Busch Silver Celebration 250

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The Busch Silver Celebration 250 is a NASCAR Busch Series race that takes place at Gateway International Raceway.

Elliott Sadler won the very first annual race on a hot July day. The race was known as the Gateway 300, but became renamed the Carquest Auto Parts 250 from 1998-2001. Because of complaints of the extremely hot July weather, the race was moved on the calendar to October for 1998, which was won that year by Dale Earnhardt Jr. In 1999 the race was not only moved back to late July, but also would be raced at night. Dale Earnhardt Jr would beat out Randy Lajoie to win the race for the second straight year. In 2000 rookie Kevin Harvick would win the race and beat set a new race record. In 2001 Kevin Harvick would win the race yet again, marking the fourth straight time that the AC Delco team would win the race. In 2002 the race name was changed to the Charter 250, which that year was won by Greg Biffle. In 2003 the race was moved both, on calendar and time of day to May during the day time. In that year's race, Mike Bliss took complete control of the second half of that race before running out of fuel on the final lap, giving the win to Scott Riggs. In 2004 The time of day was adjusted again to night. Martin Truex JR. won that night. In 2005, Nextel Cup Veteran and hometown driver Rusty Wallace was racing his final year on the cup circuit. Gateway decided to honor him by naming the race the Wallace Family Tribute 250. Nextel Cup veterans, Rusty Wallace, and Michael Waltrip, among a few others were in that race, along with Rusty's brothers Mike and Kenny. Rusty went out just past halfway, and Mike Wallace would finish runner up to race winner Reed Sorenson. I have no clue what Kenny did. And to note, the race was moved yet again on the calendar back to July. In 2006, Columbian Native Carl Edwards took the checkered flag in a race named to honor the Busch Series 25th anniversary.