Bass Pro Shops 500

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**Bass Pro Shops 500**

Venue	Atlanta Motor Speedway
Corporate sponsor	Bass Pro Shops
First race	1960
Distance	500 miles (805 km)
Number of laps	325
Previous names	Dixie 300 (1960) Dixie 400 (1961-1966) Dixie 500 (1967-1979) Atlanta Journal 500 (1980-1990) Hardee's 500 (1991) Hooters 500 (1992-1994) NAPA 500 (1995-2002) Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 (2003-2005)

The Bass Pro Shops 500 is a NASCAR Nextel Cup stock car race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

From 1987 until 2001, the race was scheduled as the final race of the NASCAR season, and typically the event in which the champion was decided. Several times, however, the championship was decided prior to this race, or was decided when the points leader simply started the race, clinching enough points simply by finishing last or better.

The 1992 event marked the final race for Richard Petty, and coincidentally, the debut for Jeff Gordon. With six drivers eligible for the Winston Cup Championship, the race is widely regarded as one of the greatest NASCAR races of all time. Alan Kulwicki, who finished second in the race, edged out Bill Elliott, the race winner, for the NASCAR Winston Cup title by a then-record margin of only 10 points.

In 2001, the race was scheduled as the season finale, however, it ended up being the second-to-last race. The New Hampshire 300 was postponed from September 16 to the Friday after Thanksgiving, due to 9/11. For 2002, the race was moved to late October in 2002, with the 2003 race being the first with night qualifying, a procedure now standard for both of the circuit's races.

The 1998 race was run mostly at night after a long rain delay; despite the inexperience with the lights, newly installed for an Indy Racing League race, NASCAR and the teams agreed to attempt finishing the race at night. It was still shortened to 221 laps because of rain.

In 2006, the race start time was changed from 12:40 PM to 2:55 PM in order to finish the race at night. A further start time change is probable for 2007 as the races in Atlanta Motor Speedway, long run during Standard Time, will move to Daylight Saving Time as a result of the revised Daylight Saving Time standard.