NASCAR may be going to all extents to step up footfall. Over the past few years, the sport has resorted to several methods to expand its fan community. Ranging from the street race in downtown Chicago to releasing a Netflix documentary ‘NASCAR: Full Speed’, executives have extensively brainstormed. But palm trees, chilled Piña Coladas, and colored shades at Dover Motor Speedway? That certainly would catch people off-guard.
The one-mile concrete oval in Delaware has been a Cup Series fixture since 1969. Between 1971 and 2020, the track hosted two races per season – but since 2021, that has scaled down to one spring event. To make up for the reduced time or just to enhance the fun, Dover has lined up an exciting ‘sandy’ itinerary for fans!
NASCAR fans can chill out with the Monster
Dover Motor Speedway has always made amateur drivers skip a heartbeat. Its challenging turns with 24 degrees of banking and concrete surface are what earned it the ‘Monster Mile’ moniker. Richard Petty was the first of 39 winners at this track. None other than seven-time Jimmie Johnson leads with the most wins at this formidable track – with 11 trophies. However, the track officials are now gearing up to tone down the scary nature of this venue. For this season’s July 18-20 NASCAR tripleheader weekend, fans will get to chill out with the ‘Monster.’
The Monster Mile will transform into ‘Miles Beach’ for fans this year. What is jaw-dropping is this endeavor’s location – right in the middle of the Speedway Fan Zone! This beachy landscape will feature some exciting highlights like “600 tons of sand to create an authentic beach area with lots of seating and shade, plus an authentic boardwalk (at the entrance), palm trees, beach balls, Adirondack chairs, vintage cars, and beach grass,” as reported by Adam Stern.
In line with the ‘Monster’ nature of the track, other attractions include a 25-ft tall lighthouse and The World’s Largest Duck (60 ft tall and 15.5 tonnes in weight). Then, a talented sand sculptor will construct a huge masterpiece. You can even get a free custom sketch to put on your fridge, as a caricaturist will be present at the event, ready to etch your sandy memories into life.
“Miles Beach [@MonsterMile] will be decorated with 600 tons of sand to create an authentic beach area with lots of seating and shade, plus an authentic boardwalk (at the entrance), palm trees, beach balls, Adirondack chairs, vintage cars and beach grass.” https://t.co/D735e8GO8a
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 3, 2025
For nourishment, NASCAR fans can enjoy a full bar with Anheuser-Busch products. Live performances by the Mariachi Arrieros Band, Trinidad North Steel Drum Band, The Red Hot Ramblers, and Homestead Bluegrass Band will rev up the ambiance. Mike Tatoian, Dover Motor Speedway’s president and general manager, said, “Miles Beach, presented by Visit Delaware, gives all of NASCAR Nation a chance to experience a taste of what makes First State summers so special. We hope all of our fans will hang out with the Miles Beach Patrol, dip their toes in the sand, and enjoy some iconic Delaware tunes and treats before and after enjoying America’s best racing at the Monster Mile in July!”
This iconic beachy enterprise will be possible due to an old partnership. Renewed again for 2025, it is bound to make the Dover weekend a success.
Bonded by an automotive passion
This year’s Cup Series race at Dover is the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 – a name sheltering an old bond. Autotrader, a Cox Automotive brand, provides car buyers and sellers with the largest online market and has sponsored NASCAR’s Texas Cup race since 2020. EchoPark Automotive is a used-car dealership chain and has locations in more than 20 states. For the 2025 NASCAR season, both businesses have collaborated to make the ‘Monster Mile’ a success. This collaboration allows Autotrader to expand its motorsports presence in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
Ken Kraft, chief marketing and sales officer for Cox Automotive, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership. “Teamed with Echopark Automotive and Dover Motor Speedway, we are thrilled for what will be an exciting race weekend. Our longstanding NASCAR and EchoPark partnership allows us to connect with car buyers and sellers while supporting motorsports with events such as the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. We are looking forward to seeing this race come to life at Dover Motor Speedway.” Track president Mike Tatoian also welcomed the brands to ‘Miles Beach’: “As we build toward our NASCAR summer action in July, we can’t wait for our new partners to contribute to and enjoy all the free family fun and thrills that makes a Dover race weekend a must-visit stop.”
Evidently, Dover Motor Speedway is cooking something special for 2025. The grand weekend is still over three months away, enough to let the excitement bubble over.
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