NASCAR at Dover 2016: Start Time, Ticket Info, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series faces its first round of eliminations in the Chase this weekend at Dover International Speedway in the Citizen Soldier 400.
One week removed from Kevin Harvick securing an automatic bid alongside Martin Truex Jr., the Monster Mile won't have much in the way of mercy for those drivers who fall behind or don't bring their best to the table.
Really, 13 drivers still have their status in flux ahead of Sunday, with two automatic bids punched and shocking youngster Chris Buescher too far out of the running barring a miracle win.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
With notable names such as Tony Stewart on the bubble, one of the season's best races isn't something to miss for even a moment.
Viewing Details
Where: Dover International Speedway
When: Sunday, Oct. 2, 2 p.m. ET
Watch: NBCSN
Live Stream: NBC Sports
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Sprint Cup Standings
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2086 | 3 |
| 2 | Kevin Harvick | 2071 | 3 |
| 3 | Brad Keselowski | 2087 | 4 |
| 4 | Kyle Busch | 2085 | 4 |
| 5 | Matt Kenseth | 2078 | 2 |
| 6 | Joey Logano | 2073 | 1 |
| 7 | Denny Hamlin | 2071 | 3 |
| 8 | Jimmie Johnson | 2070 | 2 |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | 2068 | 0 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | 2068 | 2 |
| 11 | Kurt Busch | 2067 | 1 |
| 12 | Kyle Larson | 2057 | 1 |
| 13 | Jamie McMurray | 2052 | 0 |
| 14 | Austin Dillon | 2052 | 0 |
| 15 | Tony Stewart | 2046 | 1 |
| 16 | Chris Buescher | 2027 | 1 |
NASCAR at Dover Lineup
| 2 | Brad Keselowski |
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 18 | Kyle Busch |
| 20 | Matt Kenseth |
| 22 | Joey Logano |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 24 | Chase Elliott |
| 19 | Carl Edwards |
| 41 | Kurt Busch |
| 42 | Kyle Larson |
| 1 | Jamie McMurray |
| 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 14 | Tony Stewart |
| 34 | Chris Buescher |
| 5 | Kasey Kahne |
| 88 | Jeff Gordon |
| 31 | Ryan Newman |
| 21 | Ryan Blaney |
| 47 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 6 | Trevor Bayne |
| 10 | Danica Patrick |
| 16 | Greg Biffle |
| 27 | Paul Menard |
| 43 | Aric Almirola |
| 15 | Clint Bowyer |
| 13 | Casey Mears |
| 95 | Ty Dillon |
| 38 | Landon Cassill |
| 23 | David Ragan |
| 7 | Regan Smith |
| 44 | Brian Scott |
| 83 | Matt DiBenedetto |
| 98 | Timmy Hill |
| 46 | Michael Annett |
| 32 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| 55 | Reed Sorenson |
| 30 | Josh Wise |
Drivers to Watch
Tony Stewart
Other than Buescher, Stewart is the driver with the longest shot toward advancing to the Round of 12.
Stewart sits 11 points off the cut line behind other bubble drivers such as Austin Dillon and Jamie McMurray, meaning he'd need to work some magic to slip past and stay in the fray.
At first pass, Stewart doesn't seem like a driver with much momentum. An underdog entering the season, Stewart has surprised to get this far and as of late has floated back down to reality, finishing 16th in the first race of the Chase and 23rd last weekend in New Hampshire.
Still, Stewart is a three-time champion even cruising drivers such as Harvick won't dismiss going into Sunday.
“Everybody bet against Tony to even be in the Chase,” Harvick said, according to USA Today's Jeff Gluck. “I think as you look at Dover, he can go to any racetrack and perform. He can go to any racetrack and win. He's Tony Stewart. I wouldn't bet against him.”
Stewart is a dangerous guy with his season on the line, and he's won at Dover three times. He could fizzle out and sit on a better-than-expected season, but that just isn't Stewart's style.
Matt Kenseth
Matt Kenseth remains one of the hottest drivers in the Chase.
Kenseth has finished ninth and second in the Chase thus far, the latter number coming in New Hampshire last weekend when he managed to lead 105 laps of the 300.
Not only does Kenseth seem like he's getting better as the series heads toward an elimination race, he happens to be the driver who took down a checkered flag in Dover back in May, leading 48 laps before getting the win.
That's no surprise—as Toyota Racing pointed out, Dover is one of Kenseth's favorite tracks:
Entering Sunday fifth in the standings, Kenseth doesn't necessarily need a win. But scoring a trip to Victory Lane now wouldn't hurt, either, especially if it can help him create something of a snowball effect on the way to a championship.
Plenty of aggressive drivers flirting with elimination will look to prevent such an occurrence, but Kenseth at Dover isn't the easiest thing to slow.
Kevin Harvick
Harvick enters Sunday as the man to beat and sits in the unique position of being able to help dictate the how and why of what he'll face in the next round.
The driver of the No. 4 Chevy only led eight laps a week ago, but clearly had enough to flip a switch when it mattered most after a late restart helped him glide past Kenseth.
It silenced plenty critics in the process considering Harvick skidded to a 20th slot in the first race of the Chase, a major letdown considering he had tallied a win and four straight top-10 finishes prior.
Despite the advantageous position, Harvick told Marghiee Teshineh on FOX in the Fast Lane he doesn't plan on easing off the gas.
"Obviously there won’t be as much pressure, but it’s important to go perform like you need to perform for those guys in the shop and the guys that come on the road who have put the time and effort into these race cars,” Harvick said.
At Dover earlier this year, Harvick finished 15th despite leading 117 laps. He's looking a chance of redemption in the eye and controlling what is now his Chase, too.
Expect nothing but the best from Harvick Sunday.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
