Race Information

Race: Gander 400
Laps: 400
Date: May 5^th
Venue: Dover International Speedway
2018 Winner: Kevin Harvick (3:28:37)
Broadcast: Fox

Course

Dover International Speedway. Opened in 1969, the “Monster Mile” 1 mile oval concrete track has 24 degrees banking on the turns and 9 degrees on the straightway. This is the third Concrete track that racers face after Martinsville and Bristol. The oils that hold Asphalt together grow more liquid during races meaning that there is more adhesive friction through straightways and turns but less abrasive friction which is where Concrete courses excel. Essentially on a Concrete course if you lose your grip you lose all grip vs. Asphalt you can regain your grip as you drift and sway. Control is very important on Concrete tracks.

Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Power Rankings

The Favorites

Martin Truex Jr (2^nd selection this year) — He has top ten finishes each of the last five years at Dover. He has not won or come in 2^nd but has held a good track record of top 10s. He had a win two weeks ago at Richmond.

Kyle Larson (3^rd selection this year) — Kyle finished 10^th here last year and that was his worst finish in four years. The previous three years he was a top 3 finisher each year. If ever there was a lock at Dover, it’s Kyle. His last few races have not been great with two last place finishes in his last four races.

High Risk / High Reward

Daniel Suarez (3^rd selection this year) — He hasn’t been terrible this season but he has one top 10 finishes and sits at 12^th right now. His last two years at the Monster Mile resulted in 6^th and 3^rd place and I feel confident we can see him bring in his 2^nd top 10 finish of this year.

Jimmie Johnson (4^th selection this year) — A 25^th place finish in 2016 stands as the lone blemish for Jimmie who has two wins (2015, 2017) and a 9^th place finish last year capping off a strong four year history here. Jimmie is coming off a 30^th place finish at Talladega and has just one top ten finish in his last six starts

The Dark Horse

Daniel Hemric (1^st selection this year) — After a myriad of finishes in the 20s and 30s he has back to back top 20 finishes including a 5^th place finish at Talladega last week. I’m rolling the dice he can keep the hot streak going into Dover this week.

2019 Results

Favorite: Avg Finish 13th (34th Percent)
High Risk/High Reward: Avg Finish 13th (34th Percent)
Dark Horse: Avg Finish 20th (55th Percent)