What is the nickname of Dover International Speedway?

The nickname of Dover International Speedway is “The Monster Mile.” The Delaware track earned that name because its one-mile concrete oval is unusually demanding on cars and drivers.

Dover opened in 1969 as an asphalt track built by Melvin L. Joseph. Its turns are steeply banked at 24 degrees, while the straightaways have 9 degrees of banking. The combination creates high speeds, heavy braking, and substantial strain on tires and suspension. The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1995.

The “Monster” also became a literal character. Miles the Monster, the track’s mascot, was introduced as a dinosaur in 1990 and redesigned in 2000. A statue called the Monster Monument was erected in 2008 to honor Dover’s race winners.

A common mix-up is the speedway’s name: it was called Dover Downs International Speedway until 2002, then Dover International Speedway, and is now known as Dover Motor Speedway. The nickname, however, has remained “The Monster Mile.”