Carl Edwards is from Missouri, but he has been right at home at the one-mile oval in Delaware over the last three races, earning first-, second- and third-place finishes. Edwards also mixed in a Nationwide Series victory at Dover last June.

Another driver who likes the Northeast concrete — in an old school stock car or the CoT — is Martin Truex Jr., who won the first and only points-paying Cup race of his career in June last year after winning consecutive Nationwide events in 2004 and ’05.

But the list doesn’t end there. Several active drivers have multiple career wins at the Monster Mile.

Hendrick teammates Jimmie Johnson (three) and Jeff Gordon (four) have combined to win seven of the last 25 races up north.

Ryan Newman won three of four races in 2003 and 2004. In the six races since his last win, Newman has produced three top 10s, including a 135-laps led, runner-up finish last June.

It’s been a few years, but Tony Stewart won twice at Dover in 2000 — in a Gibbs Pontiac. After switching to a Chevy in 2003, Stewart ran in the top 5 for three straight races. This year’s move from Chevrolet to Toyota may re-energize a driver who has averaged a 23.3-place finish at Dover since 2005.

FANTASY STALL
Looking at Checkers
Carl Edwards by a splitter...

Pretty Solid Pick
...over Martin Truex Jr.
Good Sleeper Pick
Surprisingly, Robby Gordon.
Runs on Seven Cylinders
Dave Blaney, who failed to qualify for either Dover race last season.
Insider Tip
Do not overlook Mark Martin in the fantasy lineup.

KEEP AN EYE ON...

Jeff Burton Dover was the site of Burton’s return to glory. After a 175-race winless streak, the RCR pilot staged a classic duel with Matt Kenseth en route to an emotional return to Victory Lane in 2006.

Matt Kenseth The 17 ran fifth last June and led the most laps in the fall race until a blown engine ended his run (while leading) 26 laps from the the end.

Mark Martin Martin earned his first career NASCAR win at Dover, a Busch (Nationwide) Series victory in May 1987. He beat Larry Pearson and Ed Berrier in a 200-lapper that day and has loved the joint ever since. Martin has four Cup wins here, and if he runs at Dover this year — and let’s be honest, he will run at Dover — he has to be considered a favorite, courtesy of Martin Truex Jr.’s updated CoT notes.

Juan Pablo Montoya Rebounded from a 31st-place finish in the Spring to nail a top 10 in the Fall. Yes, he is that good.