THE NEXT Winston Cup RACE
NEWS, STATS and INFO
THE RACE: MBNA.com 400
Winston Cup Race #27 of 34 for the 2000 season
Updated: often, leading up to the race
- Race: Sunday, September 24, 2000 in Dover, DE
- TV: TNN 12:30pm/et
- Posted Awards/Purse: $3,062,699
- Entry List: Entry List for the: MBNA.com 400 from NOL
- 1999 Race Winner: Mark Martin
- Race Record: Mark Martin, Sept 1997, 132.719mph
- Track/Race Length: 1.0 mile concrete oval, 400 laps, 400 miles
- Pit Road Speed: 35mph
Practice
- Practice: Friday, Sept 22nd 10:00am – 12noon/et; Saturday, Sept 23rd 9:30am – 10:45am/et
- Happy Hour Practice: Saturday, September 23rd, after the BGN race, TV-none known
Qualifying
- Qualifying Draw: Friday, Sept 22nd at 10:30am/et
- Qualfying Order – MBNA.com 400: NASCAR Online
- First Round Qualifying: 1 lap for positions 1-25, Friday, Sept 22nd at 1:30pm/et, TV-TNN tape delayed on TNN to be shown at 9:00am/et on Saturday morning and live via MRN radio/internet
- NASCAR Online will have live lap-by-lap coverage of Winston Cup qualifying via the web
- Second-Round Qualifying: 1 lap for positions 26th-36th, Saturday, Sept 23rd at 11:30am/et
- Track/Event Qualifying Record: Rusty Wallace, Sept 1999, 159.964mph
- Last Year’s Pole Sitter: Rusty Wallace, 159.964mph
Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 1.0-mile oval
Banking: turns: 24 degrees; straights: 9 degrees
Straights: Frontstretch – 1,076 feet; Backstretch – 1,076 feet
Attendence: ~133,000 - Track Homepage: Dover Downs International Speedway
- Scanner Frequencies: are linked on my Racing Links Page/ Scanners Section
PAST WINNERS of the 2nd(Sept) Race at Dover
See the chart at the Dover Downs site: Past Winners and Qualifiers(9-17-2000)
RACE BONUS INFO
- The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is $30,000 at Dover for leading the points and winning the race.(Bobby Labonte last won the award, $40,000 at Darlington on Sep 3, 2000). The $340,000 annual award is paid at $10,000 per race to the point leader at the end of each event if he is also the winner. The award increases by $10,000 each week the it goes unclaimed. If the point leader is not the race winner at the end of the year, the balance of the award is distributed among the top-10 finisher in the point standings(9-17-2000)
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WEATHER, TV/RADIO COVERAGE, LOCAL NEWS, TRACK/FAN INFO
Radio Coverage:
Motor Racing Network(MRN)
including RealAudio coverage
MRN Affiliate List for your local station
Satellite/Backhaul Listing’s:
Satellite/Backhaul Listing’s: Stutzman Computer Service/Sales – Racing Feed Locations
some Local Newspapers and other Sites that cover the Dover, DE area:
Delaware.com
Dover Post
News Zap
Newark Post
Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Inquirer
Wilmington News Journal – NASCAR
www.visitdover.com
WEATHER FORECASTS:
Weather forecast for Dover, DE by The Weather Channel
Weather Underground – Dover, DE
Track Information for the Fans:
Dover Review by ARS Racing
GoingToTheRace.com
The Racing Edge
TV Coverage/Info/News Pages:
MotorsportsTV
Perfect Paranoia about television coverage of racing, rate the race coverage
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- Frontstretch: Raceday – Dover(9-24-2000)
- Total Sports: Lee Montgomery’s Race Preview(9-22-2000)
- Stats via the TNN Site: Dover Race Stats by their stat guru Bill Sloboda(9-22-2000)
- RaceComm: Dover Preview(9-21-2000)
- CBS: Winston Cup preview — Dover(9-20-2000)
- That’s Racin’: This week’s race – Dover(9-20-2000)
- WRAL: NASCAR – MBNA.com 400 Preview (9-20-2000)
- Dover Quick Facts(TNN)(9-20-2000)
- Dover Facts: The farthest back a race winner has started at Dover Downs International Speedway is 37th
-Kyle Petty started in that position and won the 1995 Miller 500(not a provisional). The only caution-free race at Dover Downs took place in the 1971 Mason-Dixon 500, which Bobby Allison won. Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott lead all active drivers with the most wins at Dover Downs, four. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied with the most wins – seven apiece. Three drivers entered into this weekend’s race got their first start at Dover: Matt Kenseth (9/20/98), started 16th-finished sixth; Bobby Labonte (6/2/91), started 33rd-finished 34th; Jimmy Spencer (6/4/89), started 20th-finished 34th.(NASCAR PR)(9-19-2000 – added Rudd 9-20-2000)
- Some Dover Stats: Ten of all the 61 Dover races have been won by the pole starter – 16%. Last MBNA.com won by the pole winner: 1998, Mark Martin. Lowest start of a MBNA.com winner: 15th, 1984 by Dale Earnhardt. All Dover, 37th by Kyle Petty, 6/95. Most Dover wins: Bobby Allison, Richard Petty – 7. Active drivers, Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliott – 4. 50 of the 61 Dover races have been won from the Top 10 – 82%. Most common starting position of all Dover race winners: 1st, 2nd, 3rd — 10 each, half of all Dover races.(TNN Motorsports)(9-22-2000)
- Provisionals: There are five drivers out of provisionals after NHIS, #66-Darrell Waltrip, #44-Steve Grissom, #60-Joe Bessey, #75-Wally Dallenbach and #90-Hut Stricklin. They must make the races with speed until another provisional is allotted at Phoenix, which is five races away. But the drivers/teams without provisionals could still get into a race using a provisional – If one or a few of the teams without provisionals fail to get in on speed, then the part time teams(don’t attempt all races and are deep in the OWNERS points) get a shot at the provisionals, lining up by Owners Points(only if they have owners points). If spots are still available, then the teams without provisionals or owners points get placed in the field by fastest qualifying speed until all 43 spots are filled. For more info on provisionals see my Provisionals Status and Owners Points page(9-17-2000)
- The Crew Chief Club
-Kyle Petty started in that position and won the 1995 Miller 500(not a provisional). The only caution-free race at Dover Downs took place in the 1971 Mason-Dixon 500, which Bobby Allison won. Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott lead all active drivers with the most wins at Dover Downs, four. Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied with the most wins – seven apiece. Three drivers entered into this weekend’s race got their first start at Dover: Matt Kenseth (9/20/98), started 16th-finished sixth; Bobby Labonte (6/2/91), started 33rd-finished 34th; Jimmy Spencer (6/4/89), started 20th-finished 34th.(NASCAR PR)(9-19-2000 – added Rudd 9-20-2000)
RACE ODDs
- Race ODDS – Imperial Palace: NASCAR Odds – Dover(SportsFax News)(9-22-2000)
- ODD’s: NASCAR Odds – Dover(9-22-2000)
- Race ODDS – Stardust: NASCAR Odds – Dover(WRAL)(9-22-2000)
QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTS news and links
- Stewart wins at Dover: #20-Tony Stewart led the most laps and won at Dover in the MBNA.com 400 for his 4th win of the 2000 season and 7th career win. Stewarts win breaks the record for the lowest start of a MBNA.com 400(2nd race) winner, which had been 15th by Dale Earnhardt in 1984, Stewart started 27th. Stewart also swept the two races at Dover in 2000(7th time it has been done). #10-Johnny Benson was 2nd which ties his career best. Two drivers made their Winston Cup debuts: #97-Kurt Busch finished 18th and #85-Carl Long had a short day, finishing 41st in his 1999 Ford Taurus sponsored by Noopco. See unofficial results at NASCAR Online and Racin’ Network(9-24-2000)
- Happy Hour at Dover is over. #6-Mark Martin was the fastest at 153.067mph with pole sitter, #12-Jeremy Mayfield just a tick behind at 153.054mph. #85-Carl Long was the slowest at 146mph. No indicents/accidents reported. See the speeds at NASCAR Online(9-23-2000)
- Rain at Dover: rain has cancelled morning practice and 2nd round qualifying at Dover. See my Starting Grid for the MBNA.com 400. #85-Carl Long will make his Winston Cup debut, starting 42nd. Steve Grissom uses a provisional, even thought the team has none left, gets in on speed. #60-Bessey and #90-Stricklin miss the race. Also see my First Round Qualifying Results page. To see info on Provisionals, go to my Provisional Status/Rules page(9-23-2000)
- First Round Qualifying is over at Dover for the MBNA.com 400 Cup race. #12-Jeremy Mayfield won the pole with a speed of 159.872mph, just off the track record of 159.964mph set last year. The pole is Mayfield’s third of the 2000 season and fifth career pole. If things stayed the same the two drivers who would miss the race: #60-Joe Bessey(35th in owners points but out of provisionals) and #90-Hut Stricklin(44th and out). #85-Carl Long and #44-Steve Grissom would get into the race using a twist in the provisional rules(see next story). For results see my First Round Results Chart(just something I am testing this weekend)(9-22-2000)
- Pole Progression:
1) #33-Joe Nemechek 1st out 157.832mph;
2) #10-Johnny Benson 2nd out 158.800;
3) #14-Rick Mast, 26th 158.926;
4) #12-Jeremy Mayfield, went out 31st ran 159.964mph and held on for the pole(9-22-2000) - Almost 160mph in practice at Dover for the MBNA.com 400. #10-Johnny Benson was the fastest with a late run of 159.872mph. #12-Jeremy Mayfield was second 159.843mph. Track record is 159.964mph set by Rusty Wallace last Sept. See MBNA.com 400 Practice Speeds for the practice rundown(9-22-2000)
- Qualifying Order is up for the MBNA.com 400 at Dover. See above for the link(s). #33-Joe Nemechek scheduled to go out first, #28-Ricky Rudd last. 45 cars/drivers will make an attempt. Qualifying starts at 1:30pm/et(approx after BGN qualifying) and will NOT be televised live but shown on TNN, tape delay, Sat morning at 9:00am/et. MRN radio will have live coverage(9-22-2000)
- Entry List for the MBNA.com 400 is up. See the link above. 45 drivers/teams listed(for 43 spots). Joe Bessey is listed in the #60(he won a BGN race at Dover in 1997), Kurt Busch is in the #97 and Carl Long is entered in the #85 Ford(9-19-2000)
- Pole Record: What is the record for the most poles in a season by one driver? In the modern era(1972 to present): Cale Yarborough had 14 poles in 31 starts(45%) during the 1980 season. The overall record was Bobby Isaac who had 20 poles in 50 starts(40%) during the 1969 season(Stock Car Racing Encyclopedia). So far in 2000, #2-Rusty Wallace has 8 in 27 races – 29.6%, that equates to approx 10 for the year, so they modern era record looks out of reach(9-22-2000)
- How to break a tie during qualifying? When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers). For provisionals standings see the Jayski Provisional Status page(2-20-2000)
- Links: Practice speeds, qualifying and results can be found at these
sites: NASCAR Online,
TRACK/RACE NEWS
- Rain: The Southern 500 was the fifth Cup race this season to be affected by rain having a two hour rain delay after 38 laps and being shortened to 328 laps instead of the 367 scheduled. Others: Las Vegas was shortened by 119 laps. Michigan fell six laps short in June. Pocono was postponed to the next day(a Monday). New Hampshire only went 273 of 300 laps in July(9-4-2000)
- Track Qualifying Records fall in 2000: In 26 events there have been thirteen(13) track records set, including Bristol, California, Lowes, Michigan, Pocono, Rockingham, Texas, Las Vegas, New Hampshire(July), Sears Point, Pocono(2nd time), Indy and Michigan(2nd time). These are TRACK records, not EVENT records(of course we all know there are four races that there is no chance to break the track record, the two each at Daytona and Talladega)(9-17-2000)
- 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
- Past track news: posted in the past at Past Track News – Dover Downs
DRIVER/TEAM NEWS
- Spencer to need a sub? UPDATE: Jimmy Spencer injured his leg in the BGN race during a crash and per TNN’s broadcast, Todd Bodine had been asked to sub for Spencer in the #26 BigKmart Ford in the Cup race at Dover on Sunday. No word on if it would be at the first caution with Spencer starting the car and Bodine in relief or start the #26, update later
UPDATE: Spencer was involved in a multicar accident and suffered an abrasion to his left knee and sprained left ankle. Spencer said the injuries would not cause him to miss Sunday’s Cup race. Todd Bodine(2001 teammate) practiced Spencer’s #Ford in Happy Hour(That’s Racin’)(9-23-2000) - Gordon Milestone: #24-Jeff Gordon will make his 250th NASCAR Winston Cup Series start in Sunday’s MBNA.com 400 at Dover(NOL)(9-23-2000)
- Double Duty at Dover: a bunch of drivers will run two of the three races(Cup at Dover this weekend, no triple duty drivers listed)
Both the Cup and the BGN race(9 drivers): Michael Waltrip(#7 in Cup and #99 in BGN); Jimmy Spencer(#26 Cup, #12-BGN); Mike Skinner(#31 Cup, #15 BGN); Matt Kenseth(#17 both); Dave Blaney(#93-Cup #20-BGN); Kenny Wallace(#55 Cup #25 BGN); Steve Park(#1 Cup, #31 BGN); Ted Musgrave(#01 Cup #82 BGN); Joe Nemechek(#33 Cup #87 BGN)
Both the Cup and the CTS race(3 drivers): Kenny Schrader(#36 Cup #52 CTS); Kurt Busch(#99 CTS #97 Cup) and Steve Grissom(#44 Cup #43 CTS)
Both the BGN and the CTS race(2 drivers): Mike Wallace(#2 CTS #77 BGN); and Hermie Sadler(#30 BGN #29 CTS)(9-19-2000) - Four in a Row? Mark Martin will be going for his fourth straight win at the Dover fall Cup race this coming weekend(9-18-2000)
- See the 2000 Team Chart which has links to past news for each team and see the 2001 Team Chart for next season’s teams
PAINT SCHEME NEWS
- Dover Paint: just a few different Paint Schemes at Dover – Bill Elliott has the McFlurry scheme on the #94 Ford; and Wally Dallenbach has Dinner and a Movie/RedCell on the #75; Michael Waltrip has New Holland on the hood of the #7 Philips Chevy; MBNA is featured on the hood of #18-Bobby Labonte(9-24-20000
- More Paint Scheme news can be found on Jayski’s Paint Scheme Gallery, choose current news
STATS and STUFF
- Did ya know? If Bobby Labonte wins the 2000 Winston Cup Championship, he and his brother Terry, who won it in 1984 and 1996, will be the first brothers to do so in Winston Cup history. There have been two father-son pairs; Lee and Richard Petty, and Ned and Dale Jarrett(9-3-2000)
- Stats: Driver Averages at Dover(note: large page, takes a bit to load)- new link(9-19-2000)
- NOL Stats: NASCAR by the Numbers
- No Top 10’s and 5’s: #55-Kenny Wallace is the only Cup driver to make every race and not have a top-10 finish this season; as for top-5 finishes? Five drivers have made all 26 races and not have a top five, #55-Wallace, #4-Bobby Hamilton, #36-Ken Schrader, #43-John Andretti and #97-Chad Little(9-17-2000)
- Manu Lap Leaders: In 7448 laps ran so far in 2000, Ford drivers have led 3819(51.3%) laps, Chevy drivers have led 2050 laps(27.5%), and Pontiac drivers have led 1579 laps(21.2%)(9-17-2000)
- Top Fives: There have been 27 different Cup drivers(no new drivers added at NHIS) score a Top-5 in 2000….1999’s total was 28 and 1998’s total number was 27(9-17-2000)
- Top Tens: There have been 37 different Cup drivers(no additions at NHIS) score a Top-10 in 2000…..1999’s total was 40 and 1998’s total number was 41(9-17-2000)
- Provisonal Finishes in 2000: In 175 provisonal starts(25 races x 7, Watkins Glen qualifying rained out), drivers have accumulated 1 Win, 3 Top 5’s and 10 Top 10’s. See my Provisional Finishes Page for each race finish by the provisionals starters(9-10-2000)
- Lap Leader/Bonus Points: 45 drivers have led at least one Winston Cup lap in 2000(no new drivers at NHIS). All drivers who have made all the Cup races have now lead a lap in 2000. To see who has led laps and who leads in the bonus points, see my Bonus Points Leaders Page(9-17-2000)
- Consecutive Starts: Dale Earnhardt has 639 consecutive Winston Cup starts, Ricky Rudd is next with 6009 followed by Rusty Wallace at 509, Ken Schrader with 479 and Mark Martin 393. Terry Labonte had 655 but sat out the 2000 Brickyard 400 to end his record streak(9-17-2000)
- No Top Fives Since…. It has been a while since some drivers have had a top five finish on the Winston Cup circuit. Here are those with the longest streak of races without a top-five finish:
Driver Races Finish Track Date Since Dave Marcis 311 3rd Watkins Glen 8-10-87 Brett Bodine 190 2nd Indianapolis 8-6-94 Rick Mast 119 4th Martinsville 9-22-96 Kyle Petty 90 3rd Dover 9-21-97 Chad Little 86 2nd Texas 4-5-98 Darrell Waltrip 71 5th California 5-3-98 Ken Schrader 68 4th Richmond 9-12-98 Hut Stricklin 65 2nd Darlington 9-1-96 Dick Trickle 48 5th Rockingham 10-27-97 Ricky Craven 48 3rd Rockingham 10-27-97 Ted Musgrave 47 5th Phoenix 10-25-98 Derrike Cope 46 5th Atlanta 11-16-97 Steve Grissom 43 4th New Hampshire 9-14-97 Dave Marcis has not had a top 10 since April 10, 1994 in the Food City 500 at Bristol, he finished 10th. Regular Drivers Without a Career Top Five Driver Races Elliott Sadler 61 Cup drivers(not including 2000 rookies) (data compiled from UMI Press Guides, Winston Cup Updates)(9-17-2000) - 1999 winners who have not won in 2000: Terry Labonte, Joe Nemechek and John Andretti are the drivers who earned victories in 1999 and have not won yet in 2000. Two drivers who won in 1998 Bobby Hamilton and Ricky Rudd, have not won since(9-17-2000)
- No Wins Ever…. Some regular drivers in Winston Cup who have never won a Cup race and how many starts they have:
Active Drivers Driver Races Run Michael Waltrip 454 Rick Mast 330 Ted Musgrave 293 Hut Stricklin 269 Dick Trickle 265* Wally Dallenbach 218 Chad Little 215 Kenny Wallace 211 Robert Pressley 162 Johnny Benson 154 Steve Grissom 139 Ricky Craven 139 Mike Skinner 136 Todd Bodine 109* Jerry Nadeau 95 Kevin Lepage 89 David Green 78* Elliott Sadler 61 All Time - Over 400 Starts Driver Races Run JD McDuffie 653 Buddy Arrington 560 Neil Castles 497 Jimmy Means 455 Michael Waltrip-x 454 Cecil Gordon 450 G.C. Spencer 415
*not a full time or regular Cup driver
(9-17-2000)(UMI Press Guides Stats/Winston Cup Updates)
Driver Races Run Last Win Track Dave Marcis 476 2/21/82 Richmond Brett Bodine 319 4/22/90 North Wilkesboro Ken Schrader 295 6/2/91 Dover Derrike Cope 272* 6/3/90 Dover Darrell Waltrip 243 9/6/92 Darlington Jimmy Spencer 194 7/24/94 Talladega Bill Elliott 185 9/4/94 Darlington Kyle Petty 161 6/4/95 Dover Sterling Marlin 140 7/6/96 Daytona Geoffrey Bodine 118 8/11/96 Watkins Glen Bobby Hamilton 85 4/20/98 Martinsville Ricky Rudd 67 9/27/98 Martinsville *not a full time or regular Cup driver (9-17-2000)(UMI Press Guides Stats/Winston Cup Updates)
Have already won in 2000 and extended or started their streaks: Driver Years Last Win Rusty Wallace 15 Bristol, Aug 2000 Dale Jarrett 8 Daytona, Feb 2000 Jeff Gordon 7 Richmond, Sept 2000 Bobby Labonte 6 Darlington, Sept 2000 Jeff Burton 4 NHIS, August 2000 Mark Martin 4 Martinsville, Apr 2000 Dale Earnhardt 3 Atlanta, Mar 2000 Tony Stewart 2 NHIS, July 2000 Ward Burton 1 Darlington, Mar 2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr 1 Richmond, Apr 2000 Jeremy Mayfield 1 Pocono, June 2000 Matt Kenseth 1 Charlotte, May 2000 Steve Park 1 Watkins Glen, Aug 2000 Thru 1999 season: Driver Years Last Win Terry Labonte 6 Texas, Apr 1999 John Andretti 1 Martinsville, Apr 1999 Joe Nemechek 1 New Hampshire, Sept 1999
All Time Record is Richard Petty – 18 years from 1960-1977
(9-17-2000)(info gathered using the 2000 UMI Official NASCAR Preview and Press Guide and Winston Cup Updates)
UPDATE: Add Bobby Labonte as the 2nd ever provisional winners by winning the 1999 NAPA 500 at Atlanta(11-21-1999)
UPDATE 2: Add Bobby Labonte as the 3rd ever provisional winners by winning the 2000 Southern 500 at Darlington(9-3-2000)
Starting Position Race Driver 43 1950 Southern 500, Darlington Johnny Mantz 43 1953 Raliegh, NC Fonty Flock 38 provisional 1999 Jiffy Lube 300, Loudon Jeff Burton 38 1988 Firecracker 400, Daytona Bill Elliott 37 provisional 1999 NAPA 500, Atlanta Bobby Labonte 37 provisional 2000 Southern 500, Darlington Bobby Labonte 37 1995 Miller 500, Dover Kyle Petty 37 1959 Lakewood Speedway, Atl, GA Lee Petty 36 2000 Diehard 500, Talladega Jeff Gordon 35 2000 Cracker Barrel 500, Atlanta Dale Earnhardt (9-17-2000)