The facility was conceived in 1967 by David P. Buckson, then-Attorney General of Delaware, as a horse racing venue named Delaware Downs. Following the passage of state legislation to permit its construction, Buckson acquired approximately 600 acres for the project. During the construction phase, plans were expanded to include a 1-mile auto racing oval surrounding the horse track.
The project faced significant delays due to a steel truckers' strike and financial liens. To secure the facility's completion, Buckson partnered with primary backer John W. Rollins and construction overseer Melvin J. Joseph. The complex, then known as Dover Downs International Speedway (DDIS), held its first horse races on March 8, 1969.
The auto racing oval held its inaugural event, the NASCAR Grand National Series Mason-Dixon 300, on July 6, 1969. Richard Petty won this first race, which officials noted faced fewer traffic problems than anticipated. Despite the success of the NASCAR events, the broader facility struggled with financial stability throughout the 1970s, facing lawsuits for unpaid bills and a near-boycott by the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association in 1973. While the horse racing operations frequently operated at a deficit, the auto racing oval remained profitable.
The circuit originally featured an asphalt surface, which underwent its first repave in 1970 at a cost of $50,000. By the early 1980s, the track faced pressure to modernize as NASCAR's popularity grew. Following complaints from drivers and crew chiefs regarding the surface, a $500,000 repave was completed in 1986.
The track is colloquially associated with "Miles the Monster," a mascot that Joe Heller, a former PR worker for the speedway, stated "was inspired by the 'theme of concrete'." Originally introduced as a Tyrannosaurus rex in 1990, the mascot was redesigned into its current form in 2000. In 2008, the venue erected the "Monster Monument," a 46-foot (14 m) statue of Miles the Monster, to honor past race winners.
The most significant technical evolution occurred in late 1994 when track officials announced a $1.8 million project to replace the asphalt surface with concrete. This transition was completed in March 1995.
Safety infrastructure saw major upgrades in the 2000s. In 2004, the speedway began installing SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers, a project completed for the 2005 season. In 2015, the track replaced its 15-foot catchfence with a new 21-foot (6.4 m) structure at a cost of $2.9 million. The facility's footprint also evolved through a three-phase renovation plan initiated in 2006, which included extending the pit road by 432 feet (132 m) in 2009 and expanding the garage surface area by 20% in 2019.
Dover reached a peak seating capacity of 140,000 by 2005. However, following the Great Recession, the venue underwent a series of significant downsizings. Capacity was reduced to 113,000 in 2012, 95,500 in 2015, 85,000 in 2017, and finally to 54,000 in 2019 due to declining demand.
Ownership of the facility was split in 2002, with Dover Motorsports taking control of the auto racing oval while the horse racing and casino operations were separated. In December 2021, Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) acquired Dover Motorsports for $131.5 million, subsequently renaming the venue Dover Motor Speedway.
While primarily known for NASCAR, the track has hosted various other disciplines:
NASCAR: The track currently hosts a NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race known as the All-Star Race, alongside points-paying events for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series.
Open-wheel racing: In 1969, the track ran a one-off USAC event won by Art Pollard. A subsequent 10-year deal was cancelled in 1970 after driver Mike Mosley reported the track was unsafe during testing. The Indy Racing League (IRL) later held races at the venue in 1998 and 1999, but the event was scrapped due to poor attendance.
Non-racing events: From 2012 to 2022, the grounds hosted the Firefly Music Festival (with a hiatus in 2020). Since 2022, it has served as the site for "Gift of Lights," a seasonal drive-thru light display featuring 3.5 million lights.
The speedway is adjacent to Bally's Dover, which operates a 5/8-mile horse racing track located within the speedway's interior.
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