 1994. The seating capacity reached 73,502.

NASCAR racing at Dover Motor Speedway's asphalt surface in 1985. In 1995, the track surface changed to concrete, which still remains today.

In November 1994, officials announced a $1.8 million project. They would repave the track. They replaced the old asphalt surface with concrete. This new concrete surface is still used today. By 2005, the track had 140,000 seats.

Slot Machines and Hotel Construction

In the late 1980s and 1990s, the horse racing side of Dover Downs struggled. Denis McGlynn began to push for legalizing slot machines in Delaware. A bill to allow slot machines was passed in 1989. However, the governor vetoed it.

Five years later, another push was made. A new bill was passed in June 1994. The governor allowed it to become law without his signature.

Dover Downs began installing slot machines in March 1995. This was delayed for a few months. But by December, they were open. The slot machines brought in more money. Dover Downs added more machines to meet the demand. By 1996, the horse racing track was doing much better financially.

Discussions about building a hotel started in 1998. The idea was to make Dover Downs an "entertainment destination." In August 1999, plans for a 520-room hotel were submitted. The hotel was approved in September. The first part of the hotel opened on February 8, 2002.

After the Dover Downs Split

The Monster Monument (pictured in 2024), featuring a 46-foot (14 m) Miles the Monster. The Monster Monument, built in 2008, was part of a multi-year renovation project aimed at beautifying the facility.

In July 2001, McGlynn wanted to separate the auto racing business from the horse racing and casino business. This split happened in April 2002. The auto racing track became owned by Dover Motorsports, Inc. Its name changed to Dover International Speedway (DIS).

In 2004, DIS started installing SAFER barriers. These are special walls that make the track safer for drivers. This project was finished in 2005.

In May 2006, McGlynn announced a five-year renovation plan. This plan would improve the track's facilities. It would also make the pit road wider.

• The first phase was finished by 2007. It added more parking and luxury seating.
• The second phase was completed by 2008. This included building the Monster Monument. It also expanded the fan zone.
• The third phase was finished by 2009. It made the pit road longer by 432 feet (132 m).

In 2014, Mike Tatoian became the new president of DIS. McGlynn remained president of Dover Motorsports. The next year, $2.9 million was spent to install a new, taller catchfence. This fence helps protect fans from flying debris.

Seating Changes and New Ownership

Starting in the late 2000s, DIS saw fewer people attending races. In May 2009, about 7,000 seats were removed. By 2011, attendance at NASCAR Cup Series races dropped a lot. This was due to economic problems.

In 2012, the track made seats wider. This reduced capacity from 132,000 to 113,000. By 2015, seating was reduced to 95,500. Another 10,500 seats were removed by 2017, bringing capacity to 85,000. Two years later, the seating capacity was dropped to 54,000. This was because fewer people were buying tickets.

In May 2019, DIS started a $5.5 million project. They expanded the garage area by 20%. This project was finished in time for the 2019 Drydene 400 race.

In December 2021, the track got a new owner. Speedway Motorsports bought Dover Motorsports for $131.5 million. As part of this purchase, the track's name changed to Dover Motor Speedway.

Events at the Speedway

Racing Events

NASCAR Races

NASCAR racing at Dover Motor Speedway in 2012. Since 1969, DMS has held NASCAR Cup Series races at the facility.

Dover Motor Speedway hosts one NASCAR weekend each year. The main event is a NASCAR Cup Series race. It is currently called the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400.

The track also hosts the NASCAR Xfinity Series' BetRivers 200. This is a support race. Dover Motor Speedway also used to host the NASCAR Truck Series from 2000 to 2020.

Other Racing Events

In 1969, Dover Motor Speedway held a special United States Auto Club (USAC) open-wheel race. Art Pollard won this event. A 10-year deal was signed with USAC in 1970. However, the race was canceled that same year. A driver said the track was unsafe.

In 1998, the track started hosting Indy Racing League (IRL) races. After one more race in 1999, these races were stopped. The main reason was low attendance.

Non-Racing Events

• The Firefly Music Festival was held at Dover Motor Speedway starting in 2012. This event happened every year until 2023. It took a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Since 2022, the track has hosted "Gift of Lights." This is a drive-thru Christmas lights display. It features 3.5 million Christmas lights during the holiday season.

Lap Records

As of April 2024, here are some of the fastest official race lap records at Dover Motor Speedway:

See also

In Spanish: Dover International Speedway para niños