Dover International Speedway – The Monster Mile NASCAR Guide
Originally published May 2016. Last updated September 2026: expanded Tier B circuit guide, facts table, table of contents, internal links, FAQ schema, and editorial refresh while preserving legacy narrative and images.
Dover International Speedway is a one-mile concrete oval in Dover, Delaware, nicknamed the Monster Mile because of mascot Miles the Monster — not because the layout is unusually long or frightening. NASCAR’s Cup Series races here twice most seasons on high-banked turns that punish tyres; the track opened in 1969 and became NASCAR’s first fully concrete-paved speedway in 1995.
Despite the cartoon monster branding, Dover ranks among NASCAR’s most popular venues. The facility hosts multiple Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck Series races each year plus regional stock-car championships. Compare other East Coast ovals such as Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Daytona International Speedway.
Contents
Dover International Speedway facts
| Location | Dover, Delaware, United States (1131 North Dupont Highway) |
|---|---|
| Circuit type | 1-mile (1.609 km) paved oval (single layout) |
| Opened | 6 July 1969 (first NASCAR Grand National race) |
| Surface | Concrete (repaved 1995; NASCAR’s first concrete speedway) |
| Banking | 24 degrees in turns; 9 degrees on straights |
| Capacity | About 95,500 seats (reduced from 135,000 peak) |
| Owner | Dover Motorsports Inc. |
| Main events | NASCAR Cup Series (two races most seasons); Xfinity Series; Craftsman Truck Series |
| Nickname | The Monster Mile (Miles the Monster mascot since 2000s branding) |
Lap record note: NASCAR publishes separate qualifying and race records by series. Compare lap times only within the same series, tyre rules, and race distance.
Dover International Speedway has hosted NASCAR since 1969
What the Monster Mile name really means
Marketing teams coined the Monster Mile to match the one-mile lap distance and the track’s cartoon mascot. The circuit is not unusually large — it is a compact mile oval — but high banking and concrete abrasion chew through tyres, which crews describe as a “monster” on setup sheets. The 46-foot Miles the Monster statue in Victory Plaza, unveiled in 2008, cemented the branding for a new generation of fans.
Dover International Speedway opened in 1969
The speedway sits in Dover, Delaware, and has operated since 1969. Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company built the track from 1966; the first layout was a mile-long oval with 24° banking in the turns and 9° on the straights. Originally named Dover Downs International Speedway, the venue opened with about 7,000 seats and space for horse racing as well as motorsport.
Richard Petty in the #43 car won seven Cup races at Dover
Richard Petty was the first speedway winner
The first car race on the asphalt surface was 6 July 1969 — the NASCAR Grand National Mason-Dixon 300. Richard Petty won the inaugural event. USAC Championship cars visited in the early years, but since 1971 only NASCAR-sanctioned national series have anchored the calendar.
Two Cup 500-mile races ran annually until 1982, when a third event joined the schedule for the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series (today’s Xfinity Series). A second Xfinity race arrived in 1986.
Until 1995, Dover used an asphalt racing surface
Capacity raised to 135,000 seats in 2001
Grandstand expansions through the 1980s grew capacity from about 10,300 in 1986 to a peak near 135,000 in 2001. In 1995 the track was repaved with concrete, making Dover NASCAR’s first concrete speedway on the national tour.
Two seasons of IndyCar races
Winston Cup races shortened to 400 miles in 1997. IndyCar Series cars raced at Dover in 1998 and 1999 before the open-wheel calendar moved on; NASCAR alone has headlined since 2000, with the Craftsman Truck Series joining that year.
In 2001, Dover reached maximum capacity of about 135,000 seats
The Monster Makeover for the 40th anniversary
In 2002 the name changed to Dover International Speedway under Dover Motorsports Inc. For the 40th anniversary in 2009, the Monster Makeover project upgraded buildings, Victory Plaza, and pit-road safety — including removing the front-stretch pit wall for a wider SAFER barrier. Project coordinators cited roughly $6 million in total investment.
Current capacity near 95,500 seats
In 2011 wider 22-inch seats replaced 18-inch benches, cutting capacity to about 113,000. At the end of 2014, sections in turns 2 and 3 came out as attendance softened, leaving about 95,500 places. Additional catch fencing and SAFER barriers followed in 2015–2016.
Dover International Speedway map / track layout
Three Monster Mile masters
Richard Petty won seven Cup races at Dover after his 1969 debut. Bobby Allison matched seven victories, including a 1983 sweep of both Cup events.
Jimmie Johnson and ten Cup wins
Jimmie Johnson passed the legends with ten NASCAR Cup Series wins at Dover between 2002 and 2015, including his eighth victory in September 2013 that made him the most successful Cup driver at the track at that time.
Bobby Allison was the first driver with seven wins at the Monster Mile
Jimmie Johnson scored ten Cup wins in Dover between 2002 and 2015
Kyle Busch across all three national series
David Pearson and Jeff Gordon each won five Cup races here; Bill Elliott took four. When Xfinity and Truck victories count, Kyle Busch holds the combined win record at Dover across NASCAR’s three national series — more trophies than any other driver at the Monster Mile.
Frequently asked questions about Dover International Speedway
Why is Dover International Speedway called the Monster Mile?
The Monster Mile nickname matches the one-mile oval length and mascot Miles the Monster. Crews also call tyre wear a “monster” on the high-banked concrete — the name is marketing, not track size.
Where is Dover International Speedway?
Dover International Speedway is at 1131 North Dupont Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901, in the United States.
When did Dover Speedway open?
The track opened on 6 July 1969 with the NASCAR Grand National Mason-Dixon 300. Richard Petty won the first race.
How long is the Dover NASCAR track?
Dover is a one-mile (1.609 km) oval with 24-degree banking in the turns and 9-degree banking on the straights. There is no secondary road course layout.
Is Dover asphalt or concrete?
The racing surface is concrete, repaved in 1995. Dover was NASCAR’s first concrete speedway on the national tour.
How many NASCAR races does Dover host?
Dover typically schedules two NASCAR Cup Series races per season plus Xfinity and Craftsman Truck events — among the busiest mile ovals on the calendar.
Who is Miles the Monster?
Miles the Monster is Dover’s mascot. A 46-foot statue of the character stands in Victory Plaza, unveiled in 2008 during facility upgrades.
Who has the most NASCAR Cup wins at Dover?
Jimmie Johnson won ten Cup races at Dover (2002–2015). Richard Petty and Bobby Allison each won seven.
Did IndyCar race at Dover?
The IndyCar Series visited Dover in 1998 and 1999. Since 2000 the major open-wheel series has not returned; NASCAR national series anchor the schedule.
What is the seating capacity at Dover?
Capacity is about 95,500 after seat removals in 2014, down from a peak near 135,000 in 2001.
Related reading
- Charlotte Motor Speedway — Coca-Cola 600 home
- Bristol Motor Speedway — short-track theatre
- Darlington Raceway — NASCAR’s toughest mile
- Kansas Speedway — Midwest intermediate
- Atlanta Motor Speedway — fast Georgia oval
Address: 1131 North Dupont Highway, Dover, Delaware 19901, United States
Phone: (302) 883-6500
Website: doverspeedway.com
Photo credits: doverspeedway.com, nascar.com
