NASCAR Winston Cup Series era

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series Era was the era of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) from 1971-2003. In 1971, NASCAR leased its naming rights to the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. The series was referred to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from that point forward.

1971-1979

"Junior Johnson who had lost his Ford deal, approached the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. Co. about sponsorship for his team. At the same time, NASCAR was courting the tobacco giant about sponsoring the entire NASCAR Grand National series. Due to a new congressional mandate, the tobacco companies were no longer able to advertise on television. They had huge advertising budgets and a lot of that went to auto racing starting in 1971." "The new name of NASCAR's premier stock car racing tour became the "Winston Cup Grand National Series."

1980-1989

R.J. Reynolds came up with the idea of The Winston Million in 1985. A million-dollar prize would be awarded to any driver that one three out of four major races during the 1985 season. Those races were the Daytona 500, the Winston 500, the World 600, and the Southern 500. Bill Elliott would become the first driver to win "The Winston Million" after he won the Daytona 500, the Winston 500, and the Southern 500 in 1985 in the #9 Coors Ford Thunderbird. R.J. Reynolds would go on to create an all-star "The Winston" in 1985, where the winner would receive a check for $200,000. Darrell Waltrip was awarded grand prize for winning the first running of "The Winston" at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

1990-1999

In the 1990 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt had led 155 of the 200 laps run when he ran over a piece of metal on the backstretch and cut a tire down on the final lap. Derrike Cope driving the #10 Purolator Chevy Lumina was able to pass and Earnhardt and win the 32nd annual running of the Daytona 500. During the 1991 Winston Cup season, Harry Gant driver of the #33 Skoal Oldsmobile swept the races at Darlington, Richmond, Dover, and Martinsville going undefeated in the month of September. Gant was nicknamed "Mr. September for his historic run. Five drivers were still in contention for the Winston Cup Championship going into the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1992. Alan Kulwicki, Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, Kyle Petty, and Mark Martin were all fighting for the championship during the 1992 Hooters 500. Bill Elliott won the race, but Alan Kulwicki captured the championship by a slim ten point margin. This race would also be the final Winston Cup race for the "King" Richard Petty as well as the first Winston Cup race for Jeff Gordon.

2000-2003

In 2001, Dodge returned to Winston Cup Racing for the first time since 1985 with the introduction of the Dodge Intrepid. Dodge made a big statement in February when Winston Cup veteran Bill Elliott put his Dodge Intrepid on the pole for the 2001 Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt and Sterling Marlin were battling for third place in the 2001 Daytona 500 on the final lap in turns three and four when they made contact. Earnhardt's car shot up the racetrack into Ken Schrader's Pontiac, the two cars slammed into the outside wall with Earnhardt's car hitting head-on. Earnhardt was severally injured in the crash and pronounced dead at 5:16 P.M. The 2001 Daytona 500 was won by Michael Waltrip driver of the #15 Napa Auto Parts Chevrolet Monte Carlo.