Race: Sunday 16, 2010 in Dover, DE

Title Sponsor: Hershey's

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:16pm/et

NASCAR Pre-race: FOX - 12:00pm/et

Television Race Coverage: FOX, 1:00pm/et

In the Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds

Pit Reporters: Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Matt Yocum, Krista Voda

Hollywood Hotel: Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond

SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 10:00am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Wednesday, May 19 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

TV Listings, Links and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
NASCAR on TV
Race Fan TV

This Week - Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite Radio

• motorracingnetwork.com

• sirius.com

• Practices:
  Friday, May 14, 11:30am - 1:00pm/et, TV-SPEED
  Saturday, May 15, 11:30am - 12:15 pm, TV-SPEED

• Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, May 15, 12:50-1:50 pm/et, TV-SPEED

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, May 14, 10:30 am/et

• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Friday, May 14 at 3:10 pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air scheduled for 1:00am/et;
  AND live via radio at MRN Radio only on NASCAR.com.

• Kyle Busch wins at Dover: #18-Kyle Busch won the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Hershey's Milk & Milkshakes Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2010. 2nd Dover win and 18th win of his career. Busch also won the Nationwide race Saturday and finished 16th in the Camping World Truck Series race [after leading the most laps], all at Dover. Busch led 494 of 900 laps at Dover. #31-Burton finished 2nd, followed by #17-Kenseth, #11-Hamlin, #00-Reutimann, #16-Biffle, #29-Harvick, #99-Edwards, #14-Stewart and #20-Logano. Pole sitter #56-Truex Jr. finished 12th. #48-Johnson finished 16th down a lap after getting caught speeding exiting pit road and had to do a pass thru penalty. #9-Kahne, who started 2nd finsihed 20th, down 2 laps after having shifter problems. #88-Earnhardt Jr. had another tough day and finshed 30th, down 10 laps. Harvick still leads the points with 1768. down to 69 over Kyle Busch, who moved up to 2nd with his win and Johnson's miscue.
  There were 20 lead changes among 8 drivers and only 5 cautions for 24 yellow flag laps. The attendence was reported at 88,000, down from 100,000 last year and 133,000 in 2008.
  See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Dover Race Results/Awards page.(5-16-2010)

• Dover Facts and Notes:
  • Kyle Busch won the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway. It was his 18th series victory in his 198th career race and his second Dover win in his 11th start there. It was Busch's second victory of 2010.
  • Busch competed in all three national series races at Dover, finishing 16th in the Trucks race and first in the Nationwide race.
  • Busch led six times for 131 laps. He led 494 laps combined this weekend (172 Trucks, 191 Nationwide and 131 Cup).
  • Joe Gibbs Racing posted its 82nd Cup win. JGR has won five of the past seven races this season.
  • Toyota notched its second Dover victory and fifth win of 2010. Chevrolet has six, Dodge has one and Ford is winless.
  • It marked second weekend sweep (Cup/Nationwide) at Dover (Harry Gant, September 1991)
  • Jeff Burton (second) posted his best Dover finish since his victory in September 2006.
  • Matt Kenseth (third) extended a five-race streak of top-5 finishes at Dover.
  • Denny Hamlin (fourth) tied his best Dover finish.
  • David Reutimann (fifth) tied his best finish of the season (Daytona).
  • Greg Biffle (sixth) extended a 12-race streak of top-15 finishes at Dover.
  • Points leader Kevin Harvick finished seventh.
  • Carl Edwards (eighth) extended a 10-race streak of top-15 finishes at Dover.
  • Tony Stewart (ninth) has top-10 finishes in the past three races.
  • Ryan Newman finished 13th in his 300th consecutive Cup race.
  • Mark Martin (15th) extended a 16-race streak of running at the finish at Dover.
  • Jimmie Johnson finished 16th in his 300th consecutive race. He dropped from second to fourth in the standings. Johnson has led at least one lap in the past six Dover races.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 30th in his 375th race. He has not scored a top-10 finish in the past four races and has only three top-10 finishes in 12 races in 2010.(ESPN)(5-17-2010)

• Race Fast Facts - Dover International Speedway:
  #18-Kyle Busch won the Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY'S Milk & Milkshakes (42nd Running), his 18th victory in 198 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his second victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2010.
  This is his second victory and sixth top-10 finish in 11 races at Dover International Speedway.
  #31-Jeff Burton (second) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 33 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his fifth top-10 finish in 2010.
  #17-Matt Kenseth (third) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 23 races at Dover International Speedway.
  #37-Kevin Conway (33rd) was the highest finishing rookie.
  #29-Kevin Harvick leads the point standings by 69 points over Kyle Busch.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-16-2010)

• #18-Kyle Busch earned his second win of the weekend in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Delaware’s Dover International Speedway. Busch, who also won Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race, led six times for 131 (of 400) laps in his Joe Gibbs Racing #18 M&M’s Camry. It is the second win of the season for Busch, 18th of his career and 14th victory in a Toyota Camry. It is the fifth win in the last seven races for a Camry driver, and the 26th NSCS victory for Toyota since the start of 2007. Toyota drivers swept all three NASCAR Series races for the second time at Dover (also in May 2008) -- marking only the eighth time in NASCAR history that one manufacturer has earned wins in all three NASCAR series at one track during the same race weekend. Aric Almirola won Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the one-mile oval.(Toyota)(5-16-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
  [after Dover, race 12 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #29-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 1768
  2) #18-Kyle Busch [2 wins], 1699, -69
  3) #17-Matt Kenseth, 1642, -126
  4) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 1637, -131
  5) #11-Denny Hamlin [3 wins], 1618, -150
  6) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1605, -163
  7) #16-Greg Biffle, 1581, -187
  8) #31-Jeff Burton, 1569, -199
  9) #2-Kurt Busch [1 win], 1531, -237
  10) #99-Carl Edwards, 1487, -281
  11) #5-Mark Martin, 1475, -293
  12) #56-Martin Truex Jr., 1434, -334
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 1404, 30 points out of the chase
  14) #14-Tony Stewart, 1397, -37
  15) #33-Clint Bowyer, 1392, -42
  16) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 1391, -43
  2009 Chase Drivers not in top 16
  19) #42-Juan Montoya, 1322, -1124
  21) #9-Kasey Kahne, 1237, -197
  27) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158, -276 [out with illness]
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(5-16-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Charlotte:
  Front Row Motorsports #37 falls out and their #38 team back to 35th, so expect Conway back in the #38 at Charlotte in two weeks.
  32) #34-Kvapil/Front Row: 953, +56
  33) #71-Labonte/TRG: 945, +48
  34) #7-Gordon/RGM/BAM: 899, +2
  35) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 899, 2 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #37-Conway/Front Row: 897, 2 points out of 35th
  37) #26-Stremme/Latitude43: 788, -111
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(5-16-2010)

• Penalty Report - Dover:
  Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
  #78, Pre-Race to the rear, tail end, transmission change
  #77, 54, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #6, 55, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, tail end
  #9, 56, Too many crewmember(s) in contact with pit service area, tail end
  #7, 132, Commitment Line Violation, pass thru
  #47, 165, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #9, 166, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #16, 246, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, tail end
  #2, 286, Pitting before pit road is open, tail end
  #2, 286, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, tail end
  #33, 287, Removing equipment from assigned pit area, tail end
  #43, 287, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, tail end
  #77, 341, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, pass thru
  #48, 363, Excessive speed EXITING the pits, pass thru
  #1, 365, Excessive speed ENTERING pits, pass thru
  (NASCAR Statistics)(5-16-2010)

• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Dover: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: none as #77-Hornish Jr. caused the caution and was in line of the pass
  Caution 2: #99-Edwards, 8th
  Caution 3: #43-Allmendinger, 14th
  Caution 4: #39-Newman, 13th
  Caution 5: #5-Martin, 15th
  (5-16-2010)

• Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Dover (or seemed to)?
  43rd: #36-Sauter, 29 laps run
  42nd: #55-McDowell, 33 laps
  41st: #66-Blaney, 36 laps
  40th: #09-Bliss, 36 laps
  39th: #71-Labonte, 65 laps
  38th: #87-Nemechek, 67 laps
  37th: #46-Yeley, 127 laps
  with NASCAR's new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #55 this week
  (usually only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(5-16-2010)

• Pit Stall Selections - Dover: The selections of pit stalls for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #56-Truex Jr. chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
  Outside pole sitter #9-Kahne took pit stall 10, the next stall with an opening in front of it
  #5-Martin, who starts 3rd took the 17th pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
  The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #00-Reutimann, who starts 13th.
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Dover Pit Stall Selection chart.(5-15-2010)

• Race Coverage of the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, May 16, 2010.
  Television (TV): FOX at 1:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 12:00 pm/et; green flag approx 1:15pm/et
  Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  SPEED, Wednesday, May 19 at 12:00pm/et

• Lowest-finishing, non-wrecked car to be inspected: NASCAR has instituted a new postrace inspection policy for Sprint Cup races in which the first car out of the race that is not involved in an accident will be held for teardown, much like the cars that currently finish in the top five. That meant that Aric Almirola’s #09 Phoenix Racing’s Chevy was thoroughly inspected after the Las Vegas Motor Speedway race. His engine was taken to be torn down later this week at the NASCAR R&D center in Concord, NC. The policy is expected to impact the start-and-park teams – teams that typically bring a car but don’t have funding to run the entire event. These teams often are not in the top 35 in owner points, so they are required to qualify on speed. The new policy means it is likely that one of the cars that qualify on speed for every race will end up getting torn down. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Sunday the move was not to discourage start-and-park teams. “We’re just expanding our inspection process and making sure that everybody feels like everybody is on the same playing field, that’s all,” Pemberton said. “It’s all about making sure that the guys who get beat that don’t make the race understand that the guys who get in the race, for the most part, are doing everything right.” The move could cost these teams money, as they will have to pay for an engine rebuild that they might not have needed if they didn’t run many laps. Pemberton said the engine might not be torn down weekly but acknowledged it could cost teams $30,000 for a rebuild. That could lead to those teams racing more instead of risking the cost of a rebuild. Or it could lead to those teams not showing up if they can’t afford to have the motor rebuilt.(SceneDaily)(3-1-2010)

• NASCAR Revises Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR announced a revision to one of its race procedures, allowing a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The new procedure will be implemented beginning with today's running of the NSCS' Gatorade Duel at Daytona and will apply to all three national series. NASCAR officials met with drivers and teams Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the change and get their input. The announcement was made during the NSCS' drivers and crew chiefs meeting Thursday morning. "We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions – the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy." The change amends procedure 9-14C of the 2010 NASCAR rulebook.(NASCAR), see rules and notes on my Green-White-Checker rule page.(2-11-2010)

• NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn't pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the "wave around" the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)

• Jayski's - 2010 Sprint Cup Race Results Page and from last season: Jayski's - 2009 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  (pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

• Happy Hour practice for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over, after 60 scheduled minutes, some results and notes:
  #18-Busch 154.209
  #11-Hamlin 153.919
  #99-Edwards 153.794
  #43-Allmendinger 153.309
  #33-Bowyer 153.218
  slowest: #37-Conway 147.735 and #46-Yeley 148.087 &
  See fast speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Dover Practice Speeds page.(5-15-2010)

• First Saturday practice for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, some results and notes:
  #48-Johnson 154.999
  #6-Ragan 154.692
  #18-Busch 154.599
  #33-Bowyer 154.579
  #9-Kahne 154.526
  slowest: #46-Yeley 148.890 & #37-Conway 148.914
  See fast speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Dover Practice Speeds page.(5-15-2010)

• Truex Jr. wins pole at Dover: #56-Truex Jr. won the Coors Pole for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 156.250mph for his 1st pole of 2010 and 5th of his career. #9-Kahne will start 2nd followed by #5-Martin, #18-Busch, #48-Johnson, #39-Newman, #33-Bowyer, #43-Allmendinger, #99-Edwards and #77-Hornish Jr. Points leader #29-Harvick will start 29th. Casey Mears, subbing for Brian Vickers in the #83 Toyota, will start 39th.
  The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #46-Yeley, #26-Stremme, #09-Bliss, #55-McDowell, #66-Blaney, #87-Nemechek, #38-Gilliland and #36-Sauter
  The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (2): #64-Todd Bodine & #13-Max Papis
  See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Dover Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(5-14-2010)

• Qualifying Fast Facts - Dover:
  Martin Truex Jr. won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Hershey's Milk & Milkshakes with a lap of 22.884 seconds, 157.315 mph.
  This is his fifth pole in 165 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2010.
  This is his first pole in nine races at Dover International Speedway.
  Kasey Kahne (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2010 and his fifth in 13 races at Dover International Speedway.
  Mark Martin (third) posted his 29th top-10 start at Dover International Speedway. It is his seventh in 12 races this season.
  Kevin Conway (41st) was the fastest qualifying rookie.(NASCAR Statistics)(5-14-2010)

• Coverage of Qualifying for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2010 at 3:10pm/et.
  Television (TV): SPEED 3:00pm/et
  Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) only on NASCAR.com
  Jayski.com: Jayski's Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: 1:00am/et

• Qualifying Order for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
  The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #24-Gordon.
  The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #12-Keselwoski.
  The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #46-Yeley with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #36-Sauter.
  See the full qualifying order on the Dover Qualifying Page.(5-14-2010)

• Friday's Practice: for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is being run, after 86 of 90 scheduled minutes, some reults and notes:
  #48-Johnson 158.367
  #33-Bowyer 158.075
  #9-Kahne 157.860
  #56-Truex Jr., 157.729
  #18-Busch 157.370
  slowest: #37-Conway 149.508 and #19-Sadler 152.659
  incidents: #19-Sadler smacked the wall between turns 1-2 after cutting down a right front tire, flattening the right side. The team will bring out a backup car.
  See fast speeds, average speeds, laps run on my Dover Practice Speeds page.(5-14-2010)

• Dover practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #66-Dave Blaney, 27th fastest overall
  #38-David Gilliland, 30th
  #13-Max Papis, 31st
  #26-David Stremme, 33rd
  #36-Johnny Sauter, 34th
  #55-Michael McDowell, 36th
  #46-J.J. Yeley, 37th
  #09-Mike Bliss, 38th
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 39th
  #64-Todd Bodine, 41st

• Vickers to skip Dover due to medical condition: Red Bull Racing Team officials announced that due to a recent diagnosis of a medical condition, Brian Vickers will not compete in this weekend's NASCAR racing activities at Dover International Speedway. Vickers, age 26, driver of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, was hospitalized Wednesday evening and continues to undergo testing and further evaluation. Casey Mears has been selected to drive for the team this weekend. “It is unfortunate that I will not be able to participate in the Dover race. Casey is a good friend of mine, and I know he will do his best for the #83 team this weekend,” said Vickers. “Our main concern right now is with Brian and his health and recovery”, said Jay Frye, RBRT General Manager and Vice President. “All things are looking good at the moment; this is just a minor setback. We appreciate Casey filling in this weekend and know he will represent the team well.”(Red Bull Racing)
  Mears was scheduled to run the #36 Chevy for Tommy Baldwin Racing, Johnny Sauter will be in the #36 Chevy at Dover.(5-13-2010)
  AND #83-Brian Vickers was being treated Thursday for an undisclosed medical condition that will prevent him from racing this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Red Bull Racing said Vickers was hospitalized Wednesday night and being held for further testing. The team did not reveal where he was hospitalized, although Vickers was scheduled to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and tour the Capitol with U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings. Red Bull said Casey Mears will replace Vickers this weekend in the #83 Toyota. "It is unfortunate that I will not be able to participate in the Dover race," Vickers said in a statement. "Casey is a good friend of mine, and I know he will do his best for the #83 team this weekend." Red Bull general manager Jay Frye called Vickers' illness a "minor setback."
  "Our main concern right now is with Brian and his health and recovery," Frye said. "All things are looking good at the moment, this is just a minor setback. We appreciate Casey filling in this weekend and know he will represent the team well." He's currently ranked 20th in the standings, but only 160 points out of the 12th Chase qualifying position. Missing a start almost certainly will make it impossible for Vickers to make the Chase this season.(Associated Press/ESPN)(5-13-2010)

• The Entry List for the Autism Speaks 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Casey Mears will be in the #83, Sauter to run the #36 and the #32 withdraws>BR> Not in top 35 of owners points for the first five races in 2010:
  #09-Mike Bliss (2009 race winner as owner)(40th in owners pts/11 attempts)
  #13-Max Papis (39/11)
  #26-David Stremme (2009 race winner as owner)(37/11)
  #36-Johnny Sauter (38/11)
  #38-David Gilliland (36/11)
  #46-J.J. Yeley (44/11)
  #55-Michael McDowell (43/11)
  #64-Todd Bodine (50/2]
  #66-Dave Blaney (42/11)
  #87-Joe Nemechek (43/11)
  withdrew from final entry list:
  #32-Reed Sorenson (47/4)
  In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 26,09,38,36,13,87,66,55
  missing the race would be [2]: #'s 46,64
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's Dover Entry List.(5-10/13-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Dover:
  There were no changes in the top 30. The #7 team is now 18 points ahead of the #38 team.
  32) #71-Labonte/TRG: 899, +88
  33) #34-Kvapil/Front Row: 877, +66
  34) #37-Conway/Front Row: 833, +22
  35) #7-Gordon/RGM/BAM: 829, 18 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #38-Gilliland/Front Row: 811, 18 points out of 35th
  37) #26-Stremme/Latitude43: 706, -127
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(5-8/12-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings:
  [after Darlington, race 11 of 36]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #29-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 1622
  2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 1512, -110
  3) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win],1509, -113
  4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 1475, -147
  5) #17-Matt Kenseth, 1472, -150
  6) #11-Denny Hamlin [3 wins], 1458, -164
  7) #16-Greg Biffle, 1431, -191
  8) #2-Kurt Busch [1 win], 1420, -202
  9) #31-Jeff Burton, 1394, -228
  10) #5-Mark Martin, 1357, -265
  11) #99-Carl Edwards, 1345, -277
  12) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 1318, -304
  Chase for the Sprint Cup - Contenders:
  13) #56-Martin Truex Jr., 1302, 16 points out of the chase
  14) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 1280, -38
  15) #33-Clint Bowyer, 1280, -38
  16) #1-Jamie McMurray [1 win], 1279, -39
  17) #42-Juan Montoya, 1264, -54
  18) #14-Tony Stewart, 1259, -59
  2009 Chase Drivers not in top 18
  20) #83-Brian Vickers, 1158, -160
  22) #9-Kasey Kahne, 1129, -190
  See standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(5-8-2010)

• What happens if qualifying gets canceled/rained out?
  After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
  #1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
  #3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
  #6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
  #7) - Qualifying Order Position
  (all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

  -->

• Qualifying Rules/Notes/News page

• Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: Teams outside the top 35 in owners points will qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

• How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings (not drivers points).

• Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
  The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
  If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
  Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
  Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

• Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: See my 2010 Past Champions Provisional Page for more

• September 2009 Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 118.704mph, started 1st

• June 2009 Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 115.237mph, started 8th

• Race Speed Record: Mark Martin, 132.719, 9/17/97

• Slowest Race Record: Mark Martin, 97.042mph, 6/6/2004

• Oldest Winner: Harry Gant, 52 years, 4 months, 21 days, 5/31/1992

• Youngest Winner: Kyle Busch, 23 years, 0 month, 29 days, 6/1/2008

• September 2009 Pole Sitter: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 157.356mph, finished 1st

• June 2009 Pole Sitter: #00-David Reutimann, 156.794mph, finished 18th

• Track Qualifying Record: Jeremy Mayfield, 161.522mph, 6/4/2004

• Worst Starting Spot to Win: Kyle Petty, started 37th, 6/1995

• Oldest Pole Winner: Dick Trickle, 48 years, 7 months, 7 days, 6/03/1990

• Youngest Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 23 years, 10 months, 0 days, 6/04/1995

• Most Wins: 7 - Richard Petty, Bobby Allison

• Most Wins (active): 5 - Jimmie Johnson

• Most Poles: 6 - David Pearson; 5 - Rusty Wallace

• Most Poles (active): 4 - Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon

• Most Top 5s: 22 - Mark Martin

• Most Top 10s: 30 - Mark Martin

• Most Lead Changes: 29 - twice, most recently 5/18/1986

• Fewest Lead Changes: 3 - 10/17/1971

• Most Leaders: 13, twice, most recently, 9/24/2000

• Fewest Leaders: 3 - five times, most recently 5/16/1982

• Most Cautions: 16 - 9/19/1993

• Fewest Cautions: 0 - 6/6/1771

• Most Caution Laps: 103, 9/19/1993

• Fewest Caution Laps: 0 - 6/6/1971

• Most on a lead lap: 21, 6/4/2006

• Fewest on a lead lap: 1, 11 times, most recently 9/15/1991

• Most Running at the Finish: 40, 9/21/2008

• Fewest Running at the Finish: 13, 5/17/1981

• Most Laps Led [400 miles]: 381, Jeff Gordon, 6/3/2001

• Most Laps Led by a Race Winner: 491 [of 500], Richard Petty, 9/15/1974

• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 8, Dale Jarrett, 5/31/1998

• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 30, Chevy

• Races won from starting pos 1: 12 [of 80 races]
  
• Races won from starting pos 2: 13
  
• Races won from starting pos 3: 13
  
• Races won from starting pos 4: 5
  
• Races won from starting pos 5: 5
  
• Races won from the top 5: 48 of 80
  
• Races won from starting pos 6: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 7: 4
  
• Races won from starting pos 8: 4
  
• Races won from starting pos 10: 4
  
• Races won from the top 10: 62 of 80
  
• Races won from starting pos 11: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 13: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 15: 4
  
• Races won from starting pos 16: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 17: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 19: 4
  
• Races won from starting pos 26: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 27: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 37: 1
  

• At Dover International Speedway::
  · The official opening of Dover International Speedway, then called Dover Downs International Speedway, was in 1969.
  · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 6, 1969.
  · The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.
  · The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.
  · The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.
  · The track name was changed to Dover International Speedway in 2002.
  · There have been 80 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover International Speedway since the track opened in 1969.
  · There was one race in 1969 and 1970. There has been two-a-year since 1971.
  · Richard Petty won the track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
  · There have been 34 different pole winners, led by David Pearson (six).
  · David Pearson won the first pole in July 1969.
  · Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman lead all active drivers, each with four poles.
  · 32 different drivers have posted victories led by BobbyAllison and RichardPetty, each with seven.
  · Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers, with five victories. He swept last season, scoring a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 in the spring event.
  · Hendrick Motorsports has a series-high 12 wins.
  · 48 races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position; 17 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
  · 12 drivers have won from the pole. The last to do so was Jimmie Johnson, in last season’s September race.
  · The furthest back in the field a race winner started was 37th, by Kyle Petty in 1995.
  · Several active drivers had their first start at Dover, including three past champions: Kurt Busch (finished 18th in 2000), Matt Kenseth (sixth in 1998) and Bobby Labonte (34th in 1991).
  · In addition, Matt Kenseth (2002) and Michael Waltrip (1991) earned their first pole at Dover. Martin Truex Jr. won his first race there (2007).
  · Two of the last three races have ended with a margin of victory under one second.
  Eight drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Delaware, though none have posted victories.

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#5-Mark Martin	GoDaddy.com	#5 Team Schemes Page
#7-Robby Gordon	BAMVIP/James Otto/Whitney Dunca	#7 Team Schemes Page
#11-Denny Hamlin	FedEx Freight [red]	#11 Team Schemes Page
#14-Tony Stewart	Office Depot	#14 Team Schemes Page
#17-Matt Kenseth	Crown Royal Black	#17 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Stanley Tools	#19 Team Schemes Page
#34-Travis Kvapil	Long John Silver's $1 Baja Fish Taco	#34 Team Schemes Page
#39-Ryan Newman	U.S. Army	#39 Team Schemes Page
#43-A.J. Allmendinger	Richard Petty - Hall of Fame	#43 Team Schemes Page
#47-Marcos Ambrose	A&P / Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)	#47 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr	AMP Energy	#88 Team Schemes Page

• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery

• Track Specifications:
  Superspeedway: 1.0-mile oval
  Track/Race Length: 1.0 concrete oval, 400 laps, 400 miles
  Banking: turns: 24°; straights: 9°
  Straights: Frontstretch - 1,076 feet; Backstretch - 1,076 feet
  Pit Stalls: 43 stalls, 15 feet wide x 32 feet long
  Grandstand Seating: 135,000
  Pit Road Speed: 35mph
  Pace Car Speed: 45mph
  Opened: 1969
  Carry-In Items
  Coolers: Allowed (14"x14"x14" limit).
  Glass containers: Not allowed.
  Alcoholic beverages: Beer allowed, no hard liquor or wine.
  Cameras/binoculars: Allowed, must be worn separately.
  

• Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: Richard Petty
  Command to start engines: Richard Petty
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Jeff Martin, HP Hood LLC
  Invocation: Rev. Jonathan Falwell, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA
  National Anthem: Joe Nichols, Grammy, nominated country music artist
  Honor Guard: Military District of Washington, DC Armed Forced Color Guard Military Flyover: 4 F-16fs, 149th Fighter Wing, Texas ANG
  

• For the season race officials by track, see my Race Officials page

• Track Websites:
  doverspeedway.com
  Dover International Speedway - Facebook
  Dover International Speedway - Twitter
  Dover Motorsports
  ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide
  Monster Racing

• May 2009: see my Dover Race Info page

• September 2009: see my Dover Race Info page

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• DelDOT's traffic information for NASCAR fans: The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) welcomes fans to Dover for the 2010 NASCAR Race Series at the Dover International Speedway beginning on Friday, May 14 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 200; Saturday, May 15 for the NASCAR Nationwide Series 200; and Sunday, May 16 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 400. At both of the Route 1 and I-95 Toll Plazas, additional lanes will be open in expectation of traffic congestion. Extra toll operators will be working at the Route 1 Toll Plaza in Dover on Monday, May 17 to assist recreational vehicles leaving the speedway. DelDOT's Transportation Management Center (TMC) staff in coordination with the City of Dover Police and Delaware State Police will monitor traffic in and around the Dover vicinity to ensure safe travel for motorists. For more info and traffic news, see doverspeedway.com.(Dover International Speedway)(5-13-2010)

• Lifelong fan to attend Dover race 42nd straight year: On Sunday, when Jack Hoenstine of Queen, Pa., sits in the grandstands off Turn 4 at Dover International Speedway watching the Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY’S Milk & Milkshakes, he will be attending a NASCAR race at the storied track for the 42nd straight year. In fact, since his initial visit to the Monster Mile in 1969, Hoenstine, a retired truck driver, has not missed a single NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover. “I’ve been to the 300 milers, the 500 milers, and now the 400 milers,” the 78-year old retired truck driver said. “They’ve got a horse race track there at Dover, but I go for the gas burners, not the hay burners.” Hoenstine has seen it all at the track known as “The Monster Mile.” There was the caution-free race in 1971, and a wreck-filled one a decade later with only 13 cars running at the checkered flag. Hoenstine watched long-time short track driver Jody Ridley get his only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win in a Junie Donlavey car (his only Cup win as an owner in 863 tries) and 52 year-old Harry Gant win in 1992. “Harry would run that track really high,” Hoenstine remembered. The most memorable Dover race, he says, was a controversial Richard Petty win in the Delaware 500 in September, 1975. Seven of the King’s 200 victories were at the high-banked track, including his 199th win. What made this race special was Petty came from six laps behind to catch Benny Parsons. Controversy erupted when Buddy Arrington, who had just purchased his car hauler from Petty Enterprises, parked his Plymouth in the upper groove of Turn 3, bringing out a caution enabling Petty to finally get on the lead lap. In addition to attending both NASCAR race weekends at Dover, Hoenstine still travels to a dozen NASCAR events each year. Last weekend, he celebrated an incredible streak of 60 consecutive years attending NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway. Additionally, since attending Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1964 spring race (known as the World 600), Hoenstine has been to the Coca-Cola 600 every year. The sport is taking notice of this iron fan’s incredible devotion. Hoenstine is featured in the new NASCAR Library Collection book, The Weekend Starts on Wednesday: True Stories of Remarkable NASCAR Fans by Andrew Giangola, and was the subject of a special fan profile on ESPN’s “NASCAR Now” that aired on Saturday, May 8. In addition to Hoenstine, more than 30 remarkable NASCAR fans are profiled in The Weekend Starts on Wednesday – from a Lexington, NC, man who’s been to every single Daytona 500 to a male nurse with a fear of heights who braved the elements to bring the Sprint Cup flag to the top of Mt. Everest. A critically acclaimed work of wit and feeling, the NASCAR Library Collection book The Weekend Starts on Wednesday is a vivid commentary on the love affair millions of fans have for a great American sport.(Dover International Speedway)(5-13-2010)

• Richard Petty named grand marshal for Autism Speaks: A familiar face at the Monster Mile will say the four most famous words in motorsports - "Gentleman, start your engines" - to bring 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series engines to life on Sunday, May 16 at Dover International Speedway. Richard Petty, a seven-time winner at the Monster Mile and owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, will be the grand marshal for the "Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY'S Milk & Milkshakes" NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Just days before being inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, "The King" will celebrate the grand occasion at Dover by participating as the grand marshal and by taking part in a free question-and-answer session for all fans on Saturday, May 15 at 10 a.m. at the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza, presented by AAA. Allen Bestwick, host of ESPN's coverage of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will moderate the special Q&A session.(Dover PR)(5-11-2010)

• Jimmie Johnson ticket package at Dover: Race fans that haven't locked in their seats yet for the May 16, 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway can now take advantage of a great deal named for one great driver. The $48 Jimmie Johnson package, presented by 92.5 XTU, includes a specially priced ticket to the "Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY'S Milk & Milkshakes" race on Sunday, May 16 and admission to an exclusive question-and-answer session with Johnson in Philadelphia on Thursday, April 29. Johnson will be the special guest of a Q&A session at World Café Live, located at 3025 Walnut St. in Philadelphia, on Thursday, April 29 at 12:30 p.m. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. at the popular live music venue, and lunch specials will be available prior to the Johnson event. The exclusive April 29 event is only available to fans that purchase the $48 Johnson package. With the purchase of this package, loyal fans of the #48 team will be able to sit amongst fellow fans in designated Jimmie Johnson sections in the grandstands at Dover. Space is limited, so fans are encouraged to order soon. For more information about the $48 Jimmie Johnson package, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-800-441-RACE or visit www.DoverSpeedway.com/XTU. The deadline to purchase this package is Sunday, April 25, 2010.(Dover PR)(4-13-2010)

• Dover race will be "Autism Speaks 400 presented by Hershey's": For the fourth straight year, Dover International Speedway’s Spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will create awareness for a very worthy cause. Dover announced the May 16, 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event will be called the “Autism Speaks 400 presented by HERSHEY’S Milk & Milkshakes.” The unique partnership between Dover, Autism Speaks and HERSHEY’S Milk & Milkshakes will provide a platform for Autism Speaks’ message of public awareness and education about autism to the masses at the track in Dover and to those watching the race nationally on FOX.(Dover PR)(1-27-2010)

• Dover Motorsports shuts down Memphis track: Dover Motorsports, Inc. announced that it was ceasing all operations at Memphis Motorsports Park and that it would not be promoting any events in Memphis in 2010. As previously announced, the Memphis facility had been under an agreement of sale to Gulf Coast Entertainment but Gulf Coast was unable to secure financing. "This was a difficult decision for us, but one that ultimately was dictated by economics," said Denis McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports. "We greatly appreciate the many years of dedication shown by our Memphis employees and their efforts to make Memphis such a great destination for the racing community - from racing fans and drivers to sponsors, team owners and sanctioning bodies. For all concerned, including the Memphis community, it is truly sad to see Memphis Motorsports Park taken off the racing schedule. NASCAR has approved the realignment of our NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events from Memphis Motorsports Park to our Nashville and Gateway facilities." The realigned events and dates are as follows:
  NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Nashville Superspeedway, April 2, 2010, (together with NASCAR Nationwide Series event on April 3, 2010)
  NASCAR Nationwide Series, Gateway International Raceway, October 23, 2010.(Dover Motorsports PR)(10-30-2009)

• ISC, SMI looked to jointly purchase Dover in 2007: Speedway Motorsports Inc. and International Speedway Corp. formed an alliance two years ago to look into the possible purchase of Dover International Speedway, according to a letter from Dover Motorsports Inc. general counsel to one of its shareholders. The letter was sent last month to Mario Cibelli, managing member of Marathon Partners, which owns 16.3 percent of the company's common stock (but only 1.5 percent of voting stock) and a harsh critic of Dover management who wants the company to be sold. In a filing Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Cibelli asks for a forum on issues pertaining to Dover Motorsports shareholders, and the letter is posted on the forum project's Web site. Dover general counsel Klaus M. Belohoubek writes in the letter that Cibelli's actions might have thwarted the potential sale by driving down the asking price. A Dover spokesman said the company had no comment but did confirm the authenticity of the letter. The letter states that on May 2, 2007, Dover Motorsports Chairman Henry Tippie, Belohoubek and other Dover Motorsports executives met with SMI Chairman Bruton Smith and now-ISC CEO Lesa France Kennedy in an airplane hangar in Dallas to entertain an offer to acquire Dover.(SceneDaily)(10-10-2009)

• No lights planned for Dover: For now, the improvements [at Dover International Speedway] do not include the installation of lights, which many speedways have added in recent years in order to host races in prime time. "We don't have lights on the near-term schedule," Denis McGlynn, CEO of Dover Motorsports, said. "If push came to shove and we had to do it, we'd take a serious look at it, but there's a lot of moving parts on that issue that would need to be addressed and I'm not sure we're there yet."(Delaware News Journal)(5-31-2007)
  
  

• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Dover International Speedway

Tire:
Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials (Sprint Cup & Nationwide);
Goodyear Wrangler Speedway Radials (Camping World Truck)

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side – 1,400, Right-side – 1,400;
Nationwide: Left-side -- 575, Right-side -- 575;
Camping World Truck: Left-side -- 325, Right-side -- 325

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4394; Right-side -- D-4272

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.1 in.; Right-side -- 88.3 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 50 psi; Right Rear -- 47 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 23 psi; Left Rear -- 21 psi;
Right Front -- 49 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 75-80 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: Teams in all three NASCAR series in action at Dover this weekend will be running the same tire codes, though the Sprint Cup and Nationwide tires will be branded "Goodyear Eagle," while the Camping World Truck tires will be branded "Goodyear Wrangler" . . . this is the first time teams have run this left-side code (D-4394), while this right-side code (D-4272) was previously run by Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams at Dover last September . . . this left-side features a new mold shape versus what was run at Dover last year . . . the mold shape change has been rolled into several tire set-ups already this year . . . later this season, Sprint Cup teams will run this right-side code with a different left-side code at Michigan . . . Nationwide teams will run this exact combination of left-and right-side tires at Kentucky, while Camping World Truck teams will run this same combination at Michigan . . . unlike on other NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, where teams do not run inner liners, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at Dover . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.(Goodyear)(5-12-2010)

• See the Sprint Cup Series Team / Driver Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.