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Dover International Speedway long history includes 102 NASCAR Cup Series races. Read on to find your first race, your favorite race and maybe one that brings back some great memories. The following list includes the race date, race name, winner’s name, his number of Dover wins to that point and a short recap of the event. 1. JULY 6, 1969, “MASON-DIXON 300” – Richard Petty (1): Dover’s debut race. Petty wins by six laps. 2. SEPT. 20, 1970, “MASON-DIXON 300” – Richard Petty (2): Petty leads 186 laps, takes lead for good on Lap 269 from Charlie Glotzbach. 3. JUNE 6, 1971, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Bobby Allison (1): Dover’s first 500-mile race is also only event with no caution flags/laps. 4. OCT. 17, 1971, “DELAWARE 500” - Richard Petty (3): The latest race by date in track history also featured the fewest lead changes (3). 5. JUNE 4, 1972, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Bobby Allison (2): Allison gives Chevrolet its first Dover win. Chevy leads all manufacturers with 40 Monster Mile victories. 6. SEPT. 17, 1972, “DELAWARE 500” - David Pearson (1): Pearson was only driver on the lead lap. 7. JUNE 3, 1973, “MASON-DIXON 500” – David Pearson (2): Pearson is first driver to win Dover race from pole position. 8. SEPT. 16, 1973, “DELAWARE 500” - David Pearson (3): Pearson completes first yearly Dover sweep, leads 344 laps. 9. MAY 19, 1974, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Cale Yarborough (1): Race was shortened to 450 miles/laps due to fuel crisis.
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10. SEPT. 15, 1974, “DELAWARE 500” - Richard Petty (4): Petty cruises, leads final 461 laps and record 489 overall. Petty was only driver on the lead lap. 11. MAY 19, 1975, “MASON-DIXON 500” – David Pearson (4): 103 caution laps is tied for most in track history (Fall 1993). Pearson was only driver on the lead lap. 12. SEPT. 14, 1975, “DELAWARE 500” - Richard Petty (5): Petty recovers from part mishap and takes advantage of timely caution flag in record fifth win. 13. MAY 16, 1976, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Benny Parsons (1): Parsons wins by 25.5 seconds over Pearson. 14. SEPT. 19, 1976, “DELAWARE 500” - Cale Yarborough (1): Yarborough comes from two laps down multiple times before earning win. 15. MAY 15, 1977, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Cale Yarborough (2): Yarborough leads final 97 laps, topps Pearson by 6.2 seconds. 16. SEPT. 18, 1977, “DELAWARE 500” - Benny Parsons (2): Parsons leads the final 250 laps, and 267 overall. 17. MAY 21, 1978, “MASON-DIXON 500” – David Pearson (5): NASCAR’s “Silver Fox” leads the final 72 laps. Among drivers with three or more Dover wins, Pearson has the highest average finish at 8.0 through 16 races. 18. SEPT. 17, 1978, “DELAWARE 500” - Bobby Allison (3): Allison leads 257 of final 258 laps, topping Yarborough by almost 20 seconds. 19. MAY 20, 1979, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Neil Bonnett (1): Bonnett and Yarborough trade the lead from Lap 220 on. Bonnett takes lead for good on Lap 498 and official margin of victory is “two car lengths.” 20. SEPT. 16, 1979, “CRC CHEMICALS 500” - Richard Petty (6): Petty edges Donnie Allison by half a car length and becomes first driver with six Dover wins. It is Petty’s only Dover victory in a Chevrolet. 21. MAY 18, 1980, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Bobby Allison (4): Allison leads final 121 laps. Petty is only other car on lead lap. 22. SEPT. 14, 1980, “CRC CHEMICALS 500” - Darrell Waltrip (1): Most lead changes in track history (29). 23. MAY 17, 1981, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Jody Ridley (1): Ridley’s only NASCAR Cup Series win. Took lead for good on Lap 481. 24. SEPT. 20, 1981 “CRC CHEMICALS 500” - Neil Bonnett (2): Bonnett, who led 185 laps, finished as only driver on lead lap. 25. MAY 16, 1982, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Bobby Allison (5): Allison led a commanding 486 laps and finished three laps ahead of runner-up Dave Marcis. 26. SEPT. 19, 1982, “CRC CHEMICALS 500” - Darrell Waltrip (2): Waltrip dominates, leading 287 laps before edging Kyle Petty at finish. 27. MAY 15, 1983, “MASON-DIXON 500” – Bobby Allison (6): Ties Dover victory mark after taking lead for good over Waltrip on Lap 483. 28. SEPT. 18, 1983, “BUDWEISER 500” - Bobby Allison (7): Allison sets track record for victories, capping Dover sweep during only NASCAR championship season. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
