NASCAR has a doubleheader weekend on tap at the “Monster Mile” of Dover International Speedway with the Drydene 311 times two.
The lack of creativity in naming the back-to-back races will likely be massively overshadowed by the challenging racing the drivers will be facing. Saturday (8/22) the drivers will battle in the Drydene 311 (1). Sunday (8/23) they will reset and race again in the Drydene 311 (2). It sounds simple, but it will be far from easy.
The track is nicknamed the “Monster Mile” because a driver is racing the rack as much as the other drivers. A driver can be beating the field and forget about the aggressive nature of the track. The track loves to destroy tires. Next thing you know the car in the lead blows a tire and things change very quickly.
Here is what the drivers and teams will be facing in both races this weekend.
Dover International Speedway Data
Track Size: 1-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 24 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,076 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,076 feet
Drydene 311 (1) Data
Season Race #: 24 of 36 (08-22-20)
Race Length: 311 laps / 311 miles
Stage 1 Length: 70 laps
Stage 2 Length: 115 laps
Final Stage Length: 126 laps
Drydene 311 (2) Data
Season Race #: 25 of 36 (05-05-19)
Race Length: 311 laps / 311 miles
Stage 1 Length: 70 laps
Stage 2 Length: 115 laps
Final Stage Length: 126 laps
There are active drivers that have performed very well during their careers at Dover International Speedway. Those drivers include some that are locked in the Playoffs and some that are still trying to clinch their spots.
Top 10 Dover Active Driver Ratings
Jimmie Johnson …………………….. 112.9
Matt Kenseth …………………………. 105.8
Kyle Busch ……………………………. 104.3
Martin Truex Jr. ……………………….. 99.8
Chase Elliott ……………………………. 98.2
Kevin Harvick ………………………….. 96.6
Brad Keselowski ………………………. 92.4
Clint Bowyer ……………………………. 89.8
Kurt Busch ………………………………. 89.4
Daniel Suarez ………………………….. 87.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (30 total) among active drivers at Dover Motor Speedway.
There are nine active drivers that have won on the “Monster Mile” during their Cup Series careers. Among those is seven-time Champion Jimmie Johnson. One could call Jimmie the “Master of the Monster Mile” since he is the all-time leader in wins at the track. However, Jimmie has been going through a winless streak that stretches over three years now. This weekend could be the end of that streak.
Jimmie’s last win was in the 2017 AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Speedway. This is Jimmie’s last season as a full-time Cup Series driver. He is just below the cut-line for the post-season. Winning one or both of the races this weekend would put him in the post-season and help end his Hall of Fame career in a very positive way.
Here are the active drivers that have won on the “Monster Mile” in the NASCAR Cup Series.
NASCAR Active Drivers with Dover Win(s)
Jimmie Johnson – 11 Wins
Kyle Busch – 3 Wins
Martin Truex Jr. – 3 Wins
Matt Kenseth – 3 Wins
Ryan Newman – 3 Wins
Kevin Harvick – 2 Wins
Brad Keselowski – 1 Win
Chase Elliott – 1 Win
Kurt Busch – 1 Win
These races at the “Monster Mile” will be two of the final three chances to make the post-season for those drivers not locked in the NASCAR Playoffs. There are six spots not filled by drivers with at least one win in the top 16. That means there will be a minimum of three spots filled by drivers without wins that have the most points among non-winning drivers. This could make things a bit more difficult for some drivers to decide what to do on the track.
If a driver can possibly make the post-season based on points, it could make that driver less aggressive on the track playing it safe. However, there are drivers that really have only one way to make the Playoffs, win to get in. Those drivers will likely be as aggressive as possible to make the Playoff field of drivers. These different strategies could literally collide on the track.
Below is a look at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Outlook heading to the Doubleheader Weekend at Dover International Speedway.
Saturday, August 22nd we will watch the battle on the “Monster Mile” in the Drydene 311 (1) starting at 3 P.M. central time (4 P.M. eastern time).
If you don’t like the way that race turns out, no worries. We will do it all again in the Drydene 311 (2) starting at 3 P.M. central time (4 P.M. eastern time) Sunday, August 23rd.
By: Buck Stevens
