400 Miles Can Be a Monster
CORNELIUS, N.C. — Nicknamed the Monster Mile, Dover International Speedway is home to one of only two concrete tracks in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. It’s also home to one of the largest fiberglass structures in the United States. “Miles the Monster” graces the track’s Victory Plaza and comes complete with an actual race car in its hand. The race winner also gets a version of this “monster” in victory lane.
But in order to get to victory lane drivers must conquer the 400-laps it takes to make it there. Clint Bowyer, driving the No. 15 Cherry 5-hour ENERGY Toyota, has come close, most recently last year when an ill-timed debris caution spoiled his chances. That wasn’t his only good finish. He has six top-10 finishes in as many races and has nine top-10 finishes in 16 races.
And while the tight racing that characterizes Dover make it somewhat of a monster to battle, Bowyer knows 400 miles is more than enough to get the job done.
What makes you so good at Dover with six consecutive top-10 finishes?
“I would say that’s good, not great. It’s just a good race track for me — it always has been even in the Nationwide Series. I never won there in the Cup Series, but I’ve gotten close there a few times last year. There was a debris caution there at the end and we were one of the only cars that could have made it on fuel if I remember right. It’s such a demanding race track. It’s just so intense. There are certain race tracks — all of them are intense obviously, but some it is just complete chaos the whole time. Dover is one of the tracks that you leave there pretty well spent.”
Do you feel added pressure knowing Dover is halfway to making the Chase?
“I guess for me right now in the very situation that I’m in, looking back and then looking ahead — it gives me a good feeling that I am only halfway and there’s still halfway to go. The first half certainly isn’t where we’re accustomed to running and hasn’t been near as smooth as we need it to be. The flip side to that is we’re only halfway and we’ve got a long ways to go with a lot of racing.”
CHASSIS
Chassis No. 800 serves as the primary chassis. This chassis has never seen action on the race track but has served as the back-up for several races this season, including last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600. Chassis No. 804 serves as the backup. This chassis finished 12th at Darlington and 15th at Bristol earlier this year.
DOVER STATS
· One top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 16 starts
· Completed 6,375 of 6,400 laps (99.6%) and has led 35 laps
· Average start 17.8 and average finish 12.6
· No DNFs (did not finish)
· Two wins in the Nationwide Series (September 2009 and 2006)
Throughout race weekends in 2014 Michael Waltrip Racing will collect questions hashtagged #AskMWR on its @MWRteam Twitter handle. MWR crew man Wes Evans will host a 3-minute video each Wednesday on michaelwaltripracing.com featuring MWR experts answering the best fan questions from the weekend.
Watch Wednesday’s With Wes
At Kansas Speedway 5-hour ENERGY announced a limited edition cherry flavor. The company also will donate five cents from the sale of every specially marked bottle of cherry flavored 5-hour ENERGY® now through July 31, 2014, to Special Operations Warrior Foundation. SOWF is a top-rated nonprofit organization that supports the military’s special operations forces and their families through college scholarships, family services, and financial stipends.
