Dover International Speedway is an oval race track in Dover, Delaware, United States that has held at least two NASCAR races since it opened in 1969. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosted USAC and the NTT IndyCar Series. The track features one layout, a 1 mile (1.6 km) 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. After the 2014 season, the track's capacity was reduced to 95,500 seats.
While there were initially three practices scheduled, with one on Friday and two on Saturday, the lone Friday practice was canceled due to constant rain. Only the two Saturday practices were run.[2]
First practice
The first 45-minute practice session would occur on Saturday, June 4, at 9:30 AM EST.[3]Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a 22.992 and an average speed of 156.576 miles per hour (251.985 km/h).[4]
The second and final 45-minute practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, would occur on Saturday, June 4, at 11:10 AM EST.[3]Jeremy Mayfield of Evernham Motorsports would set the fastest time in the session, with a 23.096 and an average speed of 155.871 miles per hour (250.850 km/h).[5]
Qualifying was originally scheduled to be held on Friday, June 3, at 3:10 PM EST.[3] However, Friday's activities would be rained out and canceled. In the rule of a rain out, the field would be set by the current 2005 owner's points. As a result, Jimmie Johnson of Hendrick Motorsports won the pole.[2]
Due to this, two drivers would fail to qualify as they didn't have enough owner's points: Kirk Shelmerdine and Mike Skinner.
