Southern 500 (1950-2004)

NASCAR race infobox
Name=Southern 500
Venue=Darlington Raceway
Sponsor=None
First race=1950
Distance=convert|501|mi|km
Laps=367
Previous names=Southern 500 (1950-1988, 2009-)

Heinz Southern 500 (1989-1991)

Mountain Dew Southern 500 (1992-1997, 2001-2004)

Pepsi Southern 500 (1998-2000)

The Southern 500 (1950-2004) is a convert|500|mi|km NASCAR Sprint Cup race held from 1950-2004 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA. The first running in 1950, is notable as NASCAR's first 500 mile race, and the only race of such distance until the Daytona 500 debuted in 1959. Through most of its history the race was one of NASCAR's premier events, and was known as one of four Crown Jewels on the NASCAR circuit. From 1985-1997, it served as the fourth race of the popular Winston Million. Two drivers, Bill Elliott (1985) and Jeff Gordon (1997), clinched the Winston Million with victories in the Southern 500.

Prior to 2004, this annual event was held on Labor Day weekend. For the 2004 season, a shuffling of the schedule saw the race move to November. Track management considered the November date would allow for cooler, more comfortable weather for fans, whom had increasingly voiced concerns about the weather. Rockingham lost its fall date to Fontana, and the Pop Secret 500 was moved to the lucrative Labor Day weekend date. Incidentally, and originally unbeknownst to fans and competitors, the 2004 Southern 500 would be its last running, despite the seemingly popular move to November.

In 2004, Francis Ferko, a shareholder of the company that owned Texas Motor Speedway, sued NASCAR, saying they had violated anti-trust laws by refusing to have a second race at Texas Motor Speedway, as many other tracks had. The judge ruled in his favor, and NASCAR was forced to give up the Southern 500 date so that a second race could be held at Texas Motor speedway, which became the Dickies 500.

In 2005, the Mountain Dew Southern 500 was removed from the NASCAR schedule and Darlington's Spring race, the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, was lengthened into the Dodge Charger 500 and changed its date on the calendar to a Saturday night race in May.

The absence of the Labor Day Southern 500 race continues to be a sticking point between NASCAR and much of its fanbase, especially the more traditional wing. However, starting in May of 2009, the name will be revived for the only race at Darlington.

"See also:" List of current NASCAR races

Past winners

* 2009: TBD
* 2004: Jimmie Johnson
* 2003: Terry Labonte (Last Win)
* 2002: Jeff Gordon
* 2001: Ward Burton
* 2000: Bobby Labonte
* 1999: Jeff Burton (Fiftieth running of the Southern 500, 270 laps / 368.82 miles / 593.558 km due to rain)
* 1998: Jeff Gordon
* 1997: Jeff Gordon (clinched Winston Million)
* 1996: Jeff Gordon
* 1995: Jeff Gordon
* 1994: Bill Elliott
* 1993: Mark Martin (351 laps / 479.466 miles / 771.626 km due to rain, darkness)
* 1992: Darrell Waltrip (298 laps / 407.068 miles / 655.112 km due to rain) (Last Win for DW)
* 1991: Harry Gant
* 1990: Dale Earnhardt
* 1989: Dale Earnhardt
* 1988: Bill Elliott
* 1987: Dale Earnhardt (202 laps / 275.932 miles / 444.07 km due to rain)
* 1986: Tim Richmond
* 1985: Bill Elliott (clinched Winston Million)
* 1984: Harry Gant
* 1983: Bobby Allison
* 1982: Cale Yarborough
* 1981: Neil Bonnett
* 1980: Terry Labonte (First Win)
* 1979: David Pearson
* 1978: Cale Yarborough
* 1977: David Pearson
* 1976: David Pearson
* 1975: Bobby Allison
* 1974: Cale Yarborough
* 1973: Cale Yarborough
* 1972: Bobby Allison
* 1971: Bobby Allison
* 1970: Buddy Baker
* 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough (230 laps / 316.25 miles / 508.955 km due to rain, darkness)
* 1968: Cale Yarborough
* 1967: Richard Petty
* 1966: Darel Dieringer
* 1965: Ned Jarrett [http://blog.news-record.com/staff/spotter/archives/2005/05/southern_500_19.html]
* 1964: Buck Baker
* 1963: Fireball Roberts
* 1962: Larry Frank
* 1961: Nelson Stacy
* 1960: Buck Baker
* 1959: Jim Reed
* 1958: Fireball Roberts
* 1957: Speedy Thompson
* 1956: Curtis Turner
* 1955: Herb Thomas
* 1954: Herb Thomas
* 1953: Buck Baker
* 1952: Fonty Flock
* 1951: Herb Thomas
* 1950: Johnny Mantz