DOVER, DE - Officials of Dover Downs International Speedway have announced that the Monster Mile's fall NASCAR Winston Cup event will be contested at a distance of 400 miles beginning in 1997. The 27th annual MBNA 400 is set for Sunday, September 21, 1997.

Dover's spring Winston Cup race is not affected. The 29th annual Miller 500 will be run over its traditional 500-mile distance on Sunday, June 1, 1997.

"I think the change to 400 miles will definitely make a better show for the fans, with more cars around at the finish,"said defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, who has won the last three Winston Cup races at the Monster Mile.

"The decision to make this a 400 mile event will be a popular one,"commented seven-time Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt. "When you're in a race car for 500 miles at Dover, it takes a lot out of you and out of your equipment. With the new 400-mile distance, I think everyone will continue to enjoy NASCAR racing at its best,"added Earnhardt, who is Dover's all-time leading money winner.

"It may cut back the time of the race, but it won't hurt the quality of the show by any means,"noted Miller driver and former Winston Cup champion Rusty Wallace. "This will tighten up the action. It'll be a harder pace throughout the race, no time for a breather, flat-out racing."

NASCAR Vice-President for Competition Mike Helton commented, "We're not looking at this change at Dover to be the end of a tradition so much as the beginning of a new one. Other tracks have gone to the 400-mile format with success, and there's every reason to believe the quality of racing at Dover will not only not suffer, but will be enhanced.

"There's a good chance that a 400-mile race at Dover Downs could deliver one of our best races ever and I think the time has come to give one a try,"said Dover Downs President Denis McGlynn. "Many fans have suggested we do this and we see our job here as giving the fans what they want. Great racing is something we all seek," he added.

Ticket prices for the MBNA 400 will be adjusted from those previously announced for the 1997 Miller 500 so that no MBNA 400 reserved seat will be priced more than one dollar greater than the same seat at the 1996 MBNA 500. Also, the normal $5 advance purchase discount on Saturday Busch Grand National MBNA 200 tickets next fall will be increased to $6 off the gate price.

Tickets for the 1997 MBNA 400, along with the MBNA 200 NASCAR Busch Grand National race on Saturday, September 20, will go on sale in November, joining 1997 Miller 500 and GM Goodwrench/Delco Battery 200 tickets which are already on sale. To order tickets, call 1-800-441-RACE toll free from outside Delaware, or (302) 734-RACE long distance from anywhere. For recorded information, including updated Winston Cup seat availability, call (302) 674-4600, 24 hours a day.