CONCORD, N.C. – Claiming success at Dover International Speedway -- the Monster Mile -- is not easy.
“I’d have to say Dover is probably one of the most technical tracks we go to,” said Jimmie Johnson, nine-time winner at the high-banked track. "Setup is key. Communication between driver and crew chief is key.
“Dover isn’t easy, but it just suits my driving style and I love it.”
Tune in this Sunday to FOX Sports 1 at 1 p.m. ET to see who’s able to take this weekend’s checkered flag at Dover.
Here’s what you should know before Hendrick Motorsports’ four veteran drivers start their engines:
THIS WEEK’S PAINT SCHEMES: Kasey Kahne will pilot the No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS this weekend at the one-mile track. Teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will return to the No. 24 3M Chevrolet SS and No. 48 Lowe’s ProServices Chevrolet SS, respectively. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete in this weekend’s Monster Mile race in the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS.
QUALIFYING: Qualifying for Dover International Speedway will take place Friday, May 29, at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Practices sessions for this weekend’s event are scheduled for Friday, May 29, at 11 a.m. ET and Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET also on FOX Sports 1.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT DOVER: Hendrick Motorsports has 17 wins, 54 top-five finishes and 88 top-10 finishes at Dover International Speedway. The organization has won the last three consecutive races at Dover, with Johnson winning in September 2013 and June 2014 and Gordon taking the victory in September 2014. Last year's trip to Victory Lane meant Gordon has contributed five wins to Hendrick Motorsports’ total at Dover and ranks first among active drivers in top-five finishes (18) and top-10 finishes (25) at the track.
DOVER DOUBLE DUTY: In addition his duties behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet SS this weekend, Kahne will pilot JR Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet in the 200-mile NASCAR XFINITY Series event on Saturday at Dover. In 14 NXS starts at Dover, Kahne has posted one pole award (September 2004), three top-five finishes, eight top-10 finishes and a total of 80 laps led.
KAHNE AT DOVER: Kahne earned his best finish of fourth at Dover in October 2011 after starting from the ninth position. Kahne has started inside the top 10 eight times at the one-mile oval. Crew chief Keith Rodden has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-896 for Sunday’s race at Dover. Most recently, Kahne raced the chassis at Phoenix in March, where he finished fourth.
GORDON AT DOVER: Gordon, driver of the No. 24 3M Chevrolet SS, has led 200 or more laps on five occasions at Dover. In September 1995, he led 400 of 500 laps en route to his first victory at the high-banked track, and he paced the field for 381 of 400 laps in June 2001 to capture his fourth victory. In May 1998, Gordon led 375 of 400 laps but finished third after a late-race pit stop for fuel.
JOHNSON AT DOVER: Last May, Johnson took home his ninth career trophy from Dover by leading a dominating 272 laps. In that race he surpassed Bobby Allison’s 2,802 laps led to become the all-time lap leader at Dover. Johnson has now led 2,976 laps around the Monster Mile and has completed 98.2 percent of all laps attempted.
EARNHARDT AT DOVER: Earnhardt ranks 14th among all drivers for laps run in the top 15 at Dover in the past 20 Sprint Cup races, according to NASCAR's loop data statistics. During that span at the one-mile oval, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, native has spent 48.2 percent of his laps (3,860 of 8,004 total) running in the top 15.