For a observe that has been with since its first race in 1969, when Richard Petty led 150 of 300 laps through the Mason-Dixon 300, Dover Motor Speedway abruptly acquired the brief finish of the stick in 2026. So as to add North Wilkesboro to the Cup Collection schedule as a factors race for the primary time since 1996, NASCAR handed Dover the All-Star Race, stripping it of a points-paying occasion for the primary time in its historical past. And the trade-off hasn’t sat nicely with many.
In line with NASCAR insiders Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck, who have been discussing the identical on their podcast, The Teardown: “Dover ought to have a race. It’s an excellent market with its nice fanbase, near some main cities. It doesn’t have a spot within the schedule.
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“It’s a type of issues that simply retains transferring round right here and there, very like Watkins Glen. Should you don’t give your clients respect and deal with them on that stage. How do you count on them to maintain coming again?”
The irony isn’t arduous for anybody to overlook. The is traditionally one of many least chaotic tracks, identified for its green-flag racing with minimal crashes. In truth, when a Huge One does happen, it’s a moderately shocking affair. So it does not likely really feel convincing that the Dover Motor Speedway can host the freewheeling unpredictability the All-Star guarantees.
Even Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has been an advocate for North Wilkesboro’s return, wasn’t a fan of the choice: “All people’s like, ‘Man, why within the freak are we going to Dover for the All-Star Race?’ I additionally had that very same response.”
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Now, the choice, as NASCAR’s EVP Ben Kennedy defined, was pushed by fan information.
“The largest issue was our followers and the suggestions that we heard from them after the All-Star Race this yr,” he mentioned. “70% of them requested for a factors race at North Wilkesboro, and it was about 4 out of 5 18- to 34-year-olds additionally requested for a factors race at North Wilkesboro.”
Followers additionally complain that the race finally ends up sporting the identical drivers as at all times and is tormented by backmarkers. This was not what NASCAR meant, however with a seeding construction that locks within the predictable area nearly earlier than the occasion begins, the criticism had been loud. So, NASCAR acted, however at Dover’s value.
The largest concern Bianchi raised was about location and loyalty. Sitting inside driving distance of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C., Dover catered to a mid-Atlantic and northeastern fanbase that had already seen Pocono and New Hampshire lose one race every after 2021. Now, at Dover, after swapping factors for an exhibition, it fully modifications what followers will present up for.
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Compared, the southern market of NASCAR has Martinsville, Bristol, Darlington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Daytona, and Talladega with two races every. Now that NWB has joined the roster, your complete NASCAR schedule feels extra targeted on the southern half.
So, nearly in all places within the fan group, the sentiment stays the identical. With no factors race, there’s no motive to go to. And these are followers who’ve met their favourite drivers on the racetrack and have years of reminiscences tied to the place.
The Monster Mile’s winners’ listing carries Corridor of Fame names, and followers who have been there for these moments carry that historical past personally. Jimmie Johnson’s final victory in 2017, Matt Kenseth’s 2016 victory, Mark Martin’s victory in 2004, and many others., are simply a few of these situations.
Some of the emotional days, maybe, got here in 2001 when Dover hosted the primary NASCAR Cup Collection race following the September 11 assaults. Dale Earnhardt Jr. gained that day, in entrance of 140,000 followers waving American flags.
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Therefore, as Bianchi put it, “I don’t know precisely what ticket gross sales are. I’ve heard that it’s the identical. Let’s presume that North Wilkesboro goes to proceed to have a factors race, as a result of it doesn’t appear to make sense that you’re going to give them a factors race after which take it away. Inform me how Dover will get a factors race subsequent yr.”
That mentioned, per many, NASCAR had a cleaner resolution out there.
The decline of attendance or the decline of consideration and respect?
The subsequent drawback arises once you take a look at what NASCAR had at its disposal. The group appears to have forgotten that whereas followers rallied for a points-paying race at NWB, they have been equally pissed off with what Bristol Motor Speedway’s Spring race has to supply. The race, which has been marred by attendance struggles, might have been the one to go as a substitute.
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Certain, Dover has seen its share of struggles, too, with the attendance decline starting there within the 2000s due to the recession. NASCAR tried its stage greatest to maintain the observe related with a number of reductions to the seating capability yr on yr, from a peak of 135,000 to 54,000 by 2019.
However, as Dale Jr. famous within the feedback beneath Gluck’s and Bianchi’s submit, “Asphalt Dover would nonetheless have a factors race.”
dovermotorspeedway.com
In 1995, the Dover Motor Speedway underwent a significant renovation, and its floor was shifted from asphalt, changing into the boring slab of concrete it’s accused of being at this time.
The early 2000s have been nonetheless nice, however as soon as the Subsequent Gen automotive arrived with its attribute grip and diminished differentiation, the Monster Mile’s chew was additional dulled. The 2009 Joey Logano airborne crash, which launched up the banking after contact with Tony Stewart, belongs to a distinct period.
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There’s yet one more issue that NASCAR might not prefer to admit, however it’s slowly consuming up many tracks. Again in 2021, Speedway Motorsports Inc. took over the possession of Dover Motor Speedway for $131.5 million. What occurred subsequent is best defined by the testimony of one of many longtime followers visiting the Speedway usually.
“I’ve been going to Dover since 1993 and have had the identical seats since 1996. Each fall race and quite a few spring races. I used to be informed at this time that my 17-month-old son requires a ticket. No drawback, child ticket, proper? Nope. That part is full worth. 95% of the observe is full worth for youths except you desire a c– ticket. So the conundrum.
“Ditch my seats of 26 years for c– ones or chew the bullet. Most likely going to swallow some lead. Then we discover out that our campsite, which we’ve had for six years (it was handicap solely, then they turned it into VIP however locked us in on our worth for my handicap mother), is now going from the $130 we used to pay to $500 that everybody else pays. Wouldn’t even be too horrible. However all of the facilities you bought with which can be gone now that SMI is right here. No chilly passes. No golf cart experience, only a $15 meals voucher.”
Tenting is a significant a part of Dover Motor Speedway’s expertise, and if this story is even remotely true, then what has occurred since then until at this time appears another person’s fault, not Dover’s. For clarification, this story is from 4 years in the past, and by the top of their rant, the fan was so aggravated at SMI’s conduct that they wished Dover would lose its race. In 2026, that got here true.
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This whole fiasco poses a giant query to NASCAR. What do they actually need from their viewers, and what sort of racing are they making an attempt to vow their viewers? Is that this the so-called ‘again to the roots’ technique that they’re making use of to regain their misplaced fanbase?
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