Goodyear 400
- This article is about the race known as the Rebel 500 held on Confederate Memorial Day since 1957. For more information about the Grand Slam race which had the same name from 1950 through 2004 and removed as part of the Ferko lawsuit, see Mountain Dew Southern 500.
The Showtime Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a 300 miles (480 km) race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In 1966, the race was expanded to 400 miles (640 km), and in 1973 to 500 miles (800 km). In 1994, the race was returned to 400 miles. In 2005, as part of the settlement of the Ferko lawsuit and as part of a schedule realignment, the "Rebel" returned to its classic Confederate Memorial Day weekend date, and raised back to 500 miles.
Without a title sponsor for 2009, the race tentatively adopted the moniker of Southern 500, the traditional name of the fall race run from 1950-2004 on Labor Day weekend. A one-year deal with Go Daddy was signed. Some fans referred to the race exclusively as the GoDaddy.com 500 out of respect to what fans called the "real" Southern 500, a fall-race showdown. In 2010, Showtime signed a multi-year deal to sponsor the race, giving it the name Showtime Southern 500.[1] Again, some fans have referenced to the race simply as the Showtime 500.
Memorable moments
- April 8, 1979 - In a race that was seen on ABC's Wide World of Sports, Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty hooked horns in a memorable duel. On the final lap the lead changed hands 4 times, and 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.
- 1987 - Bill Elliott ran out of fuel on the final lap, and coasted out of turn 4, allowing Dale Earnhardt to sweep by and take the victory.
- March 16, 2003 - Before a national television audience, Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch fought a memorable duel that came 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).
Past winners
| Year | Date | Driver | Car Make | Winner's Prize (USD) |
Distance (miles) |
Average Speed (mph) |
Race Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebel 300 | |||||||
| 1957 | May 12 |  Fireball Roberts |
'57 Ford | $4,200 | 301.125 | 107.941 | 2:47:23 |
| 1958 | May 10 |  Curtis Turner |
'58 Ford | $5,600 | 301.125 | 109.624 | 2:44:08 |
| 1959 | May 9 | Fireball Roberts |
'59 Chevrolet | $6,550 | 301.125 | 115.817 | 2:36:00 |
| 1960 | May 14 | Joe Weatherly |
'60 Ford | $9,250 | 301.125 | 102.64 | 2:56:01 |
| 1961 | May 6 |  Fred Lorenzen |
'61 Ford | $8,420 | 301.125 | 119.52 | 2:31:10 |
| 1962 | May 12 |  Nelson Stacey |
'62 Ford | $7,900 | 301.125 | 117.429 | 2:33:17 |
| 1963 | May 11 | Joe Weatherly |
'63 Pontiac | $11,100 | 302.5 | 122.745 | 2:27:36 |
| 1964 | May 9 | Fred Lorenzen |
'64 Ford | $10,265 | 301.125 | 130.013 | 2:18:51 |
| 1965 | May 8 |  Junior Johnson |
'65 Ford | $10,490 | 301.125 | 111.849 | 2:41:32 |
| Rebel 400 | |||||||
| 1966 | April 30 | Richard Petty |
'66 Plymouth | $12,115 | 400.125 | 131.993 | 3:01:53 |
| 1967 | May 13 | Richard Petty |
'67 Plymouth | $14,090 | 400.125 | 125.738 | 3:10:56 |
| 1968 | May 11 |  David Pearson |
'68 Ford | $13,700 | 400.125 | 132.699 | 3:00:54 |
| 1969 | May 10 | LeeRoy Yarbrough |
'69 Mercury | $14,700 | 400.125 | 131.572 | 3:02:28 |
| 1970 | May 9 | David Pearson |
'69 Ford | $15,650 | 400.125 | 129.688 | 3:05:07 |
| 1971 | May 2 | Buddy Baker |
'71 Dodge | $16,065 | 400.238 | 130.678 | 3:03:46 |
| 1972 | April 16 | David Pearson |
'71 Mercury | $16,850 | 400.238 | 124.406 | 3:13:00 |
| Rebel 500 | |||||||
| 1973 | April 15 | David Pearson |
'71 Mercury | $16,335 | 501.322 | 122.655 | 4:04:14 |
| Rebel 450 | |||||||
| 1974 | April 7 | David Pearson |
'73 Mercury | $16,575 | 450.78 | 117.543 | 3:50:06 |
| Rebel 500 | |||||||
| 1975 | April 13 | Bobby Allison |
'75 Matador | $15,080 | 501.322 | 117.597 | 4:15:41 |
| 1976 | April 11 | David Pearson |
Mercury | $17,570 | 501.322 | 122.973 | 4:04:36 |
| 1977 | April 3 |  Darrell Waltrip |
Chevrolet | $19,270 | 501.322 | 128.817 | 3:53:18 |
| 1978 | April 9 | Benny Parsons |
Chevrolet | $21,700 | 501.322 | 127.544 | 3:55:50 |
| 1979 | April 8 | Darrell Waltrip |
Chevrolet | $22,400 | 501.322 | 121.721 | 4:06:59 |
| CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 | |||||||
| 1980 | April 13 | David Pearson |
Chevrolet | $21,430 | 258.174[2] | 112.397 | 2:23:49 |
| 1981 | April 12 | Darrell Waltrip |
Buick | $23,225 | 501.322 | 126.703 | 3:57:24 |
| 1982 | April 4 | Dale Earnhardt |
Chevrolet | $31,450 | 501.322 | 123.554 | 4:03:27 |
| TranSouth 500 | |||||||
| 1983 | April 10 | Harry Gant |
Buick | $30,050 | 501.322 | 130.406 | 3:50:05 |
| 1984 | April 15 | Darrell Waltrip |
Chevrolet | $39,450 | 501.322 | 119.925 | 4:18:16 |
| 1985 | April 14 |  Bill Elliott |
Ford | $42,900 | 501.322 | 126.295 | 3:58:08 |
| 1986 | April 13 | Dale Earnhardt |
Chevrolet | $52,250 | 501.322 | 128.994 | 3:53:11 |
| 1987 | March 29 | Dale Earnhardt |
Chevrolet | $52,985 | 501.322 | 122.54 | 4:05:28 |
| 1988 | March 27 |  Lake Speed |
Oldsmobile | $49,435 | 501.322 | 131.284 | 3:49:07 |
| 1989 | April 2 | Harry Gant |
Oldsmobile | $59,935 | 501.322 | 115.475 | 4:20:29 |
| 1990 | April 1 | Dale Earnhardt |
Chevrolet | $61,985 | 501.322 | 124.073 | 4:02:26 |
| 1991 | April 7 | Ricky Rudd |
Chevrolet | $62,185 | 501.322 | 135.594 | 3:41:50 |
| 1992 | March 29 | Bill Elliott |
Ford | $64,290 | 501.322 | 139.364 | 3:35:50 |
| 1993 | March 28 | Dale Earnhardt |
Chevrolet | $64,815 | 501.322 | 139.958 | 3:33:29 |
| TranSouth Financial 400 | |||||||
| 1994 | March 27 | Dale Earnhardt |
Chevrolet | $70,190 | 400.238 | 132.432 | 3:01:20 |
| 1995 | March 26 |  Sterling Marlin |
Chevrolet | $86,185 | 400.238 | 111.392 | 3:35:35 |
| 1996 | March 24 |  Jeff Gordon |
Chevrolet | $97,310 | 400.238 | 124.792 | 3:12:26 |
| 1997 | March 23 | Dale Jarrett |
Ford | $142,860 | 400.238 | 121.162 | 3:18:12 |
| 1998 | March 22 | Dale Jarrett |
Ford | $110,035 | 400.238 | 127.962 | 3:07:40 |
| 1999 | March 21 | Jeff Burton |
Ford | $161,900 | 224.024[3] | 121.294 | 1:50:49 |
| Mall.com 400 | |||||||
| 2000 | March 19 | Ward Burton |
Pontiac | $132,725 | 400.238 | 128.076 | 3:07:30 |
| Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 | |||||||
| 2001 | March 18 | Dale Jarrett |
Ford | $214,612 | 400.238 | 126.557 | 3:09:45 |
| 2002 | March 17 | Sterling Marlin |
Dodge | $190,642 | 400.238 | 126.07 | 3:10:29 |
| 2003 | March 16 |  Ricky Craven |
Pontiac | $172,150 | 400.238 | 126.214 | 3:10:16 |
| 2004 | March 21 | Jimmie Johnson |
Chevrolet | $151,150 | 400.238 | 114.001 | 3:30:39 |
| Dodge Charger 500 | |||||||
| 2005 | May 7 |  Greg Biffle |
Ford | $305,975 | 505.42[4] | 123.031 | 4:06:29 |
| 2006 | May 13 | Greg Biffle |
Ford | $290,175 | 501.322 | 135.127 | 3:42:36 |
| Dodge Avenger 500 | |||||||
| 2007 | May 13 [5] | Jeff Gordon |
Chevrolet | $317,486 | 501.322 | 124.372 | 4:01:50 |
| Dodge Challenger 500 | |||||||
| 2008 | May 10 |  Kyle Busch |
Toyota | $313,700 | 501.322 | 140.350 | 3:34:19 |
| Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com | |||||||
| 2009 | May 9 |  Mark Martin |
Chevrolet | $317,486 | 501.322 | 124.372 | 4:11:19 |
References
- ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_ylt=Aor4pZQr.VjXT6ZLy8d80jPov7YF?slug=ap-nascar-darlington
- ^ Race Shortened to 189 laps / 258.174 miles due to rain/darkness
- ^ Race Shortened to 164 laps / 224.024 miles due to rain
- ^ Race extended to 370 laps / 505.42 miles due to Green-white-checker finish
- ^ Postponed one day due to rain.
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