Dover Motor Speedway’s longtime connection with the Department of the Air Force and Dover Air Force Base reaches new heights (literally) this week with an addition to the Monster Monument at Victory Plaza.
The 46-foot landmark now sports a true-scale NASCAR Cup Series car wrapped with an operational camouflage pattern, the same design worn by thousands of Airmen at Dover Air Force Base and across the world every day.
The car and new wrap, which was placed in the Monster Monument’s hand Monday, April 8, will be on display during the Monster Mile’s April 26-28 NASCAR tripleheader weekend.
“It is an honor for our Airmen to be recognized with something as prominent and recognizable as the Monster Monument,” said Col Chris McDonald, Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base. “Dover Motor Speedway is a great community partner and always supports our Dover Air Force Base team members throughout their time in the First State. We look forward to visitors enjoying this tribute to the U.S. Air Force at the Monster Mile.”
Dedicated in May 2008 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in attendance, the Monster Monument is marking its 16th birthday this year – old enough to drive!
“Dover Motor Speedway annually hosts America’s best drivers and now we are honoring America’s best servicemembers,” said Mike Tatoian, Dover’s president and general manager. “We can never do enough to recognize the efforts and sacrifice of all this nation’s military members, veterans and their families, including those who have been or are currently stationed at Dover Air Force Base. Placing this special wrap representing their operational camouflage pattern uniforms on the Monster Monument is a small way we can salute their service.”
Plaques at the base of the Monster Monument honor all of Dover’s race winners with marquee plaques dedicated to legendary drivers for their special accomplishments on the World’s Fastest One-Mile Oval. Seven-time Dover champions Bobby Allison and Richard Petty and five-time Dover winners Jeff Gordon and David Pearson are honored with marquee plaques.
The Monster Monument has frequently been lit in special colors to honor and support various causes, including the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation (teal), autism awareness (blue), the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (purple), breast cancer awareness (pink) and frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (blue).
MONSTER MONUMENT FACTS AND FIGURES
Height: 46 feet to rear of stock car in right hand
Weight: 40,000 pounds
Size of base: 7 feet high, 60 feet across
Construction began at ACI Composites in Lancaster, Pa.: Dec. 3, 2007
Arrived in Dover: April 25, 2008
Days to build at ACI Composites: 144
Days to reassemble in Dover: 1 (April 29, 2008)
Monument dedicated: May 14, 2008
