NASCAR returns to Dover Motor Speedway this weekend for what promises to be a high-stakes, action-packed stretch of racing on one of the sport’s most unforgiving tracks. Headlining the weekend is Sunday’s Cup Series race, the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400, which also serves as a crucial round in NASCAR’s new In-Season Challenge. With playoff implications on the line and momentum building toward the final showdown at the Brickyard, every lap will matter. Fans can expect intense battles, tight strategy, and plenty of drama as drivers fight for position on the concrete battleground known as the Monster Mile.
Leading up to Sunday, the action starts on Saturday, July 19, with the BetRivers 200 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. It’s a 200-lap race beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET, featuring stages at laps 45 and 90. On Friday, July 18, the weekend kicks off with the General Tire 150, an ARCA Menards Series 150-lap event, complete with practice and qualifying sessions Friday afternoon. Together, they form an exciting tripleheader that will draw fans for three consecutive days of racing.
Shane van Gisbergen has absolutely stamped his authority as NASCAR’s premier road-course ace, racking up three Cup Series wins in just five weeks—Mexico City’s Viva México 250, the Chicago Street Race, and most recently at Sonoma Raceway. Each of these wins came from pole position, making him the first driver since Jeff Gordon in the late 1990s to pull off three straight road-course victories from the top starting spot. His dominance at Sonoma, where he led 97 of 110 laps, tied him with Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin for the most wins so far this season. Now, eyes turn to Dover to see if his momentum carries over to the high-banked oval.
Track Details – Dover Motor Speedway: Known as the “Monster Mile,” Dover is a tough, 1-mile concrete oval with steep 24-degree banking in the turns and 9 degrees on the straights. The track is approximately 1,076 feet long on the straightaways and 58 feet wide in the corners, with pit road stretching nearly 1,580 feet. The high banking and concrete surface make for a physically demanding race, both on equipment and drivers, and it’s well-known for its unforgiving nature—hence the “Monster” nickname. With a seating capacity near 58,500 plus on-site camping—including infield RV camping—fans are in for an immersive and authentic NASCAR experience.
This year carries extra appeal as it’s the first July Cup weekend at Dover since 1969, marking a nostalgic return to summer racing under the sun. That 1969 race was the inaugural Cup Series event at Dover, famously won by Richard Petty by six laps.
Off-track, the Fan Zone will be in full swing with live entertainment, interactions with current Cup Series champions like Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson appearing at the Monster Monument, and philanthropic initiatives led by Speedway Children’s Charities. Expect concerts, Q&A sessions, charity events, and giveaways—designed to engage the entire family and enhance the race-day atmosphere.
Dover Motor Speedway NASCAR Weekend Schedule
Friday July 18
1:40 pm ARCA Menards Series Practice
2:40 pm ARCA Menards Series Qualifying
5:00 pm ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150, TV/Streaming: FS1 Winner: Brenden Queen, Results
Saturday July 19
11:00 am NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice, Streaming: CW App
12:05 pm NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying, Streaming: CW App Pole: Taylor Gray, Starting Lineup
1:35 pm NASCAR Cup Series Practice, TV/Streaming: TruTV; Radio: PRN, SiriusXM
2:45 pm NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying, TV/Streaming: TruTV; Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Pole: Chase Elliott, Qualifying Cancelled
4:30 pm NASCAR Xfinity Series BetRivers 200, TV/Streaming: CW; Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Winner: Connor Zilisch, Results
Sunday July 20
2:00 pm NASCAR Cup Series Auto Trader EchoPark Automotive 400, TV/Streaming: TNT Sports, HBO MAX; Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Winner: Denny Hamlin, Results
Previous Winners
Cup Series: Denny Hamlin (2024, 2020), Other winners in the field include: Chase Elliott, (2022, 2018 Fall), Alex Bowman (2021), Kyle Larson (2019), Kyle Busch (2017 Fall)
Xfinity Series: Ryan Truex (2024, 2023)
ARCA Menards Series: Connor Zilisch (2024)
Weather
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Friday
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88°
72°
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Very warm and humid with clouds and sun; a heavy thunderstorm in the afternoon; thunderstorms can bring flash flooding and localized damaging wind gusts
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Saturday
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86°
74°
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Humid; sun and areas of high clouds in the morning, then mostly cloudy in the afternoon
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Sunday
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86°
73°
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Variable cloudiness with a thunderstorm; very humid
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