The Monster Mile was hungry for some carnage on Sunday. Dover has had many exciting races in the past, but never before have I seen one quite as wild as this past weekend’s race.

Do to rain, Kevin Harvick started on the pole, courtesy of his practice speed, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. beside him in second. Harvick leapt out front early, and made it clear his no. 4 car was the one to beat. But unfortunately, the no. 4 team beat itself. While Harvick was the best car on track, his pit crew was one of the worst on pit road. Pit stop after pit stop Harvick’s crew cost him spots on pit road, and this finally took him out of contention for the win.

The first major event to occur in the race was on lap 184 when Austin Dillon blew a tire and slammed the outside wall in turns 3 and 4. He would spend several laps in the garage, and then return to the track. Only to be hit by Brad Keslowski, who had just been passed for the lead by Kyle Larson.

Now wait, you might be thinking. Kyle Larson? In the lead? Yes. Kyle Larson had a car that was at least Harvick’s equal, and a pit crew that made Harvick’s look like they were moving in slow motion. That may be a bit of an exaggeration. But you get the point. But Larson wasn’t alone. Martin Truex Jr., who was looking for vengeance after losing last week in Kansas because of a broken tire, was just a tick faster than Larson. The two spent several laps battling for the lead, and they were joined by Carl Edwards, who also had a fast car.

Then, on lap 343 of 400, Tony Stewart’s car began to pour smoke and oil out the back. Apparently the track bar on his car had broken, banged the track, and then knocked a hole in Stewart’s fuel tank. Several cars got loose in the oil, and race leader Truex nearly spun in the oil.

With just 57 laps remaining, all drivers could make it to the finish on just one stop, and some were thinking about gambling and taking two tires instead of four. Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth, both former Dover winners, were the drivers to do so. Coming off pit road, Truex on purpose slowed his car so as to allow Carl Edwards by. This made it so Truex would restart on the outside, just where he wanted.

On the ensuing restart Johnson lead the field to green. But Johnson’s car didn’t go. He stalled on the top of the track, and every driver behind him piled up. Johnson then drifted down the track, collecting even more drivers. In this wild wreck, 18 cars were involved, including Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Joey Logano. Apparently Johnson’s shifter had stuck in place, and he couldn’t shift the car through the gears.

Matt Kenseth was now the leader, followed by Carl Edwards, Kyle Larson, Kurt Busch, and rookie Chase Elliot. As the green flag waved the drivers drove through the first two turns, and trouble struck again. Carl Edwards went low on the track to block Kyle Larson, and Larson accidentally clipped Edwards and smashed him into the inside wall.

Once again the field lined up and restarted, with Kenseth still in the lead. Kenseth managed to briefly get a jump on the field, but then Kyle Larson reeled him in. Larson began hounding Kenseth, trying to find a way past the 20 car. But then someone appeared in Larson’s rear-view mirror. Someone named Chase Elliot. Chase swooped past Larson, and began stalking Kenseth. But Larson was no quitter. He ran Chase down, passed him and surged to Kenseth’s bumper. Again and again Larson pulled alongside Matt, but he could never quite clear him.

After a horrible start to the season, Matt Kenseth won at Dover. It was the 7th win of the year for Joe Gibbs Racing, and now all four of it’s teams are in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. This was Kyle Larson’s fourth runner-up finish of his 3 year career, and he still hasn’t won a Sprint Cup Series race. As for Chase Elliot, his 3rd place finish was his best finish of his rookie season, and his 8th top-ten finish in 12 races. Pretty good start for a rookie.