Southern 500

NASCAR race infobox
Name=Southern 500

Img_size=250px
Venue=Darlington Raceway
Sponsor=Dodge
First race=1957
Distance=convert|501.322|mi|km
Laps=367
Previous names=Rebel 300 (1957-1965)
Rebel 400 (1966-1972)
Rebel 500 (1973, 1975-1978)
Rebel 450 (1974)
CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 (1979-1982)
TranSouth 500 (1983-1993)
TranSouth Financial 400 (1994-1999)
Mall.com 400 (2000)
Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 (2001-2004)
Dodge Charger 500 (2005-2006)
Dodge Avenger 500 (2007) Dodge Challenger 500 (2008)| present

The Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA. It began in 1957 as a convert|300|mi|km race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was expanded to convert|400|mi|km, and in 1973 to convert|500|mi|km. In 1994, the race was returned to 400 miles.

In 2005, as part of the settlement of the Ferko lawsuit, the track's other event, the popular Southern 500, was removed from the NASCAR Nextel Cup schedule. The "Rebel" returned to its classic Confederate Memorial Day weekend date, and raised back to 500 miles. (See: NASCAR Realignment) However, as of May 2009, the "Southern 500" name was revived for this race.

Memorable moments

*April 8, 1979 - In a race that was seen on ABC's "Wide World of Sports", Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty hook horns in a memorable duel. On the final lap the lead changed hands 4 times, as Waltrip prevailed over Petty. During the race, David Pearson made a pit stop, and thought the Wood Brothers were going to change only two tires. With the lug nuts loosened all the way around, Pearson sped out of the pits after two tires had been replaced. The loose inside wheels flew off near the pit road, ending Pearson's day. A week later, Pearson was released from the Wood Brothers ride, despite scoring 43 wins from 1972 to 1978 with the Virginia-based team.

*March 16, 2003 - Before a national television audience, Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch fought a memorable duel that came back down to the final turn, when Craven edged out Busch by 0.002 seconds (about 1-2 inches) in the closest finish in NASCAR history (since NASCAR started using electronic transponders to determine scoring).

See also: List of current NASCAR races and 2007 race results

Past winners

Carolina Dodge Dealers 400

* 2004: Jimmie Johnson
* 2003: Ricky Craven
* 2002: Sterling Marlin
* 2001: Dale Jarrett

Mall.com 400

* 2000: Ward Burton

TranSouth Financial 400

* 1999: Jeff Burton
* 1998: Dale Jarrett
* 1997: Dale Jarrett
* 1996: Jeff Gordon
* 1995: Sterling Marlin
* 1994: Dale Earnhardt

TranSouth 500

* 1993: Dale Earnhardt
* 1992: Bill Elliott
* 1991: Ricky Rudd
* 1990: Dale Earnhardt
* 1989: Harry Gant
* 1988: Lake Speed
* 1987: Dale Earnhardt
* 1986: Dale Earnhardt
* 1985: Bill Elliott
* 1984: Darrell Waltrip
* 1983: Harry Gant

CRC Chemicals Rebel 500

* 1982: Dale Earnhardt
* 1981: Darrell Waltrip
* 1980: David Pearson

Rebel 500

* 1979: Darrell Waltrip
* 1978: Benny Parsons
* 1977: Darrell Waltrip
* 1976: David Pearson
* 1975: Bobby Allison
* 1974: David Pearson (Race was Rebel 450)
* 1973: David Pearson

Rebel 400

* 1972: David Pearson
* 1971: Buddy Baker
* 1970: David Pearson
* 1969: LeeRoy Yarbrough
* 1968: David Pearson
* 1967: Richard Petty
* 1966: Richard Petty

Rebel 300

* 1965: Junior Johnson
* 1964: Fred Lorenzen
* 1963: Joe Weatherly
* 1962: Nelson Stacy (Convertible division)
* 1961: Fred Lorenzen (Convertible division)
* 1960: Joe Weatherly (Convertible division)
* 1959: Fireball Roberts (Convertible division)
* 1958: Curtis Turner (Convertible division)
* 1957: Fireball Roberts (Convertible division)

References