- Southern 500 (1950–2004)
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Southern 500 
Venue Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, United States First race 1950 Last race 2004 Distance 501 miles (806.3 km) Laps 367 Previous names Southern 500 (1950-1988) Heinz Southern 500 (1989-1991)
Mountain Dew Southern 500 (1992-1997, 2001-2004)
Pepsi Southern 500 (1998-2000)
The Southern 500 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held from 1950 to 2004 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, United States. The 2004 race distance was 501 miles (806 km) long, and consisted of 367 laps.
Contents
History
The race began in 1950, as NASCAR's first 500 mile race, and it was 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, and in most years before 1984, was held on Monday, Labor Day itself. 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, seemingly because of the unpopular 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.
Many fans were furious. They believed that NASCAR had put money before the fans. Even after the Southern 500 returned in 2009, fans still believe that the Labor Day race should be in Darlington.
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, since May of 2009, the "Southern 500" name has been revived for the remaining race at Darlington Raceway.
Previous winners
Year Day Date Driver Car Make Winner's Prize
(USD)Distance
(miles)Average Speed
(mph)Southern 500 1950 Monday September 4 Johnny Mantz 50 Plymouth $ 500 1951 Monday September 3 Herb Thomas 51 Hudson $ 500 1952 Monday September 1 Fonty Flock 52 OLDS 88 $ 500 1953 Monday September 7 Buck Baker 53 OLDS 88 $ 500 1954 Monday September 6 Herb Thomas 54 Hudson $ 500.5 1955 Monday September 5 Herb Thomas 55 Chevy $ 500.5 1956 Monday September 3 Curtis Turner 56 Ford $ 500.5 1957 Monday September 2 Speedy Thompson 57 chevy $ 500.5 1958 Monday September 1 Fireball Roberts 57 chevy $ 500.5 1959 Monday September 7 Jim Reed 57 chevy $ 500.5 1960 Monday September 5 Buck Baker 60 Pontiac $ 500.5 1961 Monday September 4 Nelson Stacy 61 Ford $ 500.5 1962 Monday September 3 Larry Frank 62 Ford $ 500.5 1963 Monday September 2 Fireball Roberts 63 Ford $ 500.5 1964 Monday September 7 Buck Baker 64 Dodge $ 500.5 1965 Monday September 6 Ned Jarrett 65 Ford $ 500.5 1966 Monday September 5 Darel Dieringer 66 Mercury $ 500.5 1967 Monday September 4 Richard Petty 67 Plymouth $ 500.5 1968 Monday September 2 Cale Yarborough 68 Mercury $ 500.5 1969 Monday September 1 LeeRoy Yarbrough 69 Ford $ 316.25 1970 Monday September 7 Buddy Baker 69 Dodge $ 501.322 1971 Monday September 6 Bobby Allison 69 Mercury $ 501.322 1972 Monday September 4 Bobby Allison 72 Chevrolet $ 501.322 1973 Monday September 3 Cale Yarborough 73 Chevrolet $ 501.322 1974 Monday September 2 Cale Yarborough 74 Chevrolet $ 501.322 1975 Monday September 1 Bobby Allison 75 Matador $ 501.322 1976 Sunday September 5 David Pearson Mercury $ 501.322 1977 Monday September 5 David Pearson Mercury $ 501.322 1978 Monday September 4 Cale Yarborough Oldsmobile $ 501.322 1979 Monday September 3 David Pearson Chevrolet $ 501.322 1980 Monday September 1 Terry Labonte Chevrolet $ 501.322 1981 Monday September 7 Neil Bonnett Ford $ 501.322 1982 Monday September 6 Cale Yarborough Buick $ 501.322 1983 Monday September 5 Bobby Allison Buick $ 501.322 1984 Sunday September 2 Harry Gant Chevrolet $ 501.322 1985 Sunday September 1 Bill Elliott Ford $1,053,725 501.322 1986 Sunday August 31 Tim Richmond Chevrolet $ 501.322 1987 Sunday September 6 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet $ 275.932 1988 Sunday September 4 Bill Elliott Ford $ 501.322 Heinz Southern 500 1989 Sunday September 3 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet $ 501.322 1990 Sunday September 2 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet $ 501.322 1991 Sunday September 1 Harry Gant Oldsmobile $ 501.322 Mountain Dew Southern 500 1992 Sunday September 6 Darrell Waltrip Chevrolet $ 407.068 1993 Sunday September 5 Mark Martin Ford $ 479.466 1994 Sunday September 4 Bill Elliott Ford $ 501.322 1995 Sunday September 3 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet $ 501.322 1996 Sunday September 1 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet $ 501.322 1997 Sunday August 31 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet $ 501.322 Pepsi Southern 500 1998 Sunday September 6 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet $ 501.322 1999 Sunday September 5 Jeff Burton Chevrolet $ 368.82 2000 Sunday September 3 Bobby Labonte Pontiac $ 325.108 Mountain Dew Southern 500 2001 Sunday September 2 Ward Burton Dodge $ 501.322 2002 Sunday September 1 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet $ 501.322 2003 Sunday August 31 Terry Labonte Chevrolet $ 501.322 2004 Sunday November 14 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet $ 501.322 - Notes
- 1969 230 laps / 316.25 miles due to rain, darkness
- 1980 Terry Labonte's first victory
- 1985 Bill Elliott clinched Winston Million
- 1987 202 laps / 275.932 miles due to rain
- 1992 Darrell Waltrip's final Cup Series victory; 298 laps / 407.068 miles due to rain
- 1993 351 laps / 479.466 miles due to rain, darkness)
- 1997 Jeff Gordon clinched Winston Million
- 1999 50th Running; 270 laps / 368.82 miles due to rain)
- 2000 238 laps / 325.108 miles due to rain)
- 2003 Terry Labonte's last Cup Series victory
Race broadcasting
- For the 1995 Pepsi 400 and Southern 500, ESPN ran what was a bit of prelude to DirecTV's Hotpass. ESPN showed the race, while ESPN2 showed onboard cameras and radio with some of the teams.
References
External links
Categories:- Former NASCAR races
- Motorsport in South Carolina
- Mountain Dew
- NASCAR races at Darlington Raceway
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