What’s Happening?

NASCAR race tracks rarely have mascots, but Dover Motor Speedway is an exception to that rule. The concrete track’s brand is solidified with the iconic mascot “Miles the Monster”. This raises the question, where did “Miles the Monster” come from?

• “Miles the Monster” is derived from the track’s nickname, the “Monster Mile”. With 24-degree banking in the corners and a concrete surface, the track is incredibly fast for its’ short length of 1.0 miles.
• Dover is known for being a treacherous, yet exciting race track. The high speeds and high banks make it an incredibly fun track to drive, but, its short length and narrow width mean that spins often lead to multi-car incidents.
• Fans generally enjoy the racing at the “Monster Mile”. The “Mile the Monster” mascot gives the track a recognizable brand.

The Origin of Miles the Monster

Dover Motor Speedway underwent a massive change in 1995. The track surface, which was asphalt from its’ founding in 1969, was switched to concrete. It was the second track in NASCAR to be paved fully with concrete, as Bristol had been paved with the surface before the 1992 season.

The concrete surface is so durable that it still holds up nearly 30 years later with very little wear and tear. Dover and Bristol remained the only concrete tracks on the Cup Series schedule from 1995 until Nashville Superspeedway joined the schedule in 2021.

Bristol already had a recognizable brand thanks to its’ high banks, close racing, and night race, so, being concrete, while unique, wasn’t necessary to market. However, Dover, while a historic NASCAR venue, decided to embrace its new surface.

Joe Hellen, Dover Motor Speedway PR Coordinator at the time, told Roadside America in 2012 that “Miles the Monster”, a concrete monster was chosen as the track’s mascot in 2000. The mascot name was derived from the track’s new nickname, the “Monster Mile”.

The Evolution of “Miles the Monster”

“Miles the Monster” quickly became a major part of the track’s advertising. In 2006, the track underwent a series of renovations known as the “Monster Makeover”, and the crowning aesthetic change was a brand new statue, as Hellen told Roadside America. The track unveiled the statue in 2008, and it still stands to this day.

Thanks to @dharm32 for stopping by the Monster Mile! We hope your family enjoyed the laps around the Monster Mile! pic.twitter.com/v9ywbPGVXC

— Dover Motor Speedway (@MonsterMile) July 24, 2023

A car from the defending winner at the track is placed in Miles’ right hand every race weekend. This gimmick goes down even to the trophies. Winners at the track have a diecast of their car placed in Miles’ hand on the trophy in victory lane.

Miles the Monster is at home in the SHR trophy case. pic.twitter.com/FWYzXKJosS

— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) April 27, 2023

No track has built its brand around a mascot quite like Dover has with “Miles the Monster”. When people hear the “Monster Mile” or “Miles the Monster”, they know what is being referred to. It also makes a pretty cool trophy.