History

·         The official opening of Dover International Speedway, then called Dover Downs International Speedway, was in 1969.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 6, 1969.

·         The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.

·         The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.

·         The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.

·         The track name was changed to Dover International Speedway in 2002.

Notebook

·         There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover International Speedway since the track opened in 1969.

·         There was one race in 1969 and 1970. There has been two-a-year since 1971.

·         Richard Petty won the track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

·         33 different drivers have posted victories led by Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, each with seven. Johnson leads all active drivers.

·         David Pearson won the first pole in July 1969.

·         There have been 35 different pole winners, led by David Pearson (six).

·         Mark Martin leads all active drivers with five poles.

·         Hendrick Motorsports has a series-high 14 wins.

·         52 races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position; 18 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.

·         13 drivers have won from the pole. The last to do so was Jimmie Johnson, in the 2010 September race.

·         The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 37th, by Kyle Petty in 1995.

·         Several active drivers had their first start at Dover, including three past champions: David Ragan (finished 42nd in 2006), Kurt Busch (18th in 2000), Matt Kenseth (sixth in 1998) and Bobby Labonte (34th in 1991).

·         In addition, Matt Kenseth (2002) and Michael Waltrip (1991) earned their first pole at Dover. Martin Truex Jr. won his first race there (2007).

·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dover International Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (6/01/2008 – 23 years, 0 months, 30 days).

·         Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dover International Speedway winner: Harry Gant (5/31/1992 – 52 years, 4 months, 21 days).

NASCAR in Delaware

·         There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Delaware, all at Dover International Speedway.

·         Eight drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Delaware, though none have posted victories.

Dover International Speedway Data

Chase Race #: 3 of 10

Season Race #: 29 of 36 (9-30-12)

Track Size: 1-mile

Banking/Turns: 24 degrees

Banking/Straights: 9 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  1,076 feet

Backstretch Length:  1,076 feet

Race Length: 400 laps / 400 miles

Top 12 Driver Rating at Dover

Jimmie Johnson........................ 120.6

Matt Kenseth............................. 110.5

Carl Edwards............................ 104.8

Greg Biffle................................ 104.2

Kyle Busch............................... 101.6

Mark Martin................................. 96.9

Kurt Busch.................................. 95.4

Aric Almirola............................... 94.8

Jeff Gordon................................ 91.1

Ryan Newman............................. 90.4

Clint Bowyer............................... 89.7

Jeff Burton................................. 89.1

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2012 races (15 total) at Dover.

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner:

Martin Truex Jr., Toyota (159.004 mph, 22.641 sec., 9-30-11)

2011 race winner:

Kurt Busch, Dodge (119.413 mph, 3:30:59, 10-02-11)

Track qualifying record:

Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge (161.522 mph, 22.288 sec., 6-04-04)

Track race record:

Mark Martin, Ford (132.719 mph, (3:00:50), 9-21-97)

DRIVER STATISTICS AT DOVER

1 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.6

2012 Rundown

·         Three wins, 14 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 10.7

·         Led 19 races for 1,207 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Seven wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 8.9 in 21 races

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 7.2

·         Series-best Driver Rating of 120.6

·         Series-high 840 Fastest Laps Run

·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 143.862 mph

·         Series-high 5,170 Laps in the Top 15 (86.1%)

·         300 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 12th-most

2 - Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.3

2012 Rundown

·         Four wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s

·         Average finish of 11.0

·         Led 16 races for 489 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Average finish of 17.0 in five races

·         Average Running Position of 16.4, 14th-best

·         Driver Rating of 76.1, 21st-best

3 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.1

2012 Rundown

·         Five wins, 12 top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 12.3

·         Led 20 races for 1,093 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Two top fives, four top 10s

·         Average finish of 20.5 in 13 races

·         Average Running Position of 18.3, 18th-best

·         Driver Rating of 78.6, 15th-best

4 - Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot / Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.1

2012 Rundown

·         Three wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 12.9

·         Led 13 races for 419 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s

·         Average finish of 13.4 in 27 races

·         Average Running Position of 22.4, 27th-best

·         Driver Rating of 68.6, 26th-best

·         596 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

5 - Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.7

2012 Rundown

·         Two wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 13.6

·         Led 8 races for 253 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         One top five, five top 10s

·         Average finish of 21.8 in 17 races

·         Average Running Position of 17.9, 17th-best

·         Driver Rating of 78.2, 16th-best

·         223 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

·         611 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

6 - Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5

2012 Rundown

·         Two wins, seven top fives, 17 top 10s

·         Average finish of 11.2

·         Led 8 races for 191 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         One top five, six top 10s

·         Average finish of 13.5 in 13 races

·         Average Running Position of 13.4, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.7, 11th-best

·         145 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 143.119 mph, ninth-fastest

·         3,571 Laps in the Top 15 (68.7%), 11th-most

·         309 Quality Passes, ninth-most

7 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard / Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.6

2012 Rundown

·         One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 10.0

·         Led 12 races for 340 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         One win, five top fives, eight top 10s

·         Average finish of 17.5 in 25 races

·         Average Running Position of 19.7, 21st-best

·         Driver Rating of 77.6, 18th-best

·         155 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         601 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

8 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.9

2012 Rundown

·         Four top fives, 11 top 10s

·         Average finish of 11.9

·         Led 7 races for 229 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Three top fives, 10 top 10s

·         Average finish of 16.0 in 23 races

·         Average Running Position of 16.7, 15th-best

·         Driver Rating of 82.0, 14th-best

·         646 Green Flag Passes, third-most

·         3,372 Laps in the Top 15 (56.2%), 12th-most

·         299 Quality Passes, 13th-most

9 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 Scotch-Brite Ford)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.1

2012 Rundown

·         Two wins, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 10.1

·         Led 14 races for 634 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 12.2 in 20 races

·         Average Running Position of 9.7, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 104.2, fourth-best

·         419 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         643 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 143.512 mph, third-fastest

·         4,902 Laps in the Top 15 (81.6%), third-most

·         Series-high 445 Quality Passes

10 - Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.5

2012 Rundown

·         Six top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 11.4

·         Led 11 races for 423 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         One win, one top five, five top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 16.4 in 13 races

·         Average Running Position of 15.2, 13th-best

·         Driver Rating of 88.5, 13th-best

·         202 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

·         308 Quality Passes, 10th-most

11 - Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.2

2012 Rundown

·         One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 10.7

·         Led 18 races for 365 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Two wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 11.8 in 27 races

·         Average Running Position of 7.7, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 110.5, second-best

·         376 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         617 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 143.630 mph, second-fastest

·         5,146 Laps in the Top 15 (85.7%), second-most

·         439 Quality Passes, second-most

12 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

·         Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.4

2012 Rundown

·         One win, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 15.2

·         Led 17 races for 450 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook:

·         Four wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s; four poles

·         Average finish of 12.3 in 39 races

·         Average Running Position of 13.4, 10th-best

·         Driver Rating of 91.1, ninth-best

·         196 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

·         643 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 143.287 mph, seventh-fastest

·         4,276 Laps in the Top 15 (71.2%), seventh-most

·         408 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Chase Contenders

The Top 12

Following Race 28 of 36

                                                                                Rank        Season

                                                                                Last          Driver

Driver                             Points   Wins      Poles        Week        Rating

1. Jimmie Johnson    2,096       3           2              2           109.6

2. Brad Keselowski     2,095       4           0              1             97.3

3. Denny Hamlin         2,089       5           2              4           103.1

4. Tony Stewart           2,086       3           1               3             89.1

5. Kasey Kahne           2,081       2           2               5             94.7

6. Clint Bowyer           2,081       2           0               6             93.5

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.  2,070       1           1               7             98.6

8. Kevin Harvick         2,065       0           0            10             91.9

9. Greg Biffle               2,063       2           2              8           101.1

10. Martin Truex Jr.      2,062       0           1               9             97.5

11. Matt Kenseth           2,061       1           1             11           101.2

12. Jeff Gordon            2,051       1           2             12             96.4

    ___________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Kyle Busch                     831         36. David Stremme          198

14. Ryan Newman                807         37. J.J. Yeley                  141

15. Carl Edwards                  797         38. Michael McDowell      134

16. Paul Menard                   792         39. Josh Wise                 115

17. Marcos Ambrose             772         40. Ken Schrader             111

18. Joey Logano                   751         41. Stephen Leicht           107

19. Jeff Burton                     696         42. Scott Speed                85

20. Jamie McMurray             682         43. Michael Waltrip            75

21. Juan Pablo Montoya        651         44. Tony Raines               71

22. Aric Almirola                   636         45. Terry Labonte             66

23. Regan Smith                   604         46. Brendan Gaughan        50

24. Bobby Labonte                599         47. Scott Riggs                 50

25. Kurt Busch                     530         48. Boris Said                   34

26. Mark Martin                    522         49. Bill Elliott                     14

27. David Gilliland                 479         50. Hermie Sadler III          13

28. Casey Mears                  479         51. Mike Olsen                  11

29. David Ragan                   475         52. Robby Gordon             11

30. Travis Kvapil                   460         53. Mike Skinner               10

31. Landon Cassill                453         54. Tomy Drissi                  6

32. AJ Allmendinger              400         55. Stacy Compton             5

33. Dave Blaney                   349         56. David Mayhew              4

34. David Reutimann             330         57. Kelly Bires                    3

35. Brian Vickers                  213         58. Patrick Long                  2

                                                       

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at Dover International Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Jimmie Johnson	21	3	7	10	15	2	8.9	120.6
2	Brad Keselowski	5	0	0	0	0	0	17.0	76.1
3	Denny Hamlin	13	0	0	2	4	2	20.5	78.6
4	Tony Stewart	27	0	2	10	15	3	13.4	68.6
5	Kasey Kahne	17	0	0	1	5	6	21.8	78.2
6	Clint Bowyer	13	0	0	1	6	0	13.5	89.7
7	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	25	0	1	5	8	1	17.5	77.6
8	Kevin Harvick	23	0	0	3	10	1	16.0	82.0
9	Greg Biffle	20	1	2	6	10	1	12.2	104.2
10	Martin Truex Jr.	13	2	1	1	5	1	16.4	88.5
11	Matt Kenseth	27	1	2	13	18	4	11.8	110.5
12	Jeff Gordon	39	4	4	14	21	5	12.3	91.1

* – Based on last 15 races at Dover International Speedway