Dover International Speedway has earned the "Monster Mile" nickname by being tough on drivers and tough on equipment. The high-banked, one-mile concrete oval always puts on a great show, and is known for producing gritty, side-by-side action each race weekend.
Kevin Harvick on Dover
What kind of track is Dover?
“Dover is an extremely fast track. You really need to concentrate the entire race just to make sure you don’t get caught up in someone else’s mistake. The track is very narrow with a lot of banking, which makes for some great side by side racing. This track is one of the toughest places on our circuit to pass. You also need to have a good qualify run, since pit road is very small and narrow which can cause you to loose many valuable positions in during a routine pit stop."
Kevin Harvick
What are the keys to being successful at Dover?
“The key to being successful at Dover is rhythm. If you get into a rhythm with a particular setup, you're going to be successful there. The last few races at Dover we have had trouble, but hopefully we can turn that around in 2008.”
Kevin Harvick
Do you think Dover is more like Bristol or Richmond?
“It is like a big Bristol. It is a place where you can lean on the banking a lot. You have to make your car turn and, as the race goes on, the track changes a lot as it takes rubber. You have to keep up with the race track as the rubber builds.”
Kevin Harvick
What is tricky about Dover?
“Getting the balance on the car right. Just running your car free enough where you can get back on the throttle in the middle of the corner and get off the corner without pushing the front tires. It’s a pretty sensitive race track and it is tough to get the balance right.”
Kevin Harvick
When you go into the corners at Dover there is an obvious drop off. Do you feel like you are driving up hill?
“You do come out of a hole coming off the corners. Going into turn one is a pretty drastic transition. There is a big bump going into turn one but you come up off the corners and drive up hill.”
Kevin Harvick
Is it hard to avoid accidents when they happen at Dover?
“Things happen really fast. There really isn’t a lot you can do. But, you can usually tell when something is getting ready to happen in front of you. The real trouble spots are driving in too deep under someone getting in and washing up, getting a bad push or loose off the corners. The track is self cleaning with all the banking so it’s hard to get out of the way if you are in the groove and it all starts coming down the hills.”
Kevin Harvick
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