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Dover 200 Preview

Jun 2, 2007 - 10:38 AM

June 2, 2007
Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware
Race 14 of 35 on Busch Series circuit

Laps: 200 
Track length: 1 mile
Race length: 200 miles

Qualifying record: David Green, Chevrolet, 157.916 mph, 2004
Race record: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 130.152 mph, 1998

DRIVERS TO WATCH
----------------

Dave Blaney
Team: Braun Racing
Car: No. 10 Toyota Camry
2007 Earnings: $424,540

After finishing 31st two weeks ago at Darlington, he rebounded to 
place 10th last week at the Carquest Auto Parts 300; is third in 
the standings, 592 points behind series leader Carl Edwards; has 
recorded two top-five finishes and five top-10s in 12 starts this 
season; the top Toyota driver in the series thus far, a bright spot 
in a disappointing debut season for the new manufacturer; did not run 
in this race last year; finished 16th in the fall race here.

Clint Bowyer
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2007 Earnings: $348,195

Has been outstanding over his last five Busch starts, collecting
two checkered flags and a third-place finish last week in North
Carolina; is eighth in the series standings despite starting in
just nine of the 13 races this season; has six top-five
finishes and seven top-10s; finished fourth in this race last year; 
won the fall race at Dover.

Jeff Burton
Team: Richard Childress Racing 
Car: 29 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2007 Earnings: $360,450 

Has finished in the top-10 in all eight of his races this year, 
including a pair of fourth-place showings the last two weeks; won 
the Sam's Town 300 and Nicorette 300 on back-to-back weeks earlier 
this year; won this event last year but did not run in the fall race 
here. 

Carl Edwards
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Car: No. 60 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $549,625

Has an overwhelming 423-point cushion in the series standings
and was the only driver on the circuit to register a top-10
finish in each of the first 10 races this season; finished a 
season-worst 17th last week in North Carolina; still is 
threatening to turn series standings into a total runaway, much 
the way Kevin Harvick did a year ago; was the series runner-up a year 
ago to Harvick and has pounced with defending champion not running a 
full series slate; also running a full schedule in Nextel Cup Series;
finished second in this race last year; was a disappointing 26th in 
the fall race here last year.

Bobby Hamilton Jr.
Team: Team Rensi Motorsports
Car: No. 35 Ford Fusion
2007 Earnings: $352,465

Fell to 12th in the series standings after struggling to a 33rd-place 
finish last week at the Carquest Auto Parts 300; has recorded 
just one top-10 finish over the first 13 races this season; ran 12th 
at Talladega and has not finished higher than ninth, which he 
accomplished at Nashville; has not captured a checkered flag since 
2003, when he won four races; did not run in this race or the 
fall race last year.  

Kevin Harvick
Team: Richard Childress Racing
Car: No. 21 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2007 Earnings: $411,945

Finished 10th at Darlington and 12th at the Carquest Auto Parts 
300 but remained second in the standings, 423 points behind Edwards; 
ran fourth at Richmond, his third top-five finish of the season; 
has nine top-10 finishes in 11 starts this season and had placed no 
worse  than 12th; reigning series champion is electing not to run 
a full Busch schedule in 2007 but won the season opener at 
Daytona and was the runner-up at Atlanta; finished 13th in
this race last year and third in the fall race.

Juan Pablo Montoya
Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
Car: No. 42 Dodge Charger
2007 Earnings: $419,735

Finished a disappointing 40th at the Carquest Auto Parts 300 last
week to drop to 15th in the series standings; rebounded from a trio of 
poor performances by placing seventh at Talladega, his best finish
since winning the road-course race at Mexico City on March 4;
former Formula One star has been inconsistent in his first full
Busch season, collecting three top-10 finishes but placing 20th
or worse on six occasions; making his debut at Dover.
 2006 Top 10
-----------
 1. Jeff Burton (29), Chevrolet
 2. Carl Edwards (60), Ford
 3. Kurt Busch (139), Dodge
 4. Clint Bowyer (2), Chevrolet
 5. Ron Hornaday (33), Chevrolet
 6. Kyle Busch (5), Chevrolet
 7. Denny Hamlin (20), Chevrolet
 8. Greg Biffle (16), Ford
 9. J.J. Yeley (18), Chevrolet
10. Reed Sorenson (41), Dodge

Past Champions
--------------
2006  Jeff Burton
2005  Martin Truex Jr.
2004  Greg Biffle
2003  Joe Nemechek
2002  Greg Biffle
2001  Jimmy Spencer
2000  Jason Keller 
1999  Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1998  Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1997  Bobby Labonte
1996  Randy LaJoie
1995  Mike McLaughlin
1994  Mike Wallace
1993  Todd Bodine
1992  Robert Pressley
1991  Todd Bodine
1990  Michael Waltrip
1989  Rick Wilson
1988  Bobby Hillin
1987  Mark Martin
1986  Darrell Waltrip
1985  Darrell Waltrip
1984  Ron Bouchard
1983  Ricky Rudd
1982  Joe Ruttman