YellaWood 500

Last updated

YellaWood 500
2024 Yellawood 500 logo.png
Talladega Superspeedway 2024.svg
NASCAR Cup Series
Venue Talladega Superspeedway
Location Talladega, Alabama, United States
Corporate sponsor YellaWood [1]
First race1969 (1969)
Distance500.08 miles (804.801 km)
Laps188
Stages 1/2: 60 each
Final stage: 68
Previous namesTalladega 500 (1969–1987)
Talladega DieHard 500 (1988–1989)
DieHard 500 (1990–1997)
Winston 500 (1998–2000)
EA Sports 500 (2001–2004)
UAW-Ford 500 (2005–2007)
AMP Energy 500 (2008–2009)
AMP Energy Juice 500 (2010)
Good Sam Club 500 (2011)
Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 (2012)
Camping World RV Sales 500 (2013)
GEICO 500 (2014) [2]
CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega (2015)
Hellmann's 500 (2016)
Alabama 500 (2017)
1000Bulbs.com 500 (2018–2019)
Most wins (driver) Dale Earnhardt (7)
Most wins (team) Richard Childress Racing (8)
Most wins (manufacturer) Chevrolet (22)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Turns4

The YellaWood 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, hosting an event in the NASCAR playoffs. The race is one of four NASCAR Cup Series races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the Jack Link's 500 in May, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and the Daytona 500. Through 1996, this race was normally held in early August or late July. In 1997, it was moved to early October due to the uncomfortably hot summer temperatures, and sometimes unpredictable summertime thunderstorms in the Alabama area. In 2009, the race moved again, this time to November 1 as part of a realignment agreement with Atlanta and Fontana (where Fontana earned a race in the Chase and Atlanta gained the Labor Day weekend race).

Contents

In 1998, the name of the race was swapped with that of the Talladega spring race. The fall race became known as the Winston 500 for three years to promote the Winston No Bull 5 program.

This race has been on average the most consistently competitive in NASCAR history. The race has broken 40 official lead changes in 1971, 1973, 1975–1978, 1983–1984, 1989, 2000, every year in the period spanning 2003–2013, 2019-20, and once again from 2022-2024. In 13 of these, the race exceeded 60 lead changes, most recently in 2024 with 66, and in 2010 the race reached 87 lead changes, one short of the motorsports record set in April. The 2000 running of the race is especially notable for being the final career victory for Dale Earnhardt, charging from 18th to the lead in the final 6 laps of the race.

Past winners

YearDateNo.DriverTeamSponsorManufacturerRace distanceRace timeAverage speed
(mph)
ReportRef
LapsMiles (km)
1969September 1499 Richard Brickhouse Ray Nichels Crown Dodge Gadsden AL Dodge 188500.08 (804.8)3:15:07153.778 Report [3]
1970 August 2340 Pete Hamilton Petty Enterprises 7-Up "The Uncola" Plymouth 188500.08 (804.8)3:09:17158.517 Report [4]
1971 August 2212 Bobby Allison Holman-Moody Coca-Cola Mercury 188500.08 (804.8)3:25:38145.945 Report [5]
1972 August 648 James Hylton James Hylton Pop Kola Mercury 188500.08 (804.8)3:22:09148.728 Report [6]
1973 August 1222 Dick Brooks Crawford Brothers Mickey Mouse/Crawford Enterprises Plymouth 188500.08 (804.8)3:26:17145.454 Report [7]
1974 August 1143 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises STP Dodge 188500.08 (804.8)3:21:52148.637 Report [8]
1975 August 1715 Buddy Baker Bud Moore Engineering Sunny King Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:49:14130.892 Report [9]
1976 August 871 Dave Marcis Nord Krauskopf K&K Insurance Dodge 188500.08 (804.8)3:10:27157.547 Report [10]
1977 August 71 Donnie Allison* Ellington Racing Hawaiian Tropic Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:04:37162.524 Report [11]
1978 August 654 Lennie Pond Ranier-Lundy W.I.N. Inc. Oldsmobile 188500.08 (804.8)2:51:43174.7 Report [12]
1979 August 588 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Motorsports Gatorade Oldsmobile 188500.08 (804.8)3:06:06161.229 Report [13]
1980 August 321 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Purolator Mercury 188500.08 (804.8)2:59:47166.894 Report [14]
1981 August 247 Ron Bouchard Race Hill Farm Team Race Hill Farm Team Buick 188500.08 (804.8)3:11:24156.737 Report [15]
1982 August 111 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Mountain Dew Buick 188500.08 (804.8)2:58:26168.157 Report [16]
1983 July 3115 Dale Earnhardt Bud Moore Engineering Wrangler Jeans Ford 188500.08 (804.8)2:55:52170.611 Report [17]
1984 July 293 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Wrangler Jeans Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:12:04155.485 Report [18]
1985 July 2828 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Hardee's Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:21:41148.772 Report [19]
1986 July 278 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Miller American Buick 188500.08 (804.8)3:17:59151.522 Report [20]
1987 July 269 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Coors Ford 188500.08 (804.8)2:55:10171.293 Report [21]
1988 July 3125 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Folgers Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:14:12154.505 Report [22]
1989 July 3011 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Budweiser Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:10:41157.354 Report [23]
1990 July 293 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)2:52:01174.43 Report [24]
1991 July 283 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:23:35147.383 Report [25]
1992 July 264 Ernie Irvan Morgan-McClure Motorsports Kodak Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:05:11176.309 Report [26]
1993 July 253 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:15:01153.858 Report [27]
1994 July 2427 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates McDonald's Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:03:50163.217 Report [28]
1995 July 234 Sterling Marlin Morgan-McClure Motorsports Kodak Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)2:53:15173.188 Report [29]
1996 July 2824 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports DuPont Chevrolet 129*343.14 (552.23)2:34:21133.387 Report [30]
1997 October 125 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Kellogg's Corn Flakes Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:11:36156.601 Report [31]
1998 October 1188 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Quality Care/Ford Credit Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:08:20159.318 Report [32]
1999 October 173 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing GM Goodwrench Plus Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:00:04166.632 Report [33]
2000 October 153 Dale Earnhardt* Richard Childress Racing GM Goodwrench Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:01:06165.681 Report [34]
2001 October 218 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Budweiser Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:02:45164.185 Report [35]
2002 October 68 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Budweiser Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)2:43:22183.665 Report [36]
2003 September 2815 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:12:17156.045 Report [37]
2004 October 38 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Budweiser Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:11:12156.929 Report [38]
2005 October 288 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing UPS Ford 190*505.4 (813.362)3:30:51143.818 Report [39]
2006 October 825 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports GMAC Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:10:23157.602 Report [40]
2007 October 724 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:29:11143.438 Report [41]
2008 October 520 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Subway/The Home Depot Toyota 190*505.4 (813.362)3:36:10140.281 Report [42]
2009 November 126 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Irwin Marathon Saw Blades Ford 191*508.06 (817.643)3:13:54157.213 Report [43]
2010 October 3133 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing BB&T Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:03:23163.618 Report [44]
2011 October 2333 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 100 Years Chevrolet 189*502.74 (809.081)3:29:14143.404 Report [45]
2012 October 717 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford EcoBoost/National Breast Cancer Foundation Ford 189*502.74 (809.081)2:56:12171.194 Report [46]
2013 October 201 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Cessna/Auburn University Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)2:47:49178.795 Report [47]
2014 October 192 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Redd's Wicked Apple Ale Ford 194*516.04 (830.485)3:13:09160.302 Report [48]
2015 October 2522 Joey Logano Team Penske Shell/Pennzoil Ford 196*521.36 (839.047)3:06:56167.311 Report [49]
2016 October 2322 Joey Logano Team Penske Shell/Pennzoil Mosaic Ford 192*510.72 (821.924)3:11:38159.905 Report [50]
2017 October 152 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Miller Lite/#Cheers2DaleJr Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:47:52131.677 Report [51]
2018 October 1410 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Smithfield Bacon For Life Ford 193*513.38 (826.04)3:20:24153.707 Report [52]
2019 October 13/14*12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske DentWizard Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:39:35136.644 Report [53]
2020 October 411 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Express Toyota 200*532 (856)4:05:58129.774 Report [54]
2021 October 4*23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing McDonald's Toyota 117*311.22 (500.859)2:23:24130.218 Report [55]
2022 October 29 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet 188500.08 (804.8)3:15:23153.569 Report [56]
2023 October 112 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Menards/Pennzoil Ford 188500.08 (804.8)3:07:25160.097 Report [57]
2024 October 647 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Kroger/Palmolive Chevrolet 195*518.7 (834.766)3:26:24150.773 Report [58]
2025 October 19 Report

Multiple winners (drivers)

# of winsDriverYears won
7 Dale Earnhardt 1983–1984, 1990–1991, 1993, 1999–2000
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2001–2002, 2004
2 Darrell Waltrip 1979, 1982
Terry Labonte 1989, 1997
Jeff Gordon 1996, 2007
Dale Jarrett 1998, 2005
Jamie McMurray 2009, 2013
Clint Bowyer 2010–2011
Brad Keselowski 2014, 2017
Joey Logano 2015–2016
Ryan Blaney 2019, 2023

Multiple winners (teams)

# of winsTeamYears won
8 Richard Childress Racing 1984, 1990–1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2010–2011
6 Hendrick Motorsports 1988, 1996–1997, 2006–2007, 2022
Team Penske 2014–2017, 2019, 2023
4 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 2001–2004
3 Junior Johnson & Associates 1982, 1989, 1994
2 Petty Enterprises 1970, 1974
Bud Moore Engineering 1975, 1983
Ranier-Lundy 1978, 1985
Morgan-McClure Motorsports 1992, 1995
Robert Yates Racing 1998, 2005
Roush Fenway Racing 2009, 2012
Joe Gibbs Racing 2008, 2020

Manufacturer wins

# of winsManufacturerYears won
23 Chevrolet 1977, 1984, 1988, 1990–1993, 1995–1997, 1999–2004, 2006–2007, 2010–2011, 2013, 2022, 2024
18 Ford 1975, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014–2019, 2023, 2025
3 Dodge 1969, 1974, 1976
Mercury 1971–1972, 1980
Buick 1981–1982, 1986
Toyota 2008, 2020–2021
2 Plymouth 1970, 1973
Oldsmobile 1978–1979

Notable races

The race is famous for the high number of dark horses and first-time winners in its history — in the race's first 40 years seven drivers posted their first career win; notable dark horses to win include James Hylton, Dave Marcis, Jimmy Spencer, Jamie McMurray and Bubba Wallace.

References

  1. "YellaWood 500 Announced at Talladega". Talladega Superspeedway . May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  2. "GEICO's Partnership Grows with Talladega Superspeedway – "GEICO 500" Fall Classic Sprint Cup Series Race Set for Oct. 19". Talladega Superspeedway . January 30, 2014. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
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