Travel Log: Dover

Characteristics tell the story of each track, and at Dover International Speedway the concrete surface has grown to define the facility. Of course, just outside the track is an inspiring trademark that is unlike any other track plaza.

It's Miles the Monster.

Height: 46 feet from base to rear of stock car in right hand.

Weight: 40,000 pounds.

The Monster's chest is 67 feet in diameter, with a 56-foot waist. It's 16 feet taller than an NFL goal post. It's 9 feet taller than the Green Monster in Boston.

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DID YOU KNOW?
• Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, doing so on Dec. 7, 1787.

• Twelve observation towers were built along Delaware's coast during World War II to protect the state in case of an attack. Many of the towers remain today, although they were originally built as temporary facilities.

• The Mason-Dixon Line separates Delaware from Maryland, the only stretch of the boundary that runs north to south. Officially, the Mason-Dixon Line was created in 1767 to resolve a border dispute.

• Nantaquak is translated to mean "tidewater people" and is the original spelling of Nanticoke, referring to the Nanticoke Indian Tribe that was settled in Delaware in the 1600s when Captain John Smith came into the area as he explored New England while sailing down the Kuskarawaok River.

• The Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse was built in 1901 and is the only lighthouse on the Delaware coast still in operation.

IN THE KNOW ...
Best Burger: Jake's Hamburgers
Best Seafood: Pleasanton's Seafood
Best Restaurant: Dover Downs Casino

Admitted as a State: Dec. 7, 1787
Capital: Dover
Nickname: The First State
Population Rank: 45th
Largest City: Wilmington

AT THE TRACK
Tailgating occurs at every track, and Dover is no different. But it's a different monster at Dover, with the casino attached to the facility and the upgrades the track has made for fan entertainment near the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza.

Dover's Web site provides a tiny taste of a typical Sunday at the track with a unique slide show.
• Dover International Speedway

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