Fuel & Tires: NASCAR in Dover, IndyCar in Detroit
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We’ve got another fairly busy racing weekend coming up with NASCAR, IndyCar and local track action. Let’s see what’s happening.
NASCAR
All three top NASCAR series head to Dover International Speedway in Delaware for races. The one-mile concrete oval nicknamed “The Monster Mile” has hosted NASCAR since 1969.
—Defending race winner Jimmie Johnson holds the track record for wins with nine, including four wins in the spring race. Jeff Gordon, who has five wins at the track, won the fall race last season.
—Other former race winners in the field include Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle.
—Points leader Kevin Harvick has never won a Sprint Cup Series race at the track. Martin Truex Jr., who is second in points, has one win at the track as do Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who are third and fourth in points.
—Coverage of qualifying for the FedEx 400 airs at 2:30 p.m. Friday with race coverage starting at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, both on Fox Sports 1.
—The Xfinity Series will hold the Buckle Up 200 on Saturday at Dover. Kyle Busch won this race last year and has a record five series wins at the track.
—The entry list includes Sprint Cup regulars Kenseth, Kasey Kahne and Austin Dillon as well as truck series regular Erik Jones.
—Qualifying coverage for the FedEx 400 airs at 10 a.m. Saturday on Fox Sports 1 with race coverage starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Fox.
—The Camping World Truck Series holds the Lucas Oil 200 on Friday at Dover. Kyle Busch won this race last season and has four wins at the track in the truck series, including three of the last four.
—In fourteen starts at the track, points leader Matt Crafton’s best finish the track is second. As a matter of fact, Busch is the only former race winner in the field.
—Qualifying coverage for the Lucas Oil 200 starts at 11:30 a.m. Friday with race coverage starting at 4 p.m., both on Fox Sports 1.
INDYCAR
The Verizon IndyCar Series hits Motor City for the Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit, a doubleheader with races on both Saturday and Sunday. The races are held on Belle Isle, an island park on the Detroit River. While the CART series raced here from 1989-2001, the IndyCar Series revived the race for 2007 and 2008 and has held in annually since 2012 and as a doubleheader since 2013.
—Helio Castroneves, who fell short of winning his fourth Indianapolis 500 last weekend, has won here three times, in 2000, 2001 and 2014. His teammate Will Power won the other race of the doubleheader last season.
—Other former race winners in the field include Tony Kanaan, Scott Dixon and Simon Pagenaud. Michael Andretti, Danny Sullivan, Greg Moore and Alex Zanardi have also won races here.
—Points leader and last week’s Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya has not finished higher than twelfth at this race in four starts.
—Coverage of both races will air on ABC at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
—The Tudor United SportsCar Championship will run as a lead-in to the IndyCar race. Fox Sports 2 will have coverage at 11 a.m. Saturday.
LOCAL RACES
—Racing at Madison International Speedway starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday with NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Bandits and Six Shooters divisions. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. with practice at 5 p.m. and qualifying at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors and $8 students ages 11-17. Kids under age 11 are admitted free this Friday. Get tickets here.
—Catch NASCAR Late Models, Sportsman, Short Trackers and Road Runners action at Rockford Speedway at 7 p.m. Saturday. Gates open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 adults, $8 students ages 12-17 and kids ages 6-11. Get tickets here.
—Jefferson Speedway will have racing in multiple divisions, including a 50-lap Late Model feature at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12 adults, $8 seniors over age 65, $8 students ages 12-15 and $4 kids ages 8-11. Gates open at 2 p.m. with time trials at 5 p.m.
Dave von Falkenstein is a digital content coordinator for The Gazette and an auto racing fan. Follow him on Twitter at @achtungvon or email him at [email protected].
