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2012 Dover II: NASCAR Sprint Cup Starting Line-up & Race Preview
By Mike Sulka
Today the NASCAR Sprint Cup series be racing at the Dover International Speedway, a track they've been visiting since 1969. The first race was won by NASCAR legend Richard Petty in his '69 Ford. In all, the series has raced at the infamous Monster Mile 84 times. The track is a one-mile oval with 24 degree banking in the turns and nine degree banking on the 1,076 foot straights. If the grandstands are completely filled today, over 140,000 NASCAR fans will be enjoying NASCAR's only race in the state of Delaware, and the third in a series a races for the Championship Chase.
Today's race should be dominated by 5-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and Jimmie Johnson who swept both races at Dover in 2009, won the second visit in 2010, and won the first visit earlier this year. That gives him four wins (and a second place finish - fall 2011) out of the last seven visits. And considering he led 589 of 1200 laps in the three races he didn't win... who would bet against that trend.
Maybe us.
When one looks at the number over the last four races or less, there is one name dominating the stats behind Johnson: Matt Kenseth. Kenseth had eight top-fives at Dover over the last nine visits including a win in the first visit in 2011.
In today's starting line-up three drivers have at least four all-time wins at Dover (Jimmie Johnson - 7, Jeff Gordon - 4, Mark Martin - 4). With Johnson's latest win he tied Bobby Allison (7 wins) & Richard Petty (7 wins) in all-time wins at the track.
As for manufacturer's there is no clear winner at the Monster Mile if you take out Johnson's dominance. All four manufacturers have won recently, but Chevrolet and Ford have had the best luck with nine and seven wins respectively. Though Kyle Busch has given Toyota two wins in the last nine races at Dover. And Dodge broke through with a victory during the 2011 visit.
Well, we did our best to convince ourselves otherwise, but our pick today is for Johnson to continue his Monster Mile success, but remember the Monster has no friends and hates winning streaks.
But should Johnson fail, keep an eye on the other Hendrick boys, Kenseth, and Jeff Burton. They all have seen their share of success at Dover.
You might also be interested to find out that we aren't adding Toyota driver Kyle Busch to this list. The problem is that he's all or nothing at this track. Out of 15 starts, he's finished 17th or worse six times.
So enjoy today's race!
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Starting Line Up by Row
Dover International Speedway
43rd Annual AAA 400
Provided by NASCAR Statistics - Sat, September 29, 2012 @ 03:06 PM Eastern
Track Race Record: Mark Martin 09/21/97 03:00:50 132.719
| Row |
Pos |
Car |
Driver |
Team |
Time |
Speed |
| 1 |
1 |
11 |
Denny Hamlin |
FedEx Office Toyota |
22.599 |
159.299 |
|
2 |
15 |
Clint Bowyer |
5-hour Energy Toyota |
22.604 |
159.264 |
| 2 |
3 |
56 |
Martin Truex Jr. |
NAPA Auto Parts Toyota |
22.613 |
159.200 |
|
4 |
22 |
Sam Hornish Jr.(i) |
Shell Pennzoil Dodge |
22.676 |
158.758 |
| 3 |
5 |
18 |
Kyle Busch |
Interstate Batteries Toyota |
22.689 |
158.667 |
|
6 |
16 |
Greg Biffle |
Scotch-Brite Ford |
22.707 |
158.541 |
| 4 |
7 |
24 |
Jeff Gordon |
Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet |
22.721 |
158.444 |
|
8 |
39 |
Ryan Newman |
US ARMY Chevrolet |
22.742 |
158.297 |
| 5 |
9 |
5 |
Kasey Kahne |
Farmers Insurance Chevrolet |
22.748 |
158.256 |
|
10 |
2 |
Brad Keselowski |
Miller Lite Dodge |
22.763 |
158.151 |
| 6 |
11 |
48 |
Jimmie Johnson |
Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet |
22.772 |
158.089 |
|
12 |
17 |
Matt Kenseth |
Ford EcoBoost Ford |
22.786 |
157.992 |
| 7 |
13 |
29 |
Kevin Harvick |
Budweiser Chevrolet |
22.789 |
157.971 |
|
14 |
20 |
Joey Logano |
The Home Depot Toyota |
22.789 |
157.971 |
| 8 |
15 |
99 |
Carl Edwards |
Fastenal Ford |
22.792 |
157.950 |
|
16 |
47 |
Bobby Labonte |
Kingsford Charcoal Toyota |
22.811 |
157.819 |
| 9 |
17 |
6 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.(i) |
Cargill Ford |
22.816 |
157.784 |
|
18 |
78 |
Regan Smith |
Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet |
22.835 |
157.653 |
| 10 |
19 |
27 |
Paul Menard |
Menards/CertainTeed Chevrolet |
22.842 |
157.604 |
|
20 |
1 |
Jamie McMurray |
McDonald's Chevrolet |
22.936 |
156.958 |
| 11 |
21 |
43 |
Aric Almirola |
Super 8 Ford |
22.941 |
156.924 |
|
22 |
83 |
Landon Cassill |
Burger King Toyota |
22.955 |
156.829 |
| 12 |
23 |
26 |
Josh Wise # |
MDS Transport Ford |
22.984 |
156.631 |
|
24 |
14 |
Tony Stewart |
Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet |
22.989 |
156.597 |
| 13 |
25 |
88 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet |
22.997 |
156.542 |
|
26 |
55 |
Mark Martin |
Aaron's 2000th Store - Bronx, NY Toyota |
23.005 |
156.488 |
| 14 |
27 |
9 |
Marcos Ambrose |
DeWalt Ford |
23.033 |
156.297 |
|
28 |
51 |
Kurt Busch |
Phoenix Construction Chevrolet |
23.043 |
156.230 |
| 15 |
29 |
91 |
Reed Sorenson(i) |
Plinker Tactical Toyota |
23.044 |
156.223 |
|
30 |
13 |
Casey Mears |
GEICO Ford |
23.050 |
156.182 |
| 16 |
31 |
34 |
David Ragan |
Long John Silver's Ford |
23.074 |
156.020 |
|
32 |
98 |
Michael McDowell |
Phil Parsons Racing Ford |
23.094 |
155.885 |
| 17 |
33 |
93 |
Travis Kvapil |
Burger King Toyota |
23.120 |
155.709 |
|
34 |
95 |
Scott Speed |
Jordan Truck Sales Ford |
23.160 |
155.440 |
| 18 |
35 |
42 |
Juan Pablo Montoya |
Target Chevrolet |
23.169 |
155.380 |
|
36 |
23 |
Scott Riggs |
North Texas Pipe Chevrolet |
23.188 |
155.253 |
| 19 |
37 |
87 |
Joe Nemechek(i) |
AM/FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota |
23.217 |
155.059 |
|
38 |
10 |
Danica Patrick(i) |
GoDaddy.com Chevrolet |
23.222 |
155.025 |
| 20 |
39 |
31 |
Jeff Burton |
Caterpillar Chevrolet |
23.279 |
154.646 |
|
40 |
36 |
JJ Yeley |
Drive Sober, Arrive Alive DE Chevrolet |
Owner Points |
|
| 21 |
41 |
32 |
TJ Bell(i) |
Green Smoke Ford |
Owner Points |
|
|
42 |
38 |
David Gilliland |
Taco Bell Ford |
Owner Points |
|
| 22 |
43 |
37 |
Dave Blaney |
MaxQWorkforce.com Chevrolet |
23.222 |
155.025 |
Did Not Qualify: # 30 David Stremme; # 19 Mike Bliss(i); # 49 Jason Leffler(i); # 33 Cole Whitt(i); # 79 Kelly Bires.
Manufacturer Starting Lineup DNQs Manufacturer Starting Lineup DNQs
Chevrolet 17 1 Ford 13 1
PaddockTalk Perspective
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Also in NASCAR News: - 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Sprint Cup LIVE Streaming, Timing, Weather & TV Schedule (09/30/12)
- Logano Completes Season Sweep At Dover With Win In 'OneMain Financial 200' (09/30/12)
- 2012 Dover II: Mike Wallace NASCAR Nationwide Race Recap (09/30/12)
- Ray Evernham Laces Up For Boot Campaign (09/30/12)
- 2012 Las Vegas: NASCAR Truck Race Results - Piquet Jr, Chevrolet Win! (09/30/12)
- 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Sprint Cup - Keys For Success (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Nationwide Race Results - Logano, Toyota Win! (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: Ford NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying Quotes (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: Dodge NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying Quotes (09/29/12)
- Speedway Children's Charities, The Dale Jr Foundation To Partner For Track Walk (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Sprint Cup Qualifying Results - Hamlin, Toyota On Pole! (09/29/12)
- Statement From Clay Campbell On The Passing Of Chris Economaki (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Nationwide Qualifying Results - Wallace Jr, Toyota On Pole! (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II (Qualifying): NASCAR Sprint Cup LIVE Timing, Weather, TV Coverage & Schedule (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Nationwide LIVE Streaming, Timing, Weather, TV Coverage & Schedule (09/29/12)
- 2012 Las Vegas: NASCAR Truck Qualifying Results - Coulter, Chevrolet On Pole! (09/29/12)
- RAM Grant Enfinger And Doug Randolph Open Interview Quotes - Las Vegas (09/29/12)
- Lajoie Gets 'Monster' Win In The American Real TV 150 (09/29/12)
- Johnny Vandoorn Leads Friday Glass City 200 Practice (09/29/12)
- 2012 Dover II: NASCAR Sprint Cup Final Practice Results - Gordon, Chevrolet Fastest! (09/28/12)
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