See our race preview, driver insights, and free betting picks for Sunday’s NASCAR stop at Dover Motor Speedway.
See our race preview, driver insights, and free betting picks for Sunday’s NASCAR stop at Dover Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Cup Series returns to one of its toughest concrete ovals this Sunday for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 — the penultimate leg of the In-Season Challenge. Dover Motor Speedway’s famed ‘Monster Mile’ stretches one mile with 24 degrees of banking in the turns and nine degrees on the straights, delivering 400 punishing laps for a purse exceeding US$11 million.
Despite its short length, Dover races like a high-speed intermediate track. It’s notorious for heavy tire wear, physical racing, and changing track conditions as rubber builds on the concrete. Goodyear is introducing a brand-new one-off tire compound this weekend, adding another layer of unpredictability to pit strategy and car handling.
Hendrick Motorsports have a remarkable record at Dover, with 22 wins at the Delaware track, but it’s Joe Gibbs Racing who have won the last two editions of this race. Denny Hamlin — a +400 favorite with the top online sportsbooks — is the defending champion after dominating in 2024, while Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott rank among the most consistent drivers at the track.
Several playoff hopefuls need a strong run — including Kyle Busch, who sits below the cut line by 37 points. Meanwhile, Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs remain alive in the In-Season Challenge, with $1 million on the line for drivers advancing to the final round next week.
Hamlin leads all active drivers in poles at Dover (4), while Larson boasts the best active average finish here (8.2). Elliott, meanwhile, has two Dover victories and has been inside the top five in 10 of 14 career starts at the Monster Mile.
Expect tight battles, potential tire chaos, and a close finish, as the margin of victory at Dover has hovered below half a second in four of the last five races.
More odds available at
Kyle Larson is overdue for a bounce-back after a string of underwhelming results — and there’s no better place than Dover, where he’s been rock-solid historically. He’s logged five top-six finishes in his last six Monster Mile appearances and finished runner-up here in 2024. The No.5 car remains one of the fastest on concrete tracks, and Dover’s rhythm suits Larson’s aggressive style perfectly. Back him at +440 with .
If consistency wins at Dover, Chase Elliott deserves a close look. He’s captured two wins and finished top five in 10 of his 14 starts on the Monster Mile. Elliott’s also riding hot momentum with four top-five finishes in his last five races. At +245 for a podium with , he’s one of the most reliable bets in the field.
Ty Gibbs has quietly become a solid mid-tier betting option. He’s finished inside the top 15 in six straight races and has two solid Dover Cup starts under his belt, finishing 10th here last season. With extra motivation from the In-Season Challenge and playoff push, he’s the best bet of the day at -142.86 for a top-10 result with .