The First State welcomes the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend for the first and only time in 2021. Sunday afternoon’s Drydene 400 at Dover International Speedway marks the 13th race of the season. We will be halfway through the regular-season calendar after this weekend. The ‘Monster Mile’ is no easy track to master, and driver skillset is certainly a major theme when it comes to this week’s NASCAR betting trends.
The following article breaks down several noteworthy stats, trends and facts for Sunday’s Drydene 400 at Dover.
NASCAR Betting Trends for the Drydene 400
Originally an asphalt surface, Dover International Speedway was transformed into concrete back in 1995. The new, trickier surface is what brought about the ‘Monster Mile’ nickname and track mascot, Miles the Monster. Surviving a Dover race unscathed is easier said than done for many drivers. This is a track where cream typically rises to the top in terms of talent.
Check out our Dover International Speedway overview article for more info on the ‘Monster Mile’!
The following sections break down several different types of trends specific to the Drydene 400. These trends can be useful when making NASCAR betting picks on this weekend’s race.
NASCAR Betting Driver Trends
NASCAR betting handicappers need not look any further than the drivers atop the all-time wins list for the Drydene 400 race to see just how important talent behind the wheel is at Dover. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson leads the way with five victories. Right behind him sits The King, Richard Petty with four. Petty also won the first-ever edition of this race back in 1971.
When it comes to active Cup Series drivers, only two have scored multiple Drydene 400 victories in their careers. Both are established veterans of the sport at that. Kevin Harvick is the defending champion and also won this race in 2015. Ryan Newman joins him with two victories, courtesy of back-to-back wins in 2003 and ‘04.
NASCAR Betting Team Trends
Hendrick Motorsports leads all race teams with 10 total Drydene 400 victories. The most recent came courtesy of reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott in 2018. However, 2019 race winner Kyle Larson is also now a member of the four-car Hendrick garage.
NASCAR Betting Manufacturer Trends
Chevrolet has the most Drydene 400 wins among all manufacturers with 21. Chevy Camaros have gone to victory lane in two of the last three and five of the last eight years. 2020 winner Kevin Harvick marked the first NASCAR betting win in this race for Ford manufacturer since 2008.
Dover International Speedway Driver Statistics
The tables below contain NASCAR betting driver statistics specific to recent races at Dover International Speedway.
Average Finish at Dover International Speedway
Note: Data is taken from the ten most recent Dover races
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Best Finish | Average Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael McDowell | 10 | 1 | 11.0 |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | 10 | 1 | 13.5 |
| 3 | Bubba Wallace | 8 | 2 | 15.1 |
| 4 | Kyle Larson | 9 | 6 | 15.8 |
| 5 | Austin Dillon | 10 | 1 | 16.1 |
| 6 | Ryan Newman | 10 | 5 | 16.2 |
| 7 | Christopher Bell | 3 | 13 | 16.7 |
| 8 | Alex Bowman | 7 | 7 | 17.9 |
| 9 | Ross Chastain | 6 | 7 | 18.2 |
| 10 | Joey Logano | 10 | 4 | 18.3 |
| 11 | Corey LaJoie | 9 | 6 | 18.7 |
| T-12 | Aric Almirola | 9 | 4 | 18.9 |
| T-12 | Matt DiBenedetto | 10 | 7 | 18.9 |
| 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 10 | 1 | 19.0 |
| 15 | Chris Buescher | 10 | 3 | 19.2 |
Driver Rating at Dover
Note: Ratings reflect the average of the five most recent Dover races
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Car Number | Average Driver Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joey Logano | 7 | 22 | 93.1 |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | 7 | 11 | 92.1 |
| 3 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 7 | 47 | 87.2 |
| 4 | Kyle Busch | 7 | 18 | 86.3 |
| 5 | Chase Elliott | 7 | 9 | 85.6 |
| 6 | Ryan Blaney | 7 | 12 | 83.8 |
| 7 | Alex Bowman | 7 | 48 | 83.2 |
| 8 | Kevin Harvick | 7 | 4 | 82.8 |
| 9 | Austin Dillon | 7 | 3 | 82.6 |
| 10 | Michael McDowell | 7 | 34 | 82.0 |
| 11 | Christopher Bell | 3 | 20 | 81.4 |
| 12 | William Byron | 7 | 24 | 78.7 |
| 13 | Bubba Wallace | 7 | 23 | 76.9 |
| 14 | Kyle Larson | 6 | 5 | 76.1 |
| 15 | Brad Keselowski | 7 | 2 | 75.2 |
The Race That Shrinks
In a bit of a unique quirk, the Drydene 400 race has actually gotten shorter over the years. That first edition that Richard Petty won back in 1971 was run as the “Delaware 500”. The race was run at a 500-mile distance all the way through the 1996 NASCAR betting season. The following year marked the first edition at a 400-mile distance.
The only race since 1997 that has not been 400 miles in length was last year’s Drydene 400. Kevin Harvick triumphed in a race that was only 311 miles. This adjustment was made for the 2020 season only as part of NASCAR’s on-the-fly rescheduling. Given that it was the second race at Dover International Speedway in one weekend, the decision was made to shorten it down.
Rest assured though race fans: this year’s race is back to the typical distance! That being said, Dover’s NASCAR schedule did shrink this weekend. For the first time since 1970, the Delaware track will only host one weekend of racing this year. The ‘Monster Mile’ lost its second annual NASCAR Cup Series race to Nashville Superspeedway.
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