Race 2 Win: MBNA RacePoints 400

Nextel Cup Series

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MBNA RacePoints 400 - Race Notes

Dover International Speedway

Track data:
Race #: 13 of 36 (6-5-05) Track Size: 1 Mile
Event: MBNA RacePoints 400 Number of Laps: 400
Location: Dover, DE Length of Event: 400 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 1,076 Feet Degree of Banking in Corners: 24?
Length of Back Stretch: 1,076 Feet Degree of Banking on Straights: 9?

Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's event pole winner: Jeremy Mayfield 161.522 mph 6-4-05 22.288 seconds
Last year's event winner: Mark Martin 97.042 mph 6-6-04 4 hrs, 07 min, 19 sec
Track qualifying record: Jeremy Mayfield 161.522 mph 6/4/04 22.288 seconds
400-Mile race record: Mark Martin 132.719 mph 9-21-97 3hrs, 00min, 50 sec

Historical data:
Previous winners at Dover:
Bobby Allison (7) Richard Petty (7) David Pearson (5) Bill Elliott (4) Harry Gant (4) Ricky Rudd (4) Jeff Gordon (4) Mark Martin (4) Cale Yarborough (3) Dale Earnhardt (3) Rusty Wallace (3) Ryan Newman (3) Darrell Waltrip (2) Benny Parsons (2) Neil Bonnett (2) Tony Stewart (2) Jimmie Johnson (2) Jody Ridley (1) Geoffrey Bodine (1) Derrike Cope (1) Ken Schrader (1) Davey Allison (1) Kyle Petty (1) Dale Jarrett (1) Bobby Labonte (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1)
Races won from the pole: 11 of 70 events (16%)
Races won from the top 10: 57 of 70 events (81%)
Races won from outside top 10: 13 of 70 events (19%)

Track Milestones

David Pearson won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Busch Pole at Dover Downs International Speedway in July 1969.

Richard Petty won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Dover, the 1969 Mason-Dixon 300.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Dover was changed to a 500-mile format in 1971 and then to 400 miles in September 1997.

Track Update
In five of the last 11 years a single driver swept both races at Dover. Ryan Newman was the most recent driver to sweep both races at Dover (2003). Other drivers to sweep both races since 1994: Jimmie Johnson (2002), Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (1996) and Rusty Wallace (1994).

Manufacturer Update
Dodge won its first Dover race since 1975, when Ryan Newman won there in June 2003, from the Bud Pole starting position. Newman repeated as the race winner in the fall race, the first time Dodge posted consecutive victories at Dover. Newman won again in the fall of 2004, giving Dodge three of their five Dover victories in the past four races.

Qualifying Update
There have been five different Bud Pole winners in the last seven races at Dover. Jeremy Mayfield (both 2004) is the only repeat Bud Pole winner there since the fall of 2001. Qualifying was canceled due to weather in September 2003.

Would You Believe?
Dover International Speedway is one of only three tracks where Ryan Newman has a better average finish than his average start. In six races at Dover, Newman has five top-10s - including three victories – for an average finish of 6.50. His average start is 8.67. The other tracks were Newman has finished better than he has started (based on averages) are Daytona (23.14/23.57) and Sonoma (9.33/17.33).

The Money
Purse $5,541,387
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $10,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $10,000

Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side — D-6852; Right-side -- D-6812
Other Tracks With This Same Tire Combination: None
Estimated Pit Window: Every 90 - 100 laps, based on fuel mileage
Speed Limits: Pit Road – 45 mph; Caution Car – 50 mph

Notebook

The field will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.

Two qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as required.

There have been 70 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover International Speedway.

There was one race in 1969 and 1970, both 300-milers. There have been two races per year since 1971.

Jeremy Mayfield is the defending Bud Pole winner for the MBNA RacePoints 400. Mayfield swept both Bud Poles there in 2004

Retired driver, David Pearson leads all drivers with six Bud Poles at Dover.

Rusty Wallace leads all active drivers with five Bud Poles at Dover.

Mark Martin is the defending champion of the MBNA RacePoints 400.

Retired drivers, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, lead all drivers each with seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Dover.

Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Ricky Rudd lead all active drivers, each with four victories at Dover. Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace follow with three each.

In the 34 years of twice-a-year NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Dover (1971 to 2004), a sweep has occurred nine times – including three of the past five seasons. Ryan Newman is the most recent driver to win both Dover races in the same year (2003). Jimmie Johnson (2002), Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (1996), Rusty Wallace (1994), Dale Earnhardt (1989), Bill Elliott (1988), Bobby Allison (1983) and David Pearson (1973) are the other drivers who swept both races in the same year.

Forty-three of 70 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position while only 13 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.

Five of the last eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position. However, four of the last 10 races there have been won from a starting position of 10th or further back.

Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Penske Racing (three each) have won nine of the last 12 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover. Roush Racing (two) and DEI (one) have the other Dover victories since 1999.

Jeremy Mayfield set the track qualifying record for Dover with a qualifying lap of 161.522 mph for the MBNA 400 “A Salute to Heroes” in June 2004. Mark Martin's 97.042 mph average speed for that race was the slowest in the 69-race history of Dover.

Tony Stewart has two victories and 11 top-10 finishes in 12 races at Dover. His other finish there was 11th in June 2002. He has led at least a lap in 10 of his 12 Dover races. In spite of his racing success there, Stewart has started from the top-10 only three times.

Ryan Newman (three) and Jimmie Johnson (two) have dominated victory lane in the six races that they have both competed in at Dover. Newman has a 6.50 average finish while Johnson has a 15.00.

Bobby Labonte posted 11 top-10 finishes, including 10 top-fives, in the 12 Dover races between 1995 and 2000. He has one finish better than 12th in the eight races beginning June 2001.

Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler have each competed in 12 Dover races without posting a DNF there.

Recent Rookie Success at Dover

Scott Riggs posted his career-first top-five finish when he finished fifth at Dover in June 2004.

Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle both posted a top-10 finish at Dover in their rookie season (2003).

Jimmie Johnson won his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup attempt at Dover (June 2002). Ryan Newman finished fourth in that race – also his first time to compete at Dover. Johnson also won his second race at Dover with Newman finishing eighth.

Kevin Harvick posted top-10 finishes in both of his races at Dover in his rookie season (2001).

Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 10th in his first race at Dover (2000).

Matt Kenseth finished sixth or better in his first three races at Dover, including his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start (substituting for Bill Elliott in September 1998).

Tony Stewart finished fourth and second in his first two races at Dover (1999).

Ricky Rudd Expected to Set Mark at Dover International Speedway
Ricky Rudd is expected to make his 54th start at Dover International Speedway which would move him into a tie with Dave Marcis (54) for the most races all-time at Dover. Four of Rudd's 23 victories occurred at Dover.

Career Milestones
Tony Stewart is expected to make his 225th consecutive NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Dover. Stewart has competed, without absence, in all 225 races of his career that began at Daytona in February 1999.

Point Leader at Dover International Speedway
Jimmie Johnson has competed in six races at Dover International Speedway. He won both races there in 2002 and has scored four top-10 finishes.

Defending NEXTEL Cup Champion at Dover International Speedway
Kurt Busch has competed in nine races at Dover International Speedway scoring just two top-10 finishes. He scored his best Dover finish (fifth) in September 2004.

Strong Starter at Dover
Ryan Newman has posted five straight top-five starts at Dover International Speedway, including a Bud Pole there in June 2003 and second-place starts in both races there in 2004. Jeremy Mayfield won both Bud Poles at Dover in 2004.

Dover Done
Tony Stewart has finished 11th or better, including two victories and nine top-five finishes, in all 12 of his races at Dover International Speedway. His 4.25 average finish is the best among drivers with more than two starts there. He has completed all but one lap, scored more points and led more laps than any other driver in the 12-race period.

Winning From Up Front at Dover
Seven of the last eight races at Dover have been won from a top-10 starting position.

Dover Streaks

Tony Stewart has finished sixth or better in his last five races at Dover.

Jeremy Mayfield has scored three consecutive top-10 finishes at Dover.

And Beat Goes On
Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart have each been running at the finish in all 12 of their races at Dover.

Owner Domination at Dover International Speedway
Rick Hendrick is the all-time winning owner at Dover International Speedway, posting nine victories with five different drivers (Jeff Gordon-four, Jimmie Johnson-two, Ricky Rudd- one, Geoffrey Bodine and Ken Schrader-one).

Dover Sweeps
There have been nine seasons with sweeps at Dover since the track hosted twice-a-year races beginning in 1971, including three of the last five seasons: Tony Stewart (2000), Jimmie Johnson (2002) and Ryan Newman (2003).

Don't Tell Me You Can't
Kyle Petty won the 1995 Miller Genuine Draft 500 at Dover International Speedway from the 37th starting position. This is the furthest back a race winner has started and won in the 36-year history at Dover International Speedway

Gordon Leads the Way at Dover
Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 2,117 laps led at Dover International Speedway, leading in 16 of his 24 races there. However, he has failed to lead in five of his past 10 races there, including this race last June.

Tough at Dover in 2004

Mark Martin has scored two consecutive top-five finishes at Dover, finishing first in this race one year ago and second there last September.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeremy Mayfield and Tony Stewart scored top-10 finishes in both races at Dover in 2004.

Dover May Spell Trouble for Some of the Top 10

Second-place Greg Biffle has scored only one top-10 finish in five races at Dover International Speedway.

Third-place Elliott Sadler has scored only one top-10 finish in 12 races at Dover International Speedway.

Tenth-place Kurt Busch has scored just two top-10 finishes in nine races at Dover International Speedway.

Selected Dover Records

Rusty Wallace leads all active drivers with five Bud Poles in 42 races. He is ranked second all-time to David Pearson, who had six Bud Poles at Dover. He is tied with Mark Martin for the most front-row starts at Dover among active drivers, both with eight.

Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Ricky Rudd lead all active drivers, each with four victories at Dover.

Mark Martin leads all drivers with 16 top-five finishes in 37 races at Dover International Speedway.

Ricky Rudd has scored 26 top-10 finishes at Dover, more than any other active driver at Dover.

Mark Martin has led in 25 of his 37 races at Dover, more than any other driver.

Jeff Gordon has led 2,117 laps at Dover International Speedway, more than any other active driver. Gordon has led in 16 of his 24 races at there.

Ryan Newman has an 8.66 starting average in six races at Dover International Speedway, the best among all active drivers with more than two starts there.

Tony Stewart has a 4.25 average finish in 12 races at Dover International Speedway, the best among all drivers with more than two starts there.

35 of the 70 races at Dover (50 percent) have been won from starting positions of third or better.

Dover “Downs”

Matt Kenseth finished 22nd and 32nd at Dover in 2004.

Sterling Marlin has finished 13th or worse in his last six races at Dover.

Casey Mears has finished 24th or worse in his four races at Dover.

Elliott Sadler has finished 18th or worse in his last five races at Dover.

Joe Nemechek has finished 23rd or worse in his last six races at Dover.

Winning Tougher than Ever in 2005
After 12 races in 2005, there are nine drivers who won in 2004 that have not won in 2005 (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace and Joe Nemechek).

Manufacturer Dominance
Only twice in the last nine seasons has the same manufacturer not won both races at Dover ((1999 and 2004).

Starting Up Front Never Hurt
Only Ryan Newman has started every race in 2005 from a top-10 starting position. Newman has scored 19 straight top-10 starts, since Kansas last October. Bobby Issac set the record of 66 straight top-10 starts between September 1969 and March 1971.

Streaks
Rusty Wallace has been running at the finish in 25 consecutive races, the longest current streak.

Get Those Bonus Points
Greg Biffle is the only driver to lead at least one lap in nine of the 12 races in 2005. Biffle has led 740 laps this season, 196 more than Tony Stewart (544) the next highest lap leader.

Maintaining a Top-10 Standard

Kurt Busch has ranked in the top-10 of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings for 47 consecutive races since Rockingham in February 2004, the longest current streak.

Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch are the only drivers that have ranked in the top 10 in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after every race in 2005.

2005 Struggles

Dale Earnhardt Jr. ((15th after Charlotte) has ranked among the top 10 after just three of the 12 races this season. He ranked first in the point standings after 12 races one year ago.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has led only five laps in 2005. Dale Jarrett has led only one.

Mark Martin has led only 10 laps in 2005. Jeff Burton has led only six and Ricky Rudd has led only one..

Matt Kenseth ranks 23rd in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 12 races in 2005. One year ago he was third.

Sterling Marlin has dropped from sixth to 20th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings in the last five races.

News and Results | Point Standings | 2005 Schedule | 2005 Teams | 2004 Schedule and Results