3 minute read
More Than Monster Mile Racing
Dover Motor Speedway a vital First State community partner
BY GARY CAMP
SINCE 1969, Dover Motor Speedway’s high-banked, one-mile, concrete oval has more than earned its nickname of the “Monster Mile”. It is one of only 10 tracks in the country to have hosted 100 or more NASCAR Cup Series events, and annually draws the biggest crowds for a sporting event in Delaware.
In late April, Dover Motor Speedway (DMS) hosted its annual NASCAR Cup Series weekend, with New Jersey native Martin Truex Jr. winning his fourth Monster Trophy by capturing the checkered flag in the Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. DMS also hosted NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series East races as part of its weekend celebration, which also included plenty of free, fan activities outside the grandstands such as Big Bounce America, the world’s largest bounce house, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Not only is DMS an icon in the racing world, but it is a centerpiece of community activities and charitable works in Kent County. Most notable is the recent formation of Speedway Children’s Charities, Dover Motor Speedway chapter (SCC-Dover), which raises funds for Delaware and mid-Atlantic-based nonprofit organizations with a concentration on assisting children in need.
In the past year, DMS has also contributed to or hosted community events, some of which included:
• SCC Dover Würth 400 Online Auction: One-of-a-kind items included autographed memorabilia, VIP passes, a hauler tour, and more.
• Laps for Charity: Hundreds of Monster Mile fans signed up for the opportunity to drive their personal vehicle around the Monster Mile during the SCC Laps for Charity events at our recent NASCAR weekend.
• Monthly food drives: In partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware, the Speedway hosts monthly drive-thru food distribution events. The drives started during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, but have become a needed staple of supplies for central Delaware families. In 2022, 565,314 pounds of food for 11,554 households were distributed.
•9/11 Memorial Blood Drive: In partnership with the Blood Bank of Delmar va, Dover Motor Speedway hosted the 17th annual 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive in September inside Bally’s Dover Casino Resort.
• Gift of Lights: Every evening from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, the “Gift of Lights at Dover Motor Speedway” holiday drive-thru lights event welcomed thousands of people. The unique display featured more than 3 million lights across 60 scenes along a 1.5-mile pathway.
• Speedway S’mores: In December, DMS hosted Speedway S’mores, coinciding with the Gift of Lights drive-thru holiday light event. The family-friendly event featured fire pits for s’mores roasting, a petting zoo, visits from Santa, local vendors, and holiday music.
• USO Delaware Community Center: More than 20 full-time Speedway staff members helped to renovate the Dover Air Force Base’s USO Delaware Community Center. USO Delaware provides services to all current service members and their families throughout the state. DMS employees replaced and built new furniture, painted walls, and updated the décor of the center’s recreation area, which provides space for meals and activities.
