In the northeastern part of these great United States, there is a sleeping monster. A monster that NASCAR drivers decide to pick at twice a year, and this weekend is our first attempt to conquer said monster. This monster Miles as they call him is waiting to see which drivers will get away and which ones he will get to chew up. These are the drivers to watch who I think have the highest chance of walking away with a mini miles the monster this upcoming Sunday.
Team Chevy
This first driver to watch recently won here, and is looking to repeat this weekend after a win at Talladega. Chase Elliott was able to grab his first three career wins last year with Dover being one of them. Chase in the past four races here he has an average finishing position of fifth. In six career races Chase has led 149 combined laps. Also he has only finished outside of the top ten once. Chase proves race in and race out at Dover why he should be your driver to watch this weekend.
This next driver is going to be one of Chase’s HMS teammates, and is arguably one of the best active drivers at this track. Jimmie Johnson is currently on a win less streak of 70 races. The thing is his last win came at this very track in 2017. Jimmie in his career has been able to lead a grand total of 3105 laps at Dover, and has visited victory lanes eleven times. Jimmie is arguably the only active monster conqueror left. If I didn’t put him as a driver to watch here it would almost be a cardinal sin.
Racing Mustang
Kevin Harvick visited victory lane one year ago in Dover. Arguably in the last four races has been one of the most dominant drivers here. Kevin has been able to lead a combined 452 laps in the last four races, and holds an 8th place average finishing position. Kevin is currently without a win this year, and is hungry for a chance to take Miles the monster home with him this Sunday. He will be having to compete though with my next Mustang driver to watch.
Joey Logano has four career top five finishes at Dover. The shocking thing is none of those four finishes have been first. Joey has been unable to win at the monster mile in his career. Hes actually in his career here only led six laps. You are probably wondering why he is my second driver to watch? Joey honestly could be considered an underdog, but as of late the 2018 champ can not be counted out anywhere. It will be interested to watch this him run this weekend.
Team Toyota
Martin Truex Jr. is familiar enough to victory lane here. He last got to visit victory lane in October of 2016. Now his last four races haven’t been as spectacular, but they are solid enough he is a driver to watch this weekend. Martin combined in the last four races has led 153 laps, and has the second highest average finishing position. Martin has a knack for tracks like this it seems and I think with some confidence after a win at Richmond he earned his spot as a driver to watch.
I guess whenever I do this team segment its some what predictable that this driver to watch will almost always be here. Kyle Busch has one win and a combined seventy laps led in the previous four races. Kyle without it being said is a competitor for the win where ever and when ever he races.
Underdogs
A track like this is normally for certain drivers and not for others. That makes it hard to really choose underdogs for this week, but none the less it wont stop me from trying. Daniel Suarez, a lot of race fans read that name and probably sigh. Daniel has went thru a lot over the last year from loosing his ride to moving to a new competitor and this man has made it work. He hasn’t won yet, but has been consistent. Daniel is the past four races here has a sixth place average finishing position. That rivals the man who took over his nineteen ride. That means he hasn’t ever finished outside of the top ten here. That’s a pretty good stat for an underdog driver to watch.
The next driver to watch has seriously had some of the worse luck I believe of anyone in the cup series this year. Kyle Larson has had clean I guess you could say race this year. Kyle though knows how to lead here and often. In the past four races he has led 378 combined laps in the last four races. Honestly in his career he only has one career finish outside of the top 15 once. Kyle has never won here, but him being able to possibly win here could potentially turn his season around.
This next driver has been on the underdog list a few races this week, I guess I’m just convinced he is going to put a completely solid race together and win. Eric Jones doesn’t exactly have the best average finish. In four career starts here he has never finished outside of the top twenty. That’s consistency at its best for a driver to watch.
Conclusion
Miles the monster is arguably one of the coolest and most wanted trophies on the circuit. That is only available to the one driver who survives his wrath. Dover is such a difficult track for drivers, but is almost always an exciting race in my opinion. These drivers to watch should be in contention to conquer miles, but once again in the world of racing nothing is guaranteed. Race fans for anything and everything racing stay tuned to the Belly Up Racing page. If your a fan of multiple sports stay tuned to the main Belly Up page this team covers everything and anything sports.
