Fast forward: Storylines to watch heading into Sprint Cup race at Dover
The Sprint Cup regular season is approaching its halfway point, with the year’s first visit to the fast, high-banked Dover International Speedway next on the docket.
With a unique, concrete surface and a wrap-around banking design, Dover typically offers a mix of mayhem and close racing. Here are five storylines to watch for approaching next Sunday’s AAA 400, the 12th race on the Cup schedule:
Camry Cavalcade
Toyota hasn’t won a Cup race at Dover since 2010 (Kyle Busch). Don’t look now, but that could change Sunday.
Toyota has won six of the season’s first 11 races, with drivers having led 2,148 laps. The next best? Chevrolet with 1,106 and Ford 250.
Chevrolet has won the past six Dover races. By the way, the win in the first Dover race (July 6, 1969) went to Ford, courtesy of driver Richard Petty. He edged second-place Sonny Hutchins by six laps.
Still waiting
Eleven races into the season, some of the sport’s big guns remain winless.
On the outside of victory lane are Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin Truex Jr., Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
Some are almost certain to qualify for the Chase based on points, but it doesn’t hurt to punch the golden ticket with a win before the hot weeks of summer arrive.
Busched
In trying to repeat his 2015 Sprint Cup championship, Kyle Busch is putting together a remarkable season.
Busch’s victory at Kansas Speedway Saturday night, accomplished with a splendid late-race drive, marked his ninth top-five finish in 11 races. No other driver has more than five top fives this season.
Only 31 years old, Busch needs wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway to record victories at every current track in the Sprint Cup series. His next chances are May 29 (Charlotte) and June 5 (Pocono).
Johnson redux
Jimmie Johnson has been relatively quiet since winning two of the season’s first five races. He could re-emerge at Dover, where he has a track-record 10 victories, including four in the Dover's last eight races.
Pals? Really?
Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth have had a discussion about their differences of opinion regarding their issues at Talladega two weeks ago and seem to be focused on the road ahead. But it remains clear that these guys won’t be vacationing together anytime soon.