Chase Elliott had to wait a day for his first win of the year. (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
Sunday’s DuraMAX Drydene 400 at Dover Motor Speedway was postponed to Monday afternoon due to rain.
The dreaded rain delays stumble upon NASCAR and its fans more often than they would hope. Unless the track is a road course, the races get pushed back. As such, Dover is not a road course.
After only 78 laps on Sunday, the race was called and inevitably moved until Monday afternoon.
2021’s race victor was Alex Bowman in the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports. This year, his teammate, Chase Elliott in the No. 9, would conquer the Monster Mile.
Dover is watched over faithfully day and night by Miles the Monster, a huge and intimidating statue that guards the track grounds; he is Dover’s mascot. In Miles’ hand always sits the race car of the previous winner, and part of the fun is shared with the race winner who gets a miniature version holding a diecast of their car as their trophy.
NASCAR loves their pre-race activities and setting up fun things for fans. This included fans on Saturday playing cornhole on some boards that were set up in the track’s Victory Plaza.
Cornhole tournament in full swing in Victory Plaza! #MonsterMile | #DoverMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/MHArkIZ8Fo
— Dover Motor Speedway (@MonsterMile) April 30, 2022
The race wasn’t the only show put on this weekend. Sunday had some fun entertainment for the fans as well including a bunch of bagpipers parading through the fan zone, and a show put on by the University of Delaware marching band and cheerleaders all before the race.
Thanks to the @NFFF_News bagpipers for coming out to the fan zone! pic.twitter.com/uaQaqlTwjt
— Dover Motor Speedway (@MonsterMile) May 1, 2022
It’s always a show when @UDelaware visits! pic.twitter.com/nFnt9J9ulS
— Dover Motor Speedway (@MonsterMile) May 1, 2022
Monday was a stark difference from Sunday. The sun was high in the sky, warming the concrete pavement of the track.
This meant the track would be slick, and provide an exciting race with cars slipping and sliding on the hot pavement. However, there was some trouble with tires this weekend.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11, had one of his tires rolling passed him quickly, even as he accelerated off pit road. With 78 to go in the race, a similar fate befell AJ Allmendinger in the No. 16 as he was exiting pit road.
On lap 242, Cody Ware in the No. 51 spun around, hit the wall at the top of the track and bounced down into Hamlin in the No. 11 who was in fourth at the time. This left Hamlin with enough damage he would have to pit for repairs. He ultimately finished the day in 21st.
Chase Elliott began the Sunday/Monday race toward the front in fourth place. He ended stage one in second, and stage two in 10th place.
On Monday, Elliott had the lead early on lap 93 and would hold it for 19 laps. Elliott spent a lot of Monday near the front waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Once he took the lead with a few laps remaining, he kept it until the very end.
This is Elliott’s first win of the 2022 season, meaning that all four of the Hendrick drivers have been to victory lane this year.
Everyone knows what an Elliott win means. In Dawsonville, Georgia outside of the Dawsonville Pool Room, the siren was blaring and loud and proud. This happens every time an Elliott wins a NASCAR race.
Chase Elliott Wins Dover 2022. (Photo Credit: Josh Jones | The Podium Finish).
Make sure to tune in to FS1 next Sunday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET for the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. The throwback race at Darlington is always sure to impress, so be sure not to miss it!
Teams will compete in throwback paint schemes to honor drivers who have come before them, and sometimes the drivers and booth broadcasters dress up in 80’s clothes. Everyone gets their silly on and it’s always an absolute blast.
1 Chase Elliott
2 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
3 Ross Chastain
4 Christopher Bell
5 Alex Bowman
6 Kyle Larson
7 Kyle Busch
8 Chris Buescher
9 Kevin Harvick
10 Erik Jones
