Hello again fans. Hope it is rain free where you are. We are still getting the rain down here in Orlando. Its a real pain trying to get around. I hate driving in the rain. No wonder the Nascar guys dont drive in it!! I dont blame them one bit!! haha. Well let’s look at the standings after the rain delayed and cut short 600 last weekend and anything happening since then.
Well Nascar has decided to levy a punishment against third place finisher Robby Gordon after the rain shortened Coke 600. Apparantly Gordon had a illegal suspension housing in the rear of the car and has been fined 50 owner and 50 driver points along with a 50000 dollar fine for his crew chief. Thats too bad for Gordon who is barely hanging on to a spot in the top 35. I am not a big Robby Gordon fan but I really hate to see these kinds of fines handed down to any of the drivers but then again, I hate to see any of them resort to any kind of modifications to try and win. Let’s keep it clean guys, that’s why we like Nascar so well, because it’s ultimately based on some sort of fairness and honesty down the line. In other Nascar news this week, the drug policy instituted by Nascar has claimed yet another victim in its hunt to eliminate illegal substances in the racing world. It’s nobody from Sprint this time, a crew member from one of the truck teams failed a drug test issued by Nascar last week and has been suspended indefinitely just like Jeremy Mayfield has been. No word yet on anything happening with the Mayfield case. I would just like to say once again that these guys remember that they have an incredible fan base and we just want to see you guys race clean, think of all the small fans out there who watch and admire you. Let that be your inspiration and guide and steer clear of those things you shouldnt be doing.
Now let’s look at the standings after the Coke 600. Here’s they way they stand after Monday.
Jeff Gordon 1722 points LEADER!!!
Tony Stewart 1678 -44
Kurt Busch 1607 -115
Jimmy Johnson 1594 -128
Denny Hamlin 1575 -147
Kyle Busch 1540 -182
Ryan Newman 1538 -184
Jeff Burton 1472 -250
Matt Kenseth 1460 -262
Greg Biffle 1448 -274
Carl Edwards 1431 -291
Mark Martin 1428 -294
Ok. Thats your top twelve drivers in the chase for the cup after Monday. Now let’s take a quick look at Dover.
Dover International Speedway is located in the first state of the union, Delaware. It has been nicknamed the “monster mile” and is one of the most popular tracks on the circuit. Dover first opened in 1969 and was opened actually with the dual purpose of hosting horse racing and motorsports events. The very first event on the track was actually a Nascar race and was called the Mason-Dixon 300 and the winner was none other than the king himself, Richard Petty.
In 1986 they expanded their facility which at that time only housed a mere 3200 seats. The expansion continued until 2001 and was unequaled by any other Nascar track. In 1995 Dover became Nascar’s first concrete paved superspeedway. The truck series first raced at Dover in 2000 and the pole sitter for the race, Kurt Busch went on to win that race as well. In 2001 the grandstand expansion was finally completed and brought the total number of seats to a whopping 135,000 which is the largest seating capacity of any sports facility in the mid-Atlantic region of the country. It was Dover that also has the somber duty of being the first track to hold a Nascar event after the 9/11 attacks and that race was won by Dale Jr. who then took the american flag on a victory lap. The construction of the famous Monster Bridge which houses some 56 luxury seats and gives Dover the most unique seating facility among all the tracks. In 2006 they announced plans to begin a Monster Makeover on the track. In each of the following three years since the announcement another phase has begun or been completed. This years phase includes revamping pit road and a new pit road retaining wall that will have the SAFER barrier technology. It will also include wider pit lanes and one additional pit stall.
Dover is a mile track with a concrete surface. The tracks banking is 9 degrees in the straightaway and in the turns, the banking is 24 degrees. The track is 48 foot wide in the straightaways and 58 feet wide in the turns and the straightaways are some 1072 feet long as well. There are 42 pit positions with water and electric for the crews.
Pit road is 1150 feet long and 43 foot wide. Track records in Sprint and Nationwide are held by Dale Jr in the Nationwide series in 1998 with a record race time and speed. Mark Martin holds the records for both the Sprint cup and Camping World truck series records at Dover.
Well thats about it for now you guys. I have to do some math homework and then head out to school. Well have a great day and a great rest of the week. I’ll see you back here this weekend. Have a good one Nascar fans.
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