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  DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Dover, Delaware
2007 Dates
Neighborhood Excellence 400 presented by Bank of America, June 3
Dover 400, September 23
Track Specs
1 mile oval
Banking/Turns: 24 degrees
Banking/Straightaways: 9 degrees
June 2005 Results
Winner: Matt Kenseth
Pole: Ryan Newman
September 2005 Results
Winner: Jeff Burton
Pole: Jeff Gordon
What to watch for
The Car of Tomorrow will be used in both events at Dover this season. While that makes for some uncertainty, we still have no choice but to go on track record alone.

Dover is a narrow, fast track that usually collects multiple parties when an accident occurs. Staying out front is the easiest way not to get caught up in someone else's mess.

The Monster Mile gave Jeff Burton his first win for Richard Childress. Burton took the checkers after an aggressive but clean battle with Matt Kenseth, who won at Dover in June. Kenseth led 215 laps in September before falling about a gallon of gas short of another win, settling for a 10th-place finish. He is the cream of the crop at the Delaware oval and should be considered the driver to beat. Burton is also in the top group, and a repeat in 2007 is not out of the question.

Jimmie Johnson has a fast history at Dover, with a win in 2005 and back-to-back checkered flags in '02. And since crashing out in June 2004, Johnson has not finished worse than 13th at the intermediate track.

Since winning in June 2005, Greg Biffle has finished fifth, eighth and 13th at the Monster Mile. In those races, Biffle has led a combined 223 laps and must be included among the favorites to win in 2007.

Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon have all been tough to beat up north. They claim nine victories among them on the concrete.

A potential dark horse is Kyle Busch, who had engine trouble end his run of three consecutive top 5 finishes in Delaware, which included repeat runner-up results in the 21-year-old phenom's first two races at the Monster Mile.

Keep an eye on...
• Carl Edwards -- Edwards has no victories to boast of in Delaware, but his finishes keep getting better and better. Last fall he ran runner-up, so there's only one place left to go.

• Bobby Labonte -- If Petty Enterprises has its COT anywhere close, Labonte may sneak up and post a good finish. In the 43 last season, he finished seventh and 13th.

• Mark Martin -- Assuming he seats up in the Ginn Chevy - and he should - Martin will have a better-than-average shot at winning. He makes no bones about Dover being one of his favorite tracks. Before last fall's 14th, Martin had notched consecutive finishes of ninth, fourth, third, second and first.


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