NASCAR drivers discuss the career and legacy of Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. recently announced that he will be retiring at the conclusion of the NASCAR season, so we asked drivers about his legacy at the USA TODAY 301.
- The track is known for its high banks, fast speeds, and dedicated fanbase.
- New attractions for 2025 include “Miles Beach” and free shuttles to Rehoboth Beach and the Delaware State Fair.
Dover Motor Speedway is well-known in Delaware to race fans and non-fans alike, as it towers near Route 13 and Route 1, visible to everyone driving by.
But to those who attend and watch NASCAR races, the “Monster Mile” is one of the top tracks in the country according to voters in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
Dover Motor Speedway ranked seventh in the 10BEST NASCAR tracks in America survey.
To find the top NASCAR tracks, USA TODAY asked a panel of experts which NASCAR raceways stand out, and then readers voted for their favorites from those venues.
The results were announced May 7:
- Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, Pennsylvania)
- Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, New York)
- Chicago Street Race (Chicago)
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas)
- Atlanta Motor Speedway (Hampton, Georgia)
- New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, New Hampshire)
- Dover Motor Speedway (Dover)
- Michigan International Speedway (Brooklyn, Michigan)
- Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tennessee)
- Talladega Superspeedway (Lincoln, Alabama)
More 10BEST features announced by USA TODAY as part of the “Thrills ‘n’ Wheels” category include Best Air Show, Best Attraction for Car Lovers, Best Boat Show, Best Car Show, Best Motorsports Race and Best Rodeo.
What do racing experts and fans love about Dover Motor Speedway?
“Known as the ‘Monster Mile,’ Dover Motor Speedway is the world’s fastest 1-mile oval,” USA TODAY reported. “Since 1969, Dover’s high-banked track (24 degrees in the turns, 9 degrees on straightaways) and top speeds have produced some of the most exciting races in NASCAR.”
Experts and fans recognized the track’s importance in NASCAR history, with the 2025 event marking the 107th NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover, one of only 10 tracks in the country to have hosted 100 or more Cup Series events.
“Monster Mile fans are energetic, proud and very loyal,” said Michael Lewis, communications manager at Dover Motor Speedway. “Some have camped in the same spot, next to the same neighbors, with the same family members, for 40-plus years.”
Dover’s location in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic area means the track is within a half-day’s drive for tens of millions, and it’s relatively easy to get to along Route 13 and Route 1, a short drive from I-95 and Route 301.
While the races are the main attraction, the fans also love all the entertainment and fun the speedway staff packs into NASCAR weekend, which will be held this year on July 18-20.
Attractions welcome fans and help create a memorable experience, starting with the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza featuring the 46-foot-high statue of “Miles the Monster” holding a life-size race car in its right hand.
Lewis called the monument “one of the most recognizable attractions on the NASCAR circuit and a gathering place for fans throughout our NASCAR weekends,” along with a popular photo spot, driver interviews and memorabilia auctions.
“The Fan Zone, frequently cited as the best in NASCAR, is home or nearby countless events during the weekend,” Lewis said.
Favorites that fans mention the most in comments to the speedway’s staff are driver autograph sessions, displays and demonstrations by companies and sponsor partners, and the games and entertainment for kids and adults alike including free concerts.
Featured bands this year are:
- Mike Hines & The Look, a high-energy dance band well-known in Delaware and the region, on July 19
- Spazmatics, “The Ultimate ‘80s New Wave Tribute Band,” on July 20
A Delaware NASCAR fan’s take on the Dover Speedway
Gene Shaner of Smyrna has attended about 12 races at Dover and has also gone to NASCAR events at Daytona and Homestead in Florida and to Michigan and Phoenix.
While different tracks have their strengths and weaknesses, he said Dover is “very fan-friendly.”
“You’ve got a good view of most of the track from most seats,” which isn’t the case at some of the larger tracks, he said.
The high banks lead to high speeds.
“When you sit in the first few rows, it’s amazing because the cars come so close to the wall. It feels like you’re going to get sucked in the rush of wind as they go by,” he said.
Pit road is along the entire front stretch and so it’s easy to see from those seats as all the drivers swerve around each other and pit crews jack up cars and change tires.
“Since it’s only a mile track, you don’t have to walk very far for all the concessions,” he said. “Everything you need is usually near your section.”
Outside the track, he said the Fan Zone area stands out compared to other tracks.
“There’s a lot of hands on stuff for people to do – for adults and kids – games, cars on display, lots of food vendors,” Shaner said. “They have drivers at their merchandise trailers signing autographs. Kids are always excited to see them. Then there’s a lot of entertainment – some big singers, big groups.”
New attractions during Dover NASCAR race weekend
New this year for fans is “Miles Beach,” presented by Visit Delaware, with 600 tons of sand, a boardwalk, palm trees, Adirondack chairs, a sand sculpture display, a 25-foot-high lighthouse and the world’s largest rubber duck – a 60-foot-tall, 15.5-ton friendly yellow behemoth.
Performers at the beach will include the Mariachi Arrieros Band, Trinidad North Steel Drum Band, The Red Hot Ramblers, and Homestead Bluegrass Band.
Also new are the free shuttle buses to Rehoboth Beach and the Delaware State Fair in Harrington from July 17-19 in a partnership between Dover Motor Speedway and Visit Delaware, giving NASCAR fans the chance to explore other First State landmarks.
Register for the shuttles at dovermotorspeedway.com/fans/shuttle.
2025 race schedule at Dover Motor Speedway
- July 18, 5 p.m., General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race, televised on Fox Sports 1.
- July 19, 4:30 p.m., BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, televised on The CW.
- July 20, 2 p.m., Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, televised on TNT.
Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at [email protected].
