Aerial View of Dover Downs Then . . .
Photo courtesy of Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware
. . . Dover International Speedway Now
Photo courtesy of Dover Motorsports, Reinhold Matay
Joseph Frederick & Sons sponsored a bowling team. Photographed here are Fran Amitrano, Laura Pudvan, Barbara Woolsey, an unidentified friend, and Dot Ramsey.
Construction began on Dover International Speedway, formerly known as Dover Downs, in 1966. It opened in 1969 as a one-of-a-kind, dual-purpose facility designed to accommodate both horse racing and auto racing.
"When the one-mile, high-banked Delaware track first opened its gates for NASCAR's premier racing series, the stage was set for history to be made," says Dover International Speedway's Web site. "The 25-row, 10,333-seat Dover International Speedway first ushered in guests on July 6, 1969, for the Mason-Dixon 300." The first throngs of fans cheered as the iconic No. 43 car driven by 'The King' Richard Petty roared into victory lane. With this first race, the story of Dover Motorsports, Inc., officially began.
Between 1981 and 2006, Dover International Speedway gradually expanded its facility. Now with 137,500 seats, it boasts the largest seating capacity of any sports facility in the mid-Atlantic region.
Today, Dover Motorsports has three locations in addition to its Delaware headquarters-Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, Memphis Motorsports Park, and Nashville Superspeedway.
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