By Mike Finney

DOVER – When the Duramax Drydene 400 was suspended at the end of 78 laps due to rain showers on Sunday afternoon, it was a blessing in disguise for several drivers who were struggling.

Ryan Blaney started from the sixth position and got a timely caution period when NASCAR threw a competition caution on lap 40 so that race teams could check out their cars.

Fortunately for Blaney, his team found a tire that had deteriorated and he was able to return to Dover Motor Speedway’s high-speed confines.

“I had a right-front (tire) come apart on the lap of the comp caution, so we were lucky that happened then,” Blaney said. “We got a chance to work on it and we were much better during that second run.

“But we stayed out and just tried to get track position and see how it is in the cleaner air. So far, my cars OK but we’ve got plenty of time to work. Hopefully, this rain clears out soon.”

On top of the world

Ross Chastain entered Sunday’s race at Dover on top of the world after recording his second-career victory at Talladega (Alabama) Superspeedway last weekend.

He’s keeping the pedal to the metal at Dover this weekend after starting seventh at Dover on Sunday and running with the leaders throughout the early part of the rain-delayed event.

He was running in the 11th position when the event was stopped by rain showers.

“It didn’t feel perfect tire-wise,” Chastain said. “I thought I had worn out my rear tires really bad coming to the comp caution (on lap 40) so I just took it easy and rode around and tried to get it to the end.

“I asked my crew chief, ‘How bad are they?’, and he said they’re fine, but I want to find (the tires now) because I don’t know if I believe him.”

Chastain has built up a tradition of smashing watermelons from atop his race car after he scores a victory, in honor of his family’s roots in the watermelon business.

He was asked what his teammate Daniel Suarez should smash after he records his first win and he said, “How about a pinata?”, referring to his teammate’s Mexican heritage.

Delaware stars take pre-race spotlight

Country music star Jimmie Allen, a native of Milton, entertained a massive crowd gathered in front of the Embrace Home Loans stage in Victory Plaza before Sunday’s race began.

However, he was not the only star from the First State taking part in festivities at the Monster Mile.

Ryan Phillippe, an actor born in New Castle, served as the honorary pace car driver and led the field of 36 Cup Series drivers to the green flag to start the Duramax Drydene 400 on Sunday.

“I can’t wait for the moment when I look behind me and I see all of the cars lined up ready to go,” Mr. Phillippe said, before taking to the track. “I’m a thrill-seeker. I like skydiving and mountain climbing, so this fits right in for me.”

Mr. Phillippe also had an embarrassing moment on pit road prior to the race when, attempting to hand former Cup driver Michael Waltrip a birthday cake, it slipped from his hands and onto pit road.

Setting the stage

Many familiar faces helped to get the stage set for Sunday’s race, as Mike Tatoian, president and general manager of Dover Motor Speedway, delivered welcoming remarks alongside Larry Stoddard, president and CEO of RelaDyne.

Dover Air Force Base’s 436th Airlift Wing Honor Guard presented the colors, Rev. Dan Schafer, of the Calvary Assembly of God in Hightstown, New Jersey, gave the invocation, and the USO Show Troupe sang the national anthem.

Meanwhile, the Bandit Flight Team, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and honoring the U.S. military, performed the pre-race flyover in a variety of sports aircraft and trainers.

Mr. Stoddard got things revved up when he gave the command for drivers to “Start their engines!”