Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR sanctioned 1 mile (1.6 km) race track located in Dover, DE, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness race track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. At one time both the entertainment complex and the speedway were owned by the publicly traded Dover Downs Entertainment, but they have since been split into two separate companies. Among NASCAR enthusiasts, the track has earned the nickname of "The Monster Mile".
The track is unique as it is one of three tracks that are made of concrete, Bristol and Nashville Superspeedway being the other two. Photographing a concrete race track does make for very bright images because the colors reflect back onto the cars. Photographing the race seems to be more personable at this track because it’s a true one mile track, so being able to walk around the facility and shooting at different locations is easy within the time frame of the race. Although there aren’t any shooting holes in the fence line, you can shoot the cars head on with few disruptions. The turns are fairly short so if you’re looking for images of multiple cars in one frame, you’ll have to use longer lenses to be able to capture the action in the turns. With recent major accidents in the backstretch area, that part of the track is off limits, but they have installed a photographer’s stand in the inside of the backstretch to capture the action. Right off turn 1, there are suites and with the proper credentials, photographers can shoot from the top of the suite, which will allow you to photograph the green and checkered flags, along with great race action down the frontstretch as well as the first five or six pit stalls. Using a full framed camera along with a 15mm fisheye lens, this location will allow you to photograph the track completely with all the stands in view.
The pit stalls at the Monster Mile are fairly small with the walkway behind the pits shallow and bustling with people during the race. Tires usually take up a lot of room behind the pits, so photographing pit stops can be something of an art form at Dover. One great advantage shooting pit stops at Dover is the ability to photograph the pit stops underneath the rail that separates pit road from the pits. You can get some nice creative pit stop shots that you won’t be able to reproduce anywhere else on the circuit. With the sun setting in turn 2, the shadows fall correctly when shooting from pit road, so you can capture the intensity of the crew members during a pit stop.
With space at a premium on pit road, Dover’s Victory Lane is in the middle and behind pit road in a very tight location. The concrete bleachers in Victory Lane are steep and very tight, not leaving a lot of room on the sides. Capturing the excitement in Victory Lane can be confusing if you’re not use to the procedures. If you’re on the top of the bleachers in Victory Lane, you will not be able to see the whole car when it pulls into VL. The heads of the photographers below will cut off the car, but you will have a great vantage point to photograph the driver when he jumps out of the car and turns towards the cameras. The group shots as well as the trophy presentation are all done on a stage behind the race car, so you are basically at the same height as the team when the “hat dance” starts. If you’re able to find a location to the side by the front of the car as the car pulls in, you’ll be able to capture a different angle with a fisheye lens that works pretty well for a creative shot. But if you miss that shot, you’ll be stuck at a poor location for the remainder of the ceremonies.
Shooting from the turns on the inside can be great if you’re looking for exciting crash images. There are photographers stands in the corners, but space is at a premium on the stands. With the addition of a crossover bridge off of turn 2, Dover Downs has added a photographers stand underneath the crossover which provides a great view of the cars coming off the turns and battling for position. The garage are is tight compared to other race tracks, so you need to be on your toes when shooting the cars during racing conditions. The bays are open aired so there is plenty of light coming in that allows for lower ISO’s and greater natural lighting effects.
Getting into and out of the race track still has it’s moments. With only one highway in or out, traffic can be a bit of a nightmare if you time it wrong. With 135,000 seating capacity, along with the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, parking on the grounds might not be the best solution. The local stores open their lots for the spectators to park, and the prices range from $10 to $25 a day to park. For the media, we have a lot that’s close to the turn 2 crossover that’s very convenient. The last few years, Dover has provided golf carts as shuttles from the crossover to the media center, which has been a great bonus when you’re carrying all your camera equipment. Photo vests are required at this race track but it’s a great benefit to keep you separated from the fans in the infield. Once a race car falls out of the race, the security personnel don’t allow the fans to walk up to the wall where that car was pitting, and with the photo vest, you’ll be able to have a clear view of the racetrack.
The media center is top notch with ample seating and internet for the working media. A lunch room is also located in the media center and it’s pretty well stocked throughout the weekend. All in all, a great experience for the working press.
