Drydene 311: Power Rankings

These picks shall serve for both races at Dover International.

Race Information

Race: Drydene 311 (Both races)
Laps: 311
Date: August 22^nd and 23^rd
Venue: Dover International Speedway
2019 Winner: Martin Truex Jr (3:08: 37)
Network: NBC

Track

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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Favorites

Martin Truex Jr. (7th and 8th selections this year) — Six consecutive years of top 10 finishes at Dover. Truex is your lock.

Kurt Busch (5th and 6th selections this year) — Busch finished inside the top 12 here three of the last four years. In addition to that he has been inside the top 15 in eight of the last nine races.

High Risk/High Reward

Erik Jones (5th and 6th selections this year) — Jones has back to back 11th place finishes at Dover. He has top 12 finishes in four of the last six races.

William Byron (2nd and 3rd selection this year) — Byron has finished in the top 15 each of the last four races and he comes to Dover where he finished in the top 12 last year.

The Dark Horse

Daniel Suarez (1st and 2nd selection this year) — Suarez was 7th here his rookie year and followed that up with 7th the next year and 13th last year. He has just three races this year inside the top 20.

Fun Fact: The 2007 race here was the first one NASCAR had dedicated to a nonprofit.

2020 Results

Favorite: Avg Finish 11th (27th Percent)
High Risk/High Reward: Avg Finish 17th (42^nd Percent)
Dark Horse: Avg Finish 17th (42^nd Percent)