NASCAR at Dover live race updates, results, highlights from Drydene 400

By | May 16, 2021

Martin Truex Jr. has a chance to add yet another victory to his 2021 Cup Series campaign at the Dover International Speedway on Sunday.

Truex, the only multi-race winner this season (at Phoenix, Martinsville and Darlington), is the clear favorite ahead of the Drydene 400. The three-time winner at Dover is second in the Cup Series standings behind only Denny Hamlin. He also has top-two finishes in each of his last four races at the Monster Mile. Add to that his dominant race in Darlington last week — he led 248 of 293 laps — and it makes sense that he’s the betting favorite (7-2) at the 400-lap, 400-mile race.

Kyle Larson, who challenged Truex late in the Goodyear 400 and finished as the race’s runner-up, is probably his top challenger on Sunday; he has NASCAR’s highest average all-time finish at Dover, at 7.4. Of course, there’s also Hamlin, who despite having no wins this season has an absurd nine top-five finishes to give him the lead in the standings.

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Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from the Drydene 400 at Dover International Raceway. Follow along below.

NASCAR at Dover live updates, highlights from Drydene 400

All times Eastern

4 p.m.: Is that good? (Remember, Elliott started the race in the back of the lineup).

3:55 p.m.: Checking in now that we’re over halfway through the 400-lap race and … yep, Larson is still in the lead.

3:36 p.m.: Caution 3 (Lap 171). Berry hit the wall, knocking him well off pace; because of where he was on in relation to everyone else on the track, he couldn’t get inside into to pit row without drawing the yellow flag.

3:28 p.m.: Briscoe’s back in pit row; looks like his car is off pace due to the damage he sustained in a crash just before the end of Stage 1.

3:22 p.m.: I’m not entirely certain that’s not Kyle Busch.

3:20 p.m.: Berry and James Davison, down four and six laps, respectively, were both hit for speeding penalties in pit row.

3:09 p.m.: Larson was absolutely dominant in Stage 1, with an 11.3-second lead over Hamlin at the time the caution dropped. Here’s the top 10 racers for the the stage:

3:07 p.m: Caution 2 (Lap 119). Looks like Chase Briscoe blew his tire out and hit the wall trying to stay in front of Larson (and on the lead lap). That’s going to cost him under caution. With that, Stage 1 is concluded under caution.

2:57 p.m.: Yeah, about Kyle Busch … those engine issues aren’t going away. He’s two laps off the lead with 25 laps left in the stage.

2:51 p.m.: Meanwhile, Larson continues his run of dominance with a comfortable lead 80 laps into the Drydene 400.

2:48 p.m.: Tough break for Corey LaJoie, who has to pit under green with a flat right-front tire. He’s three laps off the lead.

2:46 p.m.: Truex appears to have nose damage, affecting his ability to turn since it was hitting the track. That problem’s only going to be exacerbated with climbing car temperatures.

2:36 p.m.: Another note: Kyle Busch manages to avoid getting lapped on caution, despite his engine issues.

2:35 p.m.: Truex Jr. comes out of the caution in 12th place after a lug nut fell out and interfered with a car jack, causing him a slow pit. Incredible.

2:31 p.m.: Larson gained a position on Byron to take the lead out of the competition caution. Harvick remains at the No. 3 position coming out of the caution.

2:30 p.m.: Uh-oh.

2:29 p.m.: Caution 1 (Competition, Lap 35)

2:25 p.m.: Lots of movement at the top of the lineup while Fox Sports 1 was on a commercial break; Truex Jr. fell from first to fourth behind William Byron (first), Larson (second) and Kevin Harvick (third). He’s roughly 5 seconds off the lead.

2:19 p.m.: Elliott has moved up 12 positions from 36, 11 laps into Stage 1.

2:15 p.m.: And there they go!

2:12 p.m.: Also of note: Josh Berry will make his Cup Series debut in the 77 car as a last-minute replacement for Justin Haley (who can’t race due to NASCAR’S COVID-19 protocols).

2:11 p.m.: Ryan Newman will join Chase Elliott (two failed pre-race inspections) at the back of the lineup due to unapproved adjustments:

2:02 p.m.: Some important race notes at Dover:

2 p.m.: The engines are revved at Dover. Green flag incoming.

1:30 p.m.: Things are getting heated in the Fox studio over barbecue.

NASCAR lineup at Dover

Here is the complete starting lineup for the Drydene 400 without qualifying:

Start pos. Driver Car No. Team
1 Martin Truex Jr. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
2 Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
3 William Byron 24 Hendrick Motorsports
4 Kyle Larson 5 Hendrick Motorsports
5 Kevin Harvick 4 Stewart-Haas Racing
6 Kyle Busch 18 Joe Gibbs Racing
7 Ryan Blaney 12 Team Penske
8 Joey Logano 22 Team Penske
9 Chris Buescher 17 Roush Fenway Racing
10 Christopher Bell 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
11 Tyler Reddick 8 Richard Childress Racing
12 Ryan Newman 6 Roush Fenway Racing
13 Austin Dillon 3 Richard Childress Racing
14 Brad Keselowski 2 Team Penske
15 Alex Bowman 48 Hendrick Motorsports
16 Chase Briscoe 14 Stewart-Haas Racing
17 Matt DiBenedetto 21 Wood Brothers Racing
18 Ross Chastain 42 Chip Ganassi Racing
19 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing
20 Michael McDowell 34 Front Row Motorsports
21 Bubba Wallace 23 23XI Racing
22 Erik Jones 43 Richard Petty Motorsports
23 Daniel Suarez 99 Trackhouse Racing Team
24 Ryan Preece 37 JTG Daugherty Racing
25 Corey LaJoie 7 Spire Motorsports
26 Anthony Alfredo 38 Front Row Motorsports
27 Kurt Busch 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
28 Josh Berry 77 Spire Motorsports
29 Cole Custer 41 Stewart-Haas Racing
30 BJ McLeod 78 Live Fast Motorsports
31 Aric Almirola 10 Stewart-Haas Racing
32 James Davison 15 Rick Ware Racing
33 Cody Ware 51 Petty Ware Racing
34 Quin Houff 00 StarCom Racing
35 Garrett Smithley 53 Rick Ware Racing
36 Josh Bilicki 52 Rick Ware Racing
37 Chase Elliott* 9 Hendrick Motorsports

*Elliott, who would have started eighth in the lineup, will start at the back for failing two pre-race inspections.

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