NASCAR drivers focus on the profession and legacy of Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. just lately introduced that he might be retiring on the conclusion of the NASCAR season, so we requested drivers about his legacy on the USA TODAY 301.
The monitor is understood for its excessive banks, quick speeds, and devoted fanbase.New sights for 2025 embrace “Miles Seaside” and free shuttles to Rehoboth Seaside and the Delaware State Truthful.
Dover Motor Speedway is well-known in Delaware to race followers and non-fans alike, because it towers close to Route 13 and Route 1, seen to everybody driving by.
However to those that attend and watch NASCAR races, the “Monster Mile” is among the prime tracks within the nation in response to voters within the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Alternative Awards.
Dover Motor Speedway ranked seventh within the 10BEST NASCAR tracks in America survey.
To seek out the highest NASCAR tracks, USA TODAY requested a panel of consultants which NASCAR raceways stand out, after which readers voted for his or her favorites from these venues.
The outcomes had been introduced Might 7:
Pocono Raceway (Lengthy Pond, Pennsylvania)Watkins Glen Worldwide (Watkins Glen, New York)Chicago Avenue Race (Chicago)Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas)Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton, Georgia)New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, New Hampshire)Dover Motor Speedway (Dover)Michigan Worldwide Speedway (Brooklyn, Michigan)Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tennessee)Talladega Superspeedway (Lincoln, Alabama)
Extra 10BEST options introduced by USA TODAY as a part of the “Thrills ‘n’ Wheels” class embrace Finest Air Present, Finest Attraction for Automotive Lovers, Finest Boat Present, Finest Automotive Present, Finest Motorsports Race and Finest Rodeo.
What do racing consultants and followers love about Dover Motor Speedway?
“Often called the ‘Monster Mile,’ Dover Motor Speedway is the world’s quickest 1-mile oval,” USA TODAY reported. “Since 1969, Dover’s high-banked monitor (24 levels within the turns, 9 levels on straightaways) and prime speeds have produced a number of the most fun races in NASCAR.”
Consultants and followers acknowledged the monitor’s significance in NASCAR historical past, with the 2025 occasion marking the 107th NASCAR Cup Collection race at Dover, certainly one of solely 10 tracks within the nation to have hosted 100 or extra Cup Collection occasions.
“Monster Mile followers are energetic, proud and really loyal,” mentioned Michael Lewis, communications supervisor at Dover Motor Speedway. “Some have camped in the identical spot, subsequent to the identical neighbors, with the identical relations, for 40-plus years.”
Dover’s location within the coronary heart of the Mid-Atlantic space means the monitor is inside a half-day’s drive for tens of tens of millions, and it’s comparatively straightforward to get to alongside Route 13 and Route 1, a brief drive from I-95 and Route 301.
Whereas the races are the principle attraction, the followers additionally love all of the leisure and enjoyable the speedway workers packs into NASCAR weekend, which might be held this yr on July 18-20.
Points of interest welcome followers and assist create a memorable expertise, beginning with the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza that includes the 46-foot-high statue of “Miles the Monster” holding a life-size race automobile in its proper hand.
Lewis referred to as the monument “probably the most recognizable sights on the NASCAR circuit and a gathering place for followers all through our NASCAR weekends,” together with a well-liked picture spot, driver interviews and memorabilia auctions.
“The Fan Zone, regularly cited as the most effective in NASCAR, is house or close by numerous occasions throughout the weekend,” Lewis mentioned.
Favorites that followers point out essentially the most in feedback to the speedway’s workers are driver autograph periods, shows and demonstrations by firms and sponsor companions, and the video games and leisure for teenagers and adults alike together with free live shows.
Featured bands this yr are:
Mike Hines & The Look, a high-energy dance band well-known in Delaware and the area, on July 19Spazmatics, “The Final ‘80s New Wave Tribute Band,” on July 20A Delaware NASCAR fan’s tackle the Dover Speedway
Gene Shaner of Smyrna has attended about 12 races at Dover and has additionally gone to NASCAR occasions at Daytona and Homestead in Florida and to Michigan and Phoenix.
Whereas totally different tracks have their strengths and weaknesses, he mentioned Dover is “very fan-friendly.”
“You’ve obtained a very good view of a lot of the monitor from most seats,” which isn’t the case at a number of the bigger tracks, he mentioned.
The excessive banks result in excessive speeds.
“If you sit within the first few rows, it’s wonderful as a result of the vehicles come so near the wall. It feels such as you’re going to get sucked within the rush of wind as they go by,” he mentioned.
Pit street is alongside the whole entrance stretch and so it is simple to see from these seats as all of the drivers swerve round one another and pit crews jack up vehicles and alter tires.
“Because it’s solely a mile monitor, you don’t should stroll very far for all of the concessions,” he mentioned. “Every part you want is normally close to your part.”
Outdoors the monitor, he mentioned the Fan Zone space stands out in comparison with different tracks.
“There’s plenty of fingers on stuff for folks to do – for adults and children – video games, vehicles on show, a lot of meals distributors,” Shaner mentioned. “They’ve drivers at their merchandise trailers signing autographs. Youngsters are at all times excited to see them. Then there’s plenty of leisure – some large singers, large teams.”
New sights throughout Dover NASCAR race weekend
New this yr for followers is “Miles Seaside,” offered by Go to Delaware, with 600 tons of sand, a boardwalk, palm timber, Adirondack chairs, a sand sculpture show, a 25-foot-high lighthouse and the world’s largest rubber duck – a 60-foot-tall, 15.5-ton pleasant yellow behemoth.
Performers on the seashore will embrace the Mariachi Arrieros Band, Trinidad North Metal Drum Band, The Pink Sizzling Ramblers, and Homestead Bluegrass Band.
Additionally new are the free shuttle buses to Rehoboth Seaside and the Delaware State Truthful in Harrington from July 17-19 in a partnership between Dover Motor Speedway and Go to Delaware, giving NASCAR followers the prospect to discover different First State landmarks.
Register for the shuttles at dovermotorspeedway.com/followers/shuttle.
2025 race schedule at Dover Motor SpeedwayJuly 18, 5 p.m., Normal Tire 150 ARCA Menards Collection race, televised on Fox Sports activities 1.July 19, 4:30 p.m., BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Collection race, televised on The CW.July 20, 2 p.m., Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, televised on TNT.
