By Mike Finney

DOVER — Dover Motor Speedway has a 55-year relationship with automobiles — the ones with NASCAR drivers that accelerate around the track and turn left.

Something entirely different will be descending on its grounds this weekend, though — the inaugural Goodguys Grundy Insurance Mid-Atlantic Nationals, presented by R&M Performance.

The event, being staged Friday through Sunday, will be bringing classic cars of all types and family fun to the speedway’s infield and Fan Zone.

Andrew Ebel is the CEO of Goodguys, the largest hot-rodding association in the world. He said this is a marriage that makes perfect sense.

“Goodguys has been looking for a place to call home in the Northeast for many years now, and Dover Motor Speedway checks off all the boxes. (It’s) a first-class facility, with excellent hotel options and amenities in the vicinity,” Mr. Ebel noted.

“It’s also conveniently situated just a short cruise away from several major metropolitan areas jam-packed with large numbers of classic automotive and performance enthusiasts that are ready to gather for a huge weekend of family fun and entertainment that Goodguys is well known for.”

Mike Tatoian, president and general manager of the speedway, said this will be his first taste of such a significant car show.

“We’re extremely excited to be able to host an event like this,” he said. “It’s going to be the largest one in the mid-Atlantic region. They’ve been doing these shows for a long time, and it’s a well-respected group in this industry, and to have them on the property is terrific.

“They have done this at a couple of our other (Speedway Motorsports locations) — Texas Motor Speedway and just last weekend at Nashville (Superspeedway) — and they’re a well-known entity within our company, and we’re just excited to have been able to attract them.”

The epicenter of the three-day show — open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday — will be taking place in the infield of Dover’s milelong racetrack.

That’s where more than 2,000 vehicles are expected to compete and where Goodguys will be choosing more than 80 winners, including finalists in its coveted “Top 12” program.

Pro builder Mark Giambalvo of Creative Rod & Kustom of Pennsylvania will be one of the judges.

“There are so many passionate car lovers, and this is kind of the Disney World, if you will, in that space,” Mr. Tatoian said. “They have so much going on. It appears to us that, not only do they have vendors and exhibitors and swap meets, but they’ve got giveaways, a family fun zone, autocross, live music, and there will be many food and beverage options.

“While it’s certainly for car enthusiasts, I think they do a terrific job of just making it be a family event, as well, whether you’re a car enthusiast or not.”

In the south portion of the infield — usually reserved for a garage area during NASCAR weekends — a CPP AutoCross competition will put driver’s skills and their car’s performance to the test around a tight course, with the goal of qualifying for Saturday afternoon’s Mid-Atlantic Shootout.

The racing continues Sunday with the All American AutoCross Shootout, followed by a parade with more than 80 award winners from the weekend around the “Monster Mile.”

Additionally, the north side of the infield will be filled with vendors, where kids can make and take a model car courtesy of Autoworld, as well as participate in free games and arts and crafts.

There will also be a Nitro Thunderfest, during which visitors can hear and feel the wail of vintage exhibition dragsters revving their blown engines, plus Saturday’s tire-smoking burnout competition.

A swap meet, Cars 4 Sale Corral and manufacturers midway will also be on display at the Mid-Atlantic Nationals.

“I think they’re using every inch within the inside of the facility, and they’ll have a lot of different things on the outside of the facility, as well,” Mr. Tatoian said. “Fingers crossed, it looks like the weather’s going to be terrific, so that will help attendance, as well.

“It will be a great event for us, but I think it will also be a great event for the city, the county, the state and the region. It’s an amazing, passionate group of consumers that are going to be here. They really do love this, and that’s cool.”

Staff writer Mike Finney can be reached at 302-741-8230 or mfinney@iniusa.org.
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