Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 31, 2011 Class B	Oct. 31, 2011 Class A
Entity Registrant Name	DOVER MOTORSPORTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001017673
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,289,977	18,510,975
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3

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