Preview: The AAA 400 Drive for Autism Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Race at Dover International Speedway

Can Jimmie Johnson get another Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race win at Dover International Speedway?

byT. Walker|
Preview: The AAA 400 Drive for Autism Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Race at Dover International Speedway
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At this point in the game, it's anyone's guess as to who will maneuver their way into Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway this weekend. That being said, there are a few resources to go off of in order to develop some educated guesses, most of which include veteran drivers ruling at the famed Monster Mile.

Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR Cup champion, has dominated at Dover International Speedway. That’s a fact, not an opinion. In thirty-two starts at the Monster Mile, Johnson compiled seventeen top-five finishes, twenty-three top-10s, and eleven wins.

The 2002 season was Jimmie Johnson’s first year racing full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He won three races that year, including his first career Cup win at Fontana, his home track. Johnson won the Spring and Fall races at Dover that year. He then scored his first Dover win in June 2002, a race where the runner-up was Bill Elliott. He also beat Dale Jarrett, Ricky Craven, Bobby Labonte, and Jeff Burton who finished third. Johnson’s last win at the track was in 2017.

While thirty-two career starts at one track may seem like a lifetime in racing, there are a few more drivers that come close. Kurt Busch has thirty-five starts at Dover. Kevin Harvick has thirty-four starts at the one-mile oval track, and like Johnson, Ryan Newman has thirty-two. Kurt Busch and Harvick each have one win at Dover and Newman has three. It's worth noting that Kyle Busch has just twenty-six starts and three wins. The only driver that had come close to Johnson’s success at Dover is Richard Petty who has eight wins.

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, talks with his crew chief, Chad Knaus, during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway., Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Schedule for Dover International Speedway:

AAA 400 Drive for Autism (Follow live)

The Place: The Place: Dover International Speedway

The Date: Sunday, May 6, 2018.

The Time: Approximately 2:00 p.m. ET

TV: Fox Sports 1, 12:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Hashtag: #AAA400 #DriveForAutism

Distance: 400 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 120), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 240), Final Stage (Ends on lap 400)

Press Pass (Watch live)

Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race: 5:45 p.m. ET

 

Starting Lineup

(Position, Driver, Manufacturer)

1. Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

2. Kevin Harvick, Ford

3. Martin Truex Jr., Toyota

4. Kyle Busch, Toyota

5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford

6. Chase Elliott, Chevrolet

7. Daniel Suarez, Toyota

8. Brad Keselowski, Ford

9. Kurt Busch, Haas Ford

10. Denny Hamlin, Toyota

11. Erik Jones, Toyota

12. Clint Bowyer, Ford

13. Aric Almirola, Ford

14. Ryan Blaney, Ford

15. Alex Bowman, Chevrolet

16. Chris Buescher, Chevrolet

17. William Byron, Chevrolet

18. Joey Logano, Ford

19. Jimmie Johnson, Low Chevrolet

20. Paul Menard, Ford

21. Ryan Newman, Chevrolet

22. Trevor Bayne, Ford

23. Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet

24. Matt DiBenedetto, Ford

25. Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet

26. Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet

27. Austin Dillon, Chevrolet

28. AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet

29. Michael McDowell, Ford

30. Ty Dillon, Chevrolet

31. Ross Chastain, Chevrolet

32. David Ragan, Ford

33. Landon Cassill, Chevrolet

34. Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet

35. Gray Gaulding, Toyota

36. Derrike Cope, Chevrolet

37. Cody Ware, Chevrolet

38. Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet

Past 10 Winners at Dover International Speedway

(Year, Driver, Manufacturer)

2008, Kyle Busch, Toyota

2009, Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

2010, Kyle Busch, Toyota

2011, Matt Kenseth, Ford

2012, Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

2013, Tony Stewart, Chevrolet

2014, Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

2015, Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

2016, Matt Kenseth, Toyota

2017, Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet

Can Jimmie Johnson drive his No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet to a record twelve race wins at Dover in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series?  Will Lowe's, which has been the primary sponsor for all of Johnson's career Cup wins, experience one last hooray before exiting the sport at the end of this season?  Should fans look for a young driver to finally roll into Victory Lane on Sunday after the AAA 400 Drive for Autism Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race at Dover International Speedway? Leave a comment below and let’s get the discussion going.

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