DOVER, Del. — The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Dover Motor Speedway this weekend as drivers prepare to take on the demanding “Monster Mile.”
Much of the attention entering the race will focus on points leader Justin Allgaier, who is the only driver in the field with a previous O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory at Dover. Allgaier captured wins at the concrete oval in both 2018 and 2020 and has consistently been one of the strongest drivers in the series this season.
While Allgaier enters as one of the favorites, the competition behind him is far from weak.
Ross Chastain will be the lone Cup Series regular in the field and is also scheduled to compete in Friday night’s Truck Series race. Chastain’s aggressive driving style and adaptability make him an immediate contender at Dover’s high-banked concrete surface.
Another driver to watch is Carson Kvapil, who impressed at Dover in 2024 by leading 14 laps and finishing third. Kvapil has shown strong speed on intermediate and concrete tracks, and many expect him to be a factor again this weekend.
Sheldon Creed also enters Dover with momentum. Currently second in the standings, Creed has quietly put together one of the most consistent seasons in the series and has never finished worse than 11th at Dover.
One of the biggest storylines this weekend will be the addition of PJ1 traction compound in multiple grooves around the corners. The goal is to widen the racing surface and encourage more side-by-side action at the one-mile oval.
How effective the compound will be remains to be seen, but it could play a major role in shaping the racing throughout the weekend.
With experienced veterans, rising contenders, and a potentially changing racing surface, Dover could provide one of the more unpredictable O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races of the season.
