• NASCAR race weekend at Dover Motor Speedway starts July 18, building up to the main event July 20.
• See how to get to the track, where to park, tickets, the costs and info on the free shuttle bus from the Christiana Mall.
• Check out what items you can bring and what’s prohibited at the speedway.

If it’s your first time attending a NASCAR race at Dover Motor Speedway or you haven’t been in a while, here are the times for the races July 18 to 20, how to buy tickets, routes to the speedway, parking and shuttle bus service, what you can and can’t bring inside.

DOVER, Del. – After back-to-back road course races, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the bread-and-butter of its schedule with a visit to the famed one-mile Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (2 p.m. ET on TNT, HBO Max, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Although Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen shows up at the Monster Mile fresh off two road course trophy hoists – in Chicago and Sonoma – it’s Hendrick Motorsports drivers who remain ranked one-two-three in the series championship driver standings.

What was more than a 60-point advantage for William Byron a month ago, however, is now only 14 points over teammate Chase Elliott as the series returns to its oval roots with this weekend’s race at the Dover mile, followed by the traditional summer-time visit to the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week and then the .875-mile Iowa Speedway on Aug. 3.

Elliott is a two-time Dover winner – one of four upcoming tracks where his championship NASCAR Cup Series resume includes multiple wins.

Byron is hoping the ovals restore his regular season championship run. He finished eighth at Sonoma last weekend, ending a season-worst streak of three finishes of 27th or worse. Although Byron hasn’t won previously at Dover, he has three fourth-place finishes in the last five races there and led 193 of the 400 laps in 2023.

Kyle Larson, who sits third in the standings – 44 points behind Byron – is similarly hoping to return to form. He led the championship standings in May, but has had only a single top-10 finish in the last five races (seventh at Mexico City). He is especially good at Dover, however. His 8.19 average finish is second all-time to only the great NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson (8.0). It stands as a good opportunity to regain his mojo.

“Our team could really use a good solid weekend to get back on track,” Larson said.

With only six races remaining before the Playoffs, four drivers remain in the 16-driver Playoff-eligible standings by virtue of points – last year’s regular season champ, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher, Hendrick’s Alex Bowman and Reddick’s teammate Bubba Wallace, who holds only a slight three-point advantage over RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece for that last Playoff position entering this race weekend.

Among those four, only Bowman (2021) has a previous NASCAR Cup Series win at the Monster Mile. Buescher won an Xfinity Series race at the track in 2015 and Reddick won in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series that same year.

“Honestly, I like road courses, but I am happy about returning to an oval,” said Bowman driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “Dover has always been a place that fits my driving style. It’s fast, it’s technical, and it demands a lot from both the driver and the car. The transitions off the corners are intense, and the concrete surface makes it unlike anywhere else we go. That 2021 win is still one of my favorite moments with this team.”

Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch, who is ranked just behind Preece in the standings (-37 points) is a three-time Dover winner, tops among current fulltime drivers. He has a track record five Xfinity Series and four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins too. And Busch is the two-time defending NASCAR Cup Series race pole-winner with top-10 finishes in two of this last three races at Dover – leading 162 laps in that time.

Busch is coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes at the two road courses, but hasn’t led a lap since May 11 at Kansas Speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is the defending Dover race winner and the only multi-time winner in the track’s last seven races. He’s had top-four finishes in four of the season’s last six races, including a victory at Michigan in June; his third win of the season which ties him with Larson, his teammate Christopher Bell and Shane van Gisbergen for the most trophies on the year.

Of note. … three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Team Penske’s Joey Logano, is hoping to claim his first “Monster” NASCAR Cup Series trophy in what will be his 600th career start in the series. The 34-year-old is the youngest person in the sport’s history to reach that milestone. He’s won an amazing four consecutive times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Dover sweeping the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

The $1 million to-win TNT Sports In-Season Challenge features some odds-defying semifinal pairings this week. The longshot, 32nd ranked Ty Dillon is matched up against the 12th-seed John Hunter Nemechek. Kaulig Racing’s Dillon is looking for his first top-10 finish in what will be his 12th Dover start. Legacy Motor Club’s Nemechek has a best showing of 20th – twice – in three Dover starts.

Reddick and Ty Gibbs will go at it in an all-Toyota match-up on the other side of the bracket. The 23XI Racing’s Reddick has three finishes of 11th or better in his last four Dover races but has never led a lap at the track in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has a couple top-10 showings in the Xfinity Series at the Monster Mile and that 2015 truck series victory.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver Gibbs has 13th and 10th-place showings in his only previous NASCAR Cup Series races at the track but has a fifth-place and third-place finish in two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts.

Winners from the two pairings will race for that million dollar check next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Practice at Dover is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET Saturday followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 2:45 p.m. ET (TruTV, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).  Busch is the defending pole-winner.

Source: Holly Cain | NASCAR Wire Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a request from 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to continue racing with charters while they battle NASCAR in court, meaning their six cars will race as open entries this weekend at Dover, next week at Indianapolis and perhaps longer than that in a move the teams say would put them at risk of going out of business.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell denied the teams’ bid for a temporary restraining order, saying they will make races over the next couple of weeks and they won’t lose their drivers or sponsors before his decision on a preliminary injunction.

Bell left open the possibility of reconsidering his decision if things change over the next two weeks.

After this weekend, the cars affected may need to qualify on speed if 41 entries are listed — a possibility now that starting spots have opened.

“We are disappointed that the court declined to grant 23XI and Front Row Motorsports a temporary restraining order to allow the teams to continue racing as chartered teams,” the teams’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler said in a statement. “We remain confident that our motion for a preliminary injunction is legally warranted and necessary, and we look forward to the court’s full review.”

23XI, which is co-owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan, and FRM filed their federal suit against NASCAR last year after they were the only two organizations out of 15 to reject NASCAR’s extension offer on charters.

“We made the decision to bring this lawsuit to challenge NASCAR’s monopolistic practices and bullying tactics, and we are not going to let them push our teams – or others – out of the sport that they love,” Kessler’s statement said. “We are confident in the merits of our case and the teams remain focused on competing this weekend and continuing their playoff push.”

The case has a Dec. 1 trial date, but the two teams are fighting to be recognized as chartered for the current season, which has 16 races left. A charter guarantees one of the 40 spots in the field each week, but also a base amount of money paid out each week.

Jordan and FRM owner Bob Jenkins won an injunction to recognize 23XI and FRM as chartered for the season, but the ruling was overturned on appeal earlier this month, sending the case back to Bell.

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin co-owns 23XI with Jordan and said they were prepared to send Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst to the track each week as open teams. They sought the restraining order Monday, claiming that through discovery they learned NASCAR planned to immediately begin the process of selling the six charters which would put “plaintiffs in irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business.”

“This is a fair and significant fear; however, NASCAR has agreed that it ‘will not sell any charters before the court can rule on plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction,’” Ball wrote. “Similarly, plaintiffs worry that denying them guaranteed entry into the field for upcoming races could adversely impact their competitive standing, including their ability to earn a spot in the playoffs. Again, a legitimate, potentially irreparable harm. Yet, akin to the sale of charters, NASCAR represents to the court that all of plaintiffs’ cars will qualify (if they choose to race) for the races in Dover and Indianapolis that will take place during the next 14 days.”

Making the field won’t be an issue this weekend at Dover as fewer than the maximum 40 cars are entered. But should 41 cars show up anywhere this season, someone slow will be sent home and that means lost revenue and a lost chance to win points in the standings.

Reddick was last year’s regular-season champion and raced for the Cup Series championship in the season finale. But none of the six drivers affected by the court ruling are locked into this year’s playoffs.

___

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

A U.S. District Court judge refused Thursday to grant 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports a temporary restraining order to compete as chartered teams, meaning both organizations will be classified as open teams this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway.

Open teams are not guaranteed a starting spot, but that won’t be a problem for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports this weekend. A full field is 40 cars. Only 37 cars are entered at Dover. Both organizations, though, will receive less money because they no longer have charter status and will not receive the extra income charter teams do.

“We are disappointed that the court declined to grant 23XI and Front Row Motorsports a temporary restraining order to allow the teams to continue racing as chartered teams,” said Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, in a statement. “We remain confident that our motion for a preliminary injunction is legally warranted and necessary, and we look forward to the court’s full review.

“The court made it clear it is only denying the temporary restraining order because NASCAR has agreed to preserve our charters until the preliminary injunction can be decided and because we are assured of qualifying all our cars the next two weeks so that there will be no irreparable harm before the preliminary injunction can be fully briefed and ruled upon.

“We made the decision to bring this lawsuit to challenge NASCAR’s monopolistic practices and bullying tactics, and we are not going to let them push our teams – or others – out of the sport that they love. We are confident in the merits of our case and the teams remain focused on competing this weekend and continuing their playoff push.”

23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports, owned by Bob Jenkins, had sought a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to compete as chartered teams. They have competed as chartered teams all season — despite not signing the charter agreement last year — after U.S. District Court judge Kenneth D. Bell granted a preliminary injunction last December.

NASCAR appealed the preliminary injunction order to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel from that circuit heard oral arguments May 9 and vacated the preliminary injunction June 5. The two teams asked the full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the matter. The court declined to do so July 9. The teams went back to U.S. District Court this week to request a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to compete as chartered teams, leading to the court’s decision to deny a temporary restraining order Thursday.

No decision was made on the preliminary injunction.

23XI Racing employs drivers Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst. Front Row Motorsports’ drivers are Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson and Zane Smith.

Two teams state in court documents that “they once again will face the prospect of losing key sponsors and star drivers” if they lose their charter status.

23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports asked the court Monday to be allowed to continue to run with chartered status, citing new evidence uncovered in discovery.

The teams stated in court documents: “Since the Fourth Circuit’s decision, NASCAR has signaled its intention to immediately move to sell or issue Plaintiffs’ charters to other entities — putting Plaintiffs in irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and going out of business.

“As the Court has already found, it is not economically viable for a team to participate in the Cup Series on a long-term basis racing under an “open” agreement. Moreover, if Plaintiffs are forced to relinquish their charters before trial, they once again will face the prospect of losing key sponsors and star drivers, who will have the right to terminate their contracts and have already signaled their intention to pursue driving opportunities with other teams (should Plaintiffs lose their charter rights).”

But in its response Wednesday, NASCAR denied that claim. NASCAR stated in court documents: “Although based on the false premise that Plaintiffs have Charters, and notwithstanding the substantial interest in Charters from motorsports companies racing in INDYCAR, Xfinity, and other series, NASCAR has represented it will not sell any Charters before the Court can rule on Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.”

Bell noted NASCAR’s response in his ruling.

“With respect to irreparable harm, Plaintiffs (23XI and Front Row) have expressed several concerns,” Bell wrote in his six-page order. “First, they claim that the transfer of the Charter spots Plaintiffs had been using prior to this dispute and have purchased would “destroy their businesses” under the current Charter Agreement regime.

“This is a fair and significant fear; however, NASCAR has agreed that it “will not sell any Charters before the Court can rule on Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction.”

NASCAR files response to 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports requesting this week to have charter status through the rest of the season after it expired.

The teams also raised concerns about the harm of not having charter status as they have had all season.

Bell addressed that, writing: “Similarly, Plaintiffs worry that denying them guaranteed entry into the field for upcoming races could adversely impact their competitive standing, including their ability to earn a spot in the playoffs.

“Again, a legitimate, potentially irreparable harm. Yet, akin to the sale of Charters, NASCAR represents to the Court that all of Plaintiffs’ cars will qualify (if they choose to race) for the races in Dover and Indianapolis that will take place during the next 14 days, the initial length of time during which the Court can enter a (temporary restraining order) under Rule 65. Therefore, Plaintiffs will not suffer any harm from being at risk of a failure to qualify for races until the Court rules on the Preliminary Injunction.”

The teams also have raised the harm of not having charter status could have in terms of sponsors and driver contracts.

On that matter, Bell wrote: “Finally, Plaintiffs say they face the threat of the irreparable loss of drivers and sponsor relationships and opportunities. With respect to drivers, the record stands in a different posture than it did prior to the season when the Court entered the earlier injunction.

“While Plaintiffs’ drivers could have realistically terminated their contracts with Plaintiffs and/or been lured away by other teams, that prospect (although theoretically still conceivable) appears unlikely at this late stage of the season, and Plaintiffs have not offered evidence that any drivers are intending to do so in the next two weeks. Moreover, Plaintiffs have not established an imminent loss of sponsorships before the Preliminary Injunction can be decided.”

U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell on Thursday denied a motion for a temporary restraining order that would have ensured the three NASCAR-chartered cars owned by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports could not be revoked.

Bell’s primary reason was that NASCAR has agreed to not sell the charters until the judge has ruled on the teams’ motion for a preliminary injunction. The preliminary injunction seeks the same type of relief as the TRO except it would be designed to last a longer period: Through the reminder of the 2025 Cup Series season and through a trial scheduled for December.

23XI, which is co-owned by Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk, and Front Row sought a TRO because of the expiration of a preliminary injunction that had ensured the teams could enjoy the rights of the 2025 charter agreements without having to accept a mutual release provision. The teams had obtained that injunction from Bell last December, but in June a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed Bell. After 23XI and Front Row recently—and unsuccessfully—sought an en banc review in front of all active judges on the Fourth Circuit, a judicial mandate to end the injunction took effect on Wednesday.

As Bell explained in his latest order, 23XI and Front Row sought a TRO “to stave off what they urge to be the dire consequences of no longer operating as a ‘chartered’ team.” Those “dire consequences” include the possibility that “NASCAR will quickly sell their charters to other racing teams, thereby for all practical purposes ending their existence as a realistic competitor in NASCAR’s Cup Series.”

While Bell acknowledged 23XI and Front Row’s worries, he reasoned the teams have come up short in arguing for a TRO.

To that end, 23XI and Front Row failed to convince Bell they could establish a likelihood of imminent irreparable harm, which is the type of harm that monetary damages can’t later remedy. 

Bell noted that while 23XI and Front Row fear the transfer of charter spots would “destroy their businesses,” NASCAR has agreed it “will not sell any charters” before Bell rules on the motion for a preliminary injunction. 

Likewise, NASCAR has assured that all of 23XI and Front Row’s cars would, if the teams wish to race, qualify for races in Dover and Indianapolis that are set to occur over the next couple of weeks. Bell further pointed out that 23XI and Front Row don’t claim they’re likely to lose drivers or sponsors over the next couple of weeks since the teams’ charter status won’t change. 

In a statement shared with Sportico, 23XI and Front Row attorney Jeffrey Kessler said he and his clients are “disappointed” by the TRO ruling but “remain confident” that they will prevail in their motion for a preliminary injunction. Kessler said Bell rejected the TRO “because NASCAR has agreed to preserve our charters until the preliminary injunction can be decided and because we are assured of qualifying all our cars the next two weeks so that there will be no irreparable harm before the preliminary injunction can be fully briefed and ruled upon.”