Delaware Fact: On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and has since been known as “The First State”.

Dover International Speedway – Celebrated 50 Years in 2019

Dover International Speedway (formerly Dover Downs International Speedway) is a race track in Dover, Delaware, United States. Since opening in 1969, it has held at least two NASCAR races each year. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the Indy Racing League. The track features one layout, a 1 mile concrete oval, with 24° banking in the turns and 9° banking on the straights. The speedway is owned and operated by Dover Motorsports. The track, nicknamed “The Monster Mile”, was built in 1969 by Melvin Joseph of Melvin L. Joseph Construction Company, Inc., with an asphalt surface, but was replaced with concrete in 1995. Six years later in 2001, the track’s capacity moved to 135,000 seats, making the track have the largest capacity of sports venue in the mid-Atlantic. In 2002, the name changed to Dover International Speedway from Dover Downs International Speedway after Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment split, making Dover Motorsports. From 2007 to 2009, the speedway worked on an improvement project called “The Monster Makeover”, which expanded facilities at the track and beautified the track. Depending on configuration, the track’s capacity is at 95,500 seats. Its grand total maximum capacity was at 135,000 spectators.

Miles the Monster – The speedway’s mascot is called “Miles the Monster,” which is a monster spawned from the track’s nickname, “The Monster Mile.” The monster is featured on the winner’s trophy, the track’s tickets, memorabilia, website, and the 46-foot Monster Monument. A previous nickname that the track had was “White Lightning,” used in the initial years after the track surface changed from asphalt to concrete.

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