Royal Purple 200

Royal Purple 200
Venue Darlington Raceway
Sponsor Royal Purple
First race 1982
Distance 200.802 miles (323.159 km)
Laps 147
Previous names TranSouth 200 (1982)

Dixie Cup 200 (1984-1986)

Country Squire 200 (1987-1989)

Pontiac 200 (1990-1991)

Mark III Vans 200 (1992-1995)

Dura Lube 200 (1996)

SunCom 200 (2000-2001)

darlingtonraceway.com 200 (2002-2003)

Diamond Hill Plywood 200 (1997-1999, 2004-2009)

The Royal Purple 200 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at Darlington Raceway.

The race's longtime sponsor Diamond Hill Plywood is based in Darlington, and is owned and operated by identical twins John and Jim Ramsey.[1] Their grandfather Sherman Ramsey, who founded Diamond Hill Plywood, sold the land Darlington Raceway was built on to Harold Brasington, and is said to have requested one end (currently Turn 4) of Brasington's new track be built narrower to protect a minnow pond on his property.[2] Synthetic oil manufacturer Royal Purple recently signed a multi-year deal to be the primary sponsor of this race beginning in 2010.

The race was not held in 1983.

Past winners

Year Date Driver Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
1982 April 3 Geoff Bodine Pontiac 147 200.802 (323.159) 129.018
1984 April 14 Ron Bouchard Pontiac 147 200.802 (323.159) 2:04:55 97.992
1985 April 13 Jack Ingram Oldsmobile 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:51:05 108.46
1986 April 12 Darrell Waltrip Pontiac 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:37:37 123.423
1987 March 28 Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:27:24 137.85
1988 March 26 Geoff Bodine Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:44:18 115.514
1989 April 1 Geoff Bodine Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:41:31 118.681
1990 March 31 Harry Gant Buick 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:32:54 129.689
1991 April 6 Dale Jarrett Pontiac 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:44:16 115.551
1992 March 28 Robert Pressley Oldsmobile 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:31:59 130.982
1993 March 27 Robert Pressley Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:50:20 109.197
1994 March 26 Mark Martin Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:42:08 117.965
1995 March 25 Larry Pearson Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:51:28 108.087
1996 March 23 Mark Martin Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:39:46 120.763
1997 March 22 Randy LaJoie Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:44:15 115.569
1998 March 21 Bobby Labonte Pontiac 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:59:57 100.443
1999 March 20 Matt Kenseth Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:38:48 121.945
2000 March 18 Mark Martin Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:46:08 113.519
2001 March 17 Jeff Green Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:33:35 128.742
2002 March 16 Jeff Burton* Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:37:03 124.143
2003 March 17* Todd Bodine Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:36:44 124.55
2004 March 20 Greg Biffle Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:40:17 120.141
2005 May 6 Matt Kenseth Ford 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:43:39 116.238
2006 May 12 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:52:36 106.999
2007 May 11 Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 147 200.802 (323.159) 2:10:26 92.37
2008 May 9 Tony Stewart Toyota *149 203.534 (327.556) 1:53:59 107.139
2009 May 8 Matt Kenseth Ford *153 208.998 (336.349) 1:47:33 116.596
2010 May 7 Denny Hamlin Toyota 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:56:50 103.122
2011 May 6 Kyle Busch Toyota 147 200.802 (323.159) 1:40:56 119.364

References

  1. ^ About Diamond Hill Plywood
  2. ^ Fleischman, Bill; Al Pearce (1999). The Unauthorized NASCAR Fan Guide (1998-99). Visible Ink Press. pp. 7. 
Current

Daytona • Phoenix • Las Vegas • Bristol • California • Texas • Richmond • Talladega • Darlington • Iowa • Charlotte • Dover • Michigan • Road America • Kentucky • Daytona • Loudon • Chicagoland • Indianapolis • Iowa • Watkins Glen • Montreal • Bristol • Atlanta • Richmond • Chicagoland • Kentucky • Dover • Charlotte • Kansas • Texas • Phoenix • Homestead
Previous
Note:The Nationwide Series has multiple events at the same racing venue.