News Article

Dover’s Truck, Busch and Busch East winners to receive a “monster” new trophy

January 17, 2006
Gary Camp

The new Monster trophy will be awarded to the winning Truck, Busch and Busch East drivers in 2006.

The Monster trophy, awarded to the winner of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Dover International Speedway, has quickly become one of the most popular awards on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series circuit. The creation of a new Monster trophy will now become one of the most popular awards in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, Busch and Busch East Series, as well.

Speedway officials unveiled today a rendering of the new-for-2006 trophy, to be presented to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, Busch and Busch East Series winners at Dover International Speedway.

The original Monster trophy, first awarded to Ryan Newman as the winner of the MBNA America 400 on Sept. 26, 2004, was created to celebrate the Monster Mile’s inclusion in the “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.” The unique reward has been seen on the cover of NASCAR Scene, in AutoWeek magazine, and on television highlight reels around the country.

Ryan Newman, winner of the MBNA America 400 on September 26, 2004, poses with the original Monster trophy. Photo by Randy Dickerson

“Dover is known as the Monster Mile because of the challenges the track presents to drivers,” said Jerry Miraglia, executive vice president of Dover Motorsports, Inc. “It’s only fitting that we reward the winners of all of our races with this spectacular new trophy.”

The trophies will stand approximately 20 inches tall, and will be composed of sandstone, a granite-like material. The fierce trophy will strike a different pose than the trophy awarded to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup winner, and will include a different colored mirror as part of the base. The mirrored base is designed to make the trophy glow in the sunlight.

Dover Motorsports, Inc. takes pride in creating unique trophies for its races. Nashville Superspeedway’s victory lane showcases one of the most coveted trophies on the NASCAR Busch and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuits. An exclusive Gibson Les Paul Guitar, with race-specific artwork designed by NASCAR’s Official Artist Sam Bass, is presented as the winning trophy at each race.

Memphis Motorsports Park's 'Elvis' trophy was unveiled in July 2005. Photo by John Tucker

While Nashville has the guitar, Memphis has Elvis. Memphis Motorsports Park, also owned and operated by Dover Motorsports, recently sculpted a special set of trophies for its NASCAR races. The trophy design – of a young, guitar-wielding, hip-swiveling Elvis Presley – is 27 inches tall, 60 pounds of cast bronze, and based on the statue of Elvis that stands on Beale Street, the only statue ever officially commissioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

The original Monster trophy, as well as the new versions of the Truck, Busch and Busch East trophy, were created by MTM Recognition. Based in Oklahoma City, Okla., MTM are makers of high-profile awards for many major sporting events. Some of MTM Recognition’s previous work includes a majority of the awards for the NCAA Bowl games, SuperBowl rings, and gold medals awarded to Olympians.

Who will bring home the new trophy in 2006? Be here to see it…live!

NEAT NOTES:

After Newman won the monster trophy on Sept. 26, 2004, he brought the trophy home to the Penske racing shop in Mooresville, N.C. The Oct. 7, 2004 issue of NASCAR Scene magazine included the following article on the trophy:

“Dover International Speedway’s new race trophy is one of the most unique trophies in the Nextel Cup Series. The trophy, a red-eyed monster holding a die-cast car, is certainly the scariest looking prize on the circuit. Just ask Ryan Newman, who won the first trophy for his Sept. 26 victory at Dover.

“We’ve got it sitting on our conference table when you first walk in the shop at Penske’s,” Newman says. “I brought the dogs in today, and Mopar, the one that never speaks, started barking and howling at it. He’s part hound dog, so it’s kind of funny to watch him go off on the monster trophy. That’s where it is right now, and it’s definitely a cool trophy.”