More Than a Monster: The History, Significance of “Miles”

By Cole Cusumano

DOVER, Del. – Anyone who’s watched horror movies, specifically ‘creature features,’ such as “Frankenstein,” “Godzilla” and “The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” knows there’s more than meets the eye to these outwardly proclaimed beasts. Whether simply misunderstood or serving as a metaphor, there’s almost always a deeper meaning behind the menace.

In the case of Miles the Monster of Dover Motor Speedway, there’s a much more literal approach to the track’s iconic mascot, who perfectly embodies the historic facility.

Opening in 1969 as Dover Downs International Speedway, the one-mile track has been a staple on the NASCAR circuit for over 50 years. While the venue in Delaware is synonymous with its unique concrete surface, it wasn’t until a repave in 1995 that it made the transition from traditional asphalt.

Following the track’s drastic reconfiguration, it was originally nicknamed “White Lightning” for a brief period, before officially adopting the infamous “Monster Mile” label for numerous reasons.

Over the years, Dover developed a nasty reputation as a physically demanding track with a “bite.” Upon the introduction of its abrasive, concrete surface, the brutality and toll it took on drivers was magnified tenfold.

Courtesy of constant banking around the oval ranging, from nine degrees on the straightaways to 24 in the corners, the track dubbed “the fastest one-mile” hurls drivers into their seats like a roller coaster, while expending (or chewing) tires with ease due to racing at high speeds on the steep concrete.

Then, of course, was the creation of Miles the Monster in 1993, who had a much different appearance when he was first introduced.

Likely in conjunction with the wildly popular film “Jurassic Park,” which released the same year, the first iteration of Miles was a green Tyrannosaurus Rex. Although any trace of the old mascot is extinct in 2025, photos and plushies of the dinosaur can be found online.

It wasn’t until 2000 that the Miles everyone knows and loves to this day was born.

Chiseled from concrete, the hulking humanoid with glowing red eyes and the physique of a body builder perfectly encapsulated the spirit of Dover, which is why the beloved figure is still going strong a quarter-century later.

Serving as the track’s new mascot, it wasn’t until 2004 when Ryan Newman won the MBNA 400 in September that one of the most unique trophies in NASCAR was first awarded – a nearly two-foot sculpture of Miles the Monster clutching the race winning car in his right hand.

Ever since then, drivers emphasized finding victory lane at Dover and taming the beast of the east in order to secure a Miles the Monster of their own. Although it may not carry as much prestige as a Daytona 500 or World 600 trophy, there’s no debating that, for many, it’s a close second-place in terms of pure awesomeness.

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch is tied for the most wins at Dover among active full-time drivers with three, adding Miles to his collection first in 2008 and most recently in 2017. Having won everything from titles, Brickyard 400s and just about everything in between with over 200 combined national series wins, he still considers this concrete creature to be one of the most sought after in the sport.

“There’s definitely some cool trophies that are out there – Dover being one of those with the cool monster trophy that you get,” Busch told SpeedFreaks. “That’s a special piece. I always looked up to that trophy. I was able to win a couple (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) ones, a couple (NASCAR Xfinity Series) ones, but then finally was able to capture the big one with a Sunday win. They’re all special and they all mean a lot. This place is very tough, especially in that era, going up against Jimmie (Johnson). It was really hard to get those Dover trophies, as he was hoarding them all.”

For younger up and coming drivers, Miles the Monster is a trophy they seek more than crown jewel events to an extent, having grown up in the midst of what’s now a 21-year tradition in NASCAR.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen is the winningest driver in the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season and kicked off his rookie campaign by winning at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway – arguably the most iconic venue in motorsports. In scoring his series-best fourth win at Dover in the General Tire 150, his elation was off the charts, exiting his car in victory lane and shouting to his crew, “We got ourselves a monster, baby!”

In the media center for his post-race press conference, the 27-year-old was totally fixated on his Miles trophy, gazing at it and fidgeting with it for the entire time. Just like a child with a new toy, Queen also brought his monster to Waffle House to celebrate his win.

“This was one I had circled when I signed my deal to run that I was like, ‘Man, I really want to win a monster,” Queen said. “I love unique trophies that have a lot of history and I feel like this is one I’ve watched as a child growing up, always seeing the (drivers) have their die cast in it.”

You could also add 19-year-old racing phenom Connor Zilisch to the list of young drivers to hold the Dover’s iconic trophy in high regard.

In 2024, Zilisch scored his first monster with an ARCA win, and since then, it was the only trophy on display in his room among his nine prior victories between ARCA and Xfinity alone. Adding another Miles to his collection with a win in the BetRivers 200 Xfinity race, the driver for JR Motorsports compared the prestige of this trophy to his Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona victory from last year.

“ When I got (Miles) last year, it was probably the coolest trophy I had except for my Rolex, and I think my Rolex still takes the cake on that one, but this is a close second. These trophies are awesome and hopefully I’ll get some more in the years to come.”

As of 2008, the 40th anniversary of Dover Motor Speedway, the legacy of Miles the Monster was cemented with a larger-than-life monument that race fans from all over the world flock to cross off their bucket lists – a 46-foot statue composed of fiberglass, depicting the concrete creature bursting from a ground, as he towers over Victory Plaza with a full-sized stock car in his hand.

While winning at Dover may not carry quite as much significance as a Daytona 500 or World 600, the creation of Miles the Monster put the one-mile track on the map as a destination for race fans across the globe and created a tradition in NASCAR widely embraced by all.