By Mike FinneyDOVER — Dover Motor Speedway is known for fender-rubbing racing action on its high-banked, 1-mile oval.
This year — with NASCAR weekend in the heat of summer, July 17-20 — the facility and Visit Delaware will bring a beach to the Fan Zone, giving visitors a full First State experience.
The 1 acre-plus “Miles Beach” will be constructed just outside the fourth-turn grandstands, on the southeast side of the property.
“The Delaware Tourism Office is excited to partner on Miles Beach, presented by Visit Delaware, with the speedway,” said the office’s director, Jessica Welch.
“While visiting Miles Beach, fans will be immersed in the summer-themed atmosphere of the Delaware beaches, reminding them of what Delaware’s six different beach towns have to offer and encouraging them to return to Delaware in the future and explore our beautiful state.”
The speedway’s “shore” will include 600 tons of sand, with seating and shade, a boardwalk, palm trees, beach balls, vintage cars and dune grass.
Plus, race fans can watch as a sand sculptor constructs a masterpiece on Friday and Saturday, to be ready for full display Sunday.
Miles Beach will also feature a 25-foot-tall lighthouse.
Naturally, the site will have coastal foods for sale, like orange crushes, boardwalk fries, ice cream and Dolle’s taffy and popcorn.
And, just like summertime at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach and at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand, entertainers — including the Mariachi Arrieros Band, the Trinidad North steel drum band, the Red Hot Ramblers and the Homestead Bluegrass Band — will be performing all weekend.
Joining the beach party will be appearances by NASCAR drivers and the “World’s Largest Rubber Duck,” a 60-foot-tall, 15.5-ton yellow behemoth.
The Fan Zone will also offer attractions like the WHITE LIGHTNING Bar + Arcade, a free caricaturist and a dunk tank to benefit the Dover Motor Speedway’s chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities.
Mike Tatoian, president and general manager of the raceway, also touted the addition of the beach theme.
“Miles Beach, presented by Visit Delaware, gives all of NASCAR nation a chance to experience a taste of what makes First State summers so special,” he said.
“We hope all of our fans will hang out with the Miles Beach Patrol, dip their toes in the sand and enjoy some iconic Delaware tunes and treats before and after enjoying America’s best racing at the Monster Mile in July.”
The beach will be open 3-9 p.m. July 17, noon to 9 p.m. July 18, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 19 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 20.
Fans are also reminded of the availability of two free shuttles per day to and from the track to the Delaware State Fair in Harrington and to Rehoboth Beach.
Learn more and register for the shuttles at dovermotorspeedway.com/fans/shuttle.
Dover’s race weekend schedule includes the General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race at 5 p.m. July 18, the BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at 4:30 p.m. July 19 and the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at 2 p.m. July 20.
Visit dovermotorspeedway.com to buy tickets or sign up for updates.
Staff writer Mike Finney can be reached at 302-741-8230 or mfinney@iniusa.org.
Follow @MikeFinneyDSN on X.
