The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will try to manage the track called the “Monster Mile” Sunday as they race in the AAA 400 Drive For Autism at Dover International Speedway.
I say “manage” because mastering the “Monster Mile” really never happens. Well, with one possible exception, but we’ll touch on that later.
The one-mile track features 24 degrees of banking through the turns and challenges the drivers to get to high speeds without stepping over the edge of handling and crashing. The track also has a tendency to wear tires out and cause a care that was handling great at the start of a run to have less of a margin of reaching that dangerous edge of out of control.
The crews will need to be on top of their games to get drivers in and out of the pit stops quickly and mistake free. Just a second or two lost on pit road can result in many spots lost on the track that might be impossible to get back.
The crew chiefs will also need to bring their “A-Game” to make the adjustments to the cars that will allow the drivers to get all the speed they can out of the cars without going over that edge of being able to stay in control.
If any of the above-mentioned keys are missed, the result could be not only catastrophic for the driver on that car, but others could be collected in the resulting accident on the track.
So which drivers have done the best in their cup series careers of managing the “Monster Mile”? Let’s take a look…
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Dove
- Jimmie Johnson – 118.3
- Matt Kenseth – 108.6
- Kyle Busch – 105.4
- Chase Elliott – 100.8
- Martin Truex Jr. – 94.8
- Kyle Larson – 92.6
- Brad Keselowski – 92.5
- Kurt Busch – 91.4
- Kevin Harvick – 90.7
- Clint Bowyer – 89.3
(NOTE: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races {24 total} among active drivers at Dover International Speedway.)
I alluded to the fact that there might be one exception to the rule of not mastering, but just managing the “Monster Mile.” That exception could arguably be Jimmie Johnson. Jimmie not only has the highest driver rating at Dover, he also has the most wins at the track all-time. The #48 Chevrolet has made 10 trips to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway while Jimmie has been at the wheel. That’s more than three times any other active driver in NASCAR’s top division. While you can argue that Jimmie has mastered Dover, “Miles the Monster” has still had his way with Jimmie at times during races, so the #48 will still need to be on top of the game to have a chance at win number 11.
Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth have each scored three wins at Dover. Matt is the defending winner of this race from the 2016 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. have managed the “Monster Mile” to win two times each in their careers. Martin’s second win came at the track during the October race last year.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick all have a single “Miles the Monster” trophy in their collections.
The new stage racing format this year could make this already treacherous race even more so this year. The first two stages will be 120 laps each and the third and final stage will cover 160 laps. Trying to be in position to win the stages could motivate drivers to get close enough to that edge of handling and perhaps even go past it.
Which drivers will “Miles the Monster” exact his fury on? Which drivers will be able to manage the “Monster Mile” to be there at the end with a chance to win? We will find out when the green flag waives to start the AAA 400 Drive For Autism Sunday afternoon, June 4th starting at 12 noon central time (1 PM eastern time).
By: Buck Stevens
