NASCAR at Dover 2018: Start Time, Ticket Info, Lineup, TV Schedule and More
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series enters Dover International Speedway on Sunday for the AAA 400 Drive for Autism feeling fresh.
Fresh, because Kyle Busch had almost made things boring recently, rattling off three wins in a row—just as Kevin Harvick had earlier in the season. Joey Logano stepped in a week ago and halted the hottest streak in the sport, seizing the checkered flag at Talladega and setting the tone for Dover.
There, 400 miles awaits Logano, who wouldn't mind trending toward a trio of consecutive wins of his own. Lurking in the background is Jimmie Johnson, who while on a cold streak, knows a thing or two about winning this event.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here's everything to know about the weekend in Dover.
Viewing Details
Where: Dover International Speedway
When: Sunday, 2 p.m. ET
Watch: Fox Sports 1
Tickets: StubHub
AAA 400 Drive for Autism
- Kyle Larson (158.103)
- Kevin Harvick (157.494)
- Martin Truex Jr. (157.432)
- Kyle Busch (157.226)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (157.006)
Note: Full qualifying results available at NASCAR.com.
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Standings
| 1. Kyle Busch | 447 |
| 2. Kevin Harvick | 366 |
| 3. Joey Logano | 417 |
| 4. Clint Bowyer | 335 |
| 5. Martin Truex Jr. | 303 |
| 6. Austin Dillon | 210 |
| 7. Kurt Busch | 320 |
| 8. Brad Keselowski | 317 |
| 9. Denny Hamlin | 314 |
| 10. Ryan Blaney | 313 |
| 11. Kyle Larson | 280 |
| 12. Aric Almirola | 278 |
| 13. Alex Bowman | 238 |
| 14. Erik Jones | 234 |
| 15. Jimmie Johnson | 230 |
| 16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 217 |
Drivers to Watch
Jimmie Johnson
It almost sounds like sarcasm, but Jimmie Johnson sits in a good position at 15th on the leaderboard entering the weekend.
Johnson hasn't been his usual self lately, to say the least—to the point finishes of third, sixth and 12th over his last three outings are superb. He only has one other top-10 finish on his mediocre season and has qualified better than 10th just once, a continuation of the dramatic issues he had a year ago.
But now was the best time of year for Johnson to have a superb three-race stretch because he happens to own Dover International Speedway. He has 11 wins at the track and is using his dominance there as encouragement heading into Sunday.
He talked with Holly Cain of NASCAR.com: "With it being my best track and the love I have for this place, I'm always excited to come, but trying to get the No. 48 [Lowe's for Pros] car back into Victory Lane, I can take a little pressure off myself here knowing that the rhythm-style and the way you drive this track and the set-up for the car."
Considering Johnson has won this event three out of the last four times, it's no wonder he's going into it with some confidence. A nice run prior to Sunday should have the rest of the field worried—Johnson is still Johnson, and it's clear he's due to break out of the slump and start winning again.
Kurt Busch
It feels like Kurt Busch is turning the corner on his season and about to hit on something big.
Busch started the season slowly, finishing 26th at the Daytona 500 a year removed from pulling a stunner and winning it. But over his last four outings, he's posted two top-10 finishes and qualified second or better three times—as a bonus, he'll start in the top 10 Sunday.
Ask Busch himself, he's a believer in coming up on something big as well, as Motor Racing Network captured:
This perceived momentum hit a high point last week when Busch posted a runner-up finish, his best of the year after leading five laps. A week before that in Richmond, he led a season-high 98 laps, so he's right to feel like a win is getting closer.
Granted, Johnson isn't the only one, and a guy who felt the same a week ago stole the checkered flag from him. Call it a hint that parity is returning to the series.
Joey Logano
Logano swiped the moment from Busch a week ago, leading 70 laps and getting his first win of the season.
The Penske Racing driver was due as well, having posted five consecutive top-10 performances on the year and only one outside of the range the entire year.
Like anyone else able to break free of the repeat winners this year, Logano boiled the triumph down to finding a groove.
"It’s been a long time coming, Logano said, according to Bill Marx of Sporting News. "We've been getting consistent. We've been scoring points, and we knew a win was just around the corner. I don’t have to worry about the whole playoff thing anymore."
Like a few of the consistency-finding winners before him this year, Logano seems like a driver who can turn it into multiple consecutive wins if the rest of the field can't squash his budding momentum. This is his preferred time of season, so guys like Johnson have to be on the lookout for the No. 22 Ford on Sunday, as he'll want to keep the feeling of ending a 36-race drought alive for as long as possible.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
