You know normally, the track that NASCAR visited last week is known to have a lot of chaos, carnage, and uncertainty. Talladega is normally that way, with its big accidents that take away half the field in an instant.
But, that being said, other tracks don’t need to use the high speeds and the uncertainty of the draft to possibly have that occur.
NASCAR’s concrete monster in Dover certainly has a reputation that can be along the same lines as a track to not mess with. Look at the differences between the two facilities. It takes almost three laps to equal the distance one lap takes at Talladega. Talladega also has higher banking, and has it mainly in the corners and front stretch. Dover, on the other hand, has a constant banking all around the track, and it seems to almost rise up at the exits of the corners, instead of drawing down.
But, the two facilities certainly have seen their fair share of carnage. It was a multi-car crash last spring that destroyed at least a dozen cars in a matter of moments. Normally, that takes place in the late running at the massive speedway.
Not this time, because instead it happened on a restart at Dover, and took out many of the favorites in a matter of moments.
So why is it that Dover doesn’t bring in the fans like Talladega does?
It’s simple, the concrete monster at Dover can be run so many different ways from the start of the race to the finish. At Talladega, it’s one common way of racing and at any moment, the big moment can occur. On the other hand, Dover begins as mainly a one-groove or two-groove track, since drivers do like having the high line on starts and restarts.
But as the race winds on, the groove widens out so much, it becomes a competitive track and sometimes fans would rather see carnage than intense racing. One advantage at Dover is that with it’s concrete surface, it becomes clearer how much the groove widens out as the racing continues. When the rubber gets laid down, and the groove expands from apron to wall, that white surface goes from white to grey, and in some areas practically black. Then under caution, all that hot rubber then gets collected, and the groove needs worn back in.
Personally, I want to go to Dover and see how well the racing goes, and judge for myself. I already saw Talladega, and know what it’s about. Now, it’s time to witness another monster’s wrath.
STAGE 1:Â Kevin Harvick
STAGE 2:Â Kevin Harvick
RESULTS: 1-Harvick 2-Bowyer 3-Suarez 4-Truex Jr. 5-Kurt Busch 6-Keselowski 7-Hamlin 8-Blaney 9-Johnson 10-Larson
NOTABLE FINISHES: 13-Logano 14-Byron 26-Dillon 35-Kyle Busch
CAUTIONS: 8 for 48 laps. Lap 5-7 (#34, 43 Spin-T4); 22-25 (#72 Engine-BS); 122-127 (Stage 1 Conclusion); 154-158 (#99 Incident-T4); 242-248 (Stage 2 Conclusion); 255-259 (#51 Incident-T4); 273-281 (Fluid On Track from #18); 317-325 (Weather [Red Flag-41 Mins, 1 Sec.]).
LEAD CHANGES: 17 among 6 drivers.  K. Harvick 1-21; A. Bowman 22-47; B. Keselowski 48-107; K. Harvick 108-121; B. Keselowski 122; K. Harvick 123-153; B. Keselowski 154-199; K. Harvick 200-242; B. Keselowski 243; K. Harvick 244-272; R. Stenhouse Jr. 273-295; C. Bowyer 296; R. Stenhouse Jr. 297; C.
Bowyer 298-321; J. Logano 322; C. Bowyer 323-337; K. Harvick 338-400.
TIME OF RACE:Â 3 Hrs, 28 Mins, 37 Secs.
AVERAGE SPEED:Â 115.044 MPH
MARGIN OF VICTORY:Â 7.45 Seconds
POINT STANDINGS (Earned/Behind Leader [Playoff Points]):Â 1. Kyle Busch, 466 [17]; 2. Logano, -22 [7]; 3. Harvick, -40 [19]; 4. Bowyer, -86 [5]; 5. Keselowski, -101 [4]; 6. Kurt Busch, -108 [2]; 7. Blaney, -120 [2]; 8. Hamlin, -122 [1]; 9. Truex Jr, -126 [7]; 10. Larson, -159; 19. Dillon, -245 [5].
