Advance Auto 500

Advance Auto 500
Venue Martinsville Speedway
Sponsor Advance Auto Parts
First race 1970 (Late Model)
1982 (touring format)
Last race 1994 (touring format)
Distance 157.8 miles (254.0 km)
Laps 300
Previous names Cardinal 500 Classic (1970-1984)
Winn-Dixie 500 (1985-1986)
Winston Classic (1987-1992)
Advance Auto Parts 500 (1993)
Advance Auto 500 (1994)

The Advance Auto 500 was a NASCAR Busch Series stock car race held at Martinsville Speedway, in Martinsville, Virginia. Originally a Late Model race when it began in 1970 as part of the Late Model and Modified Doubleader, it joined the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman touring series in 1982 (the original year), and remained a part of the series through 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's races, the Miller 500 and the Advance Auto 500, were switched to Late Model Only formats (see ValleyStar Credit Union 300 for details on the Late Model portion of this race). The Advance Auto 500 served as the final race of the season for the series for ten years, from 1982 through 1991.

The race changed distances several times in its history. From its inception until 1984, the twin feature races was 250 laps for each division, covering 131.2 miles (211.1 km). When both the Modified and Late Model Sportsman cars had both become touring format races, the local Late Model feature reduced the Modified and Busch features in 1985 to 200 laps, 105.2 miles (169.3 km). After Modifieds were dropped in 1993 in light of early 1990's safety issues, the distance was increased to 300 laps, 157.8 miles (254.0 km), while the Late Model race increased to 200 laps, where it remains.

As was the tradition at Martinsville, the two non-Cup race weekends featured two or three races that totaled 500 laps, a tradition still in place today by the now-Late Model only race, with qualifying races totaling 100 laps and a 200-lap feature.

Past winners (Touring Format only)

Year Date Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
1982 October 31 Butch Lindley Emanuel Zervakis Pontiac 250 131.25 (211.226) 61.420
1983 October 30 Sam Ard Thomas Brothers Racing Oldsmobile 250 131.25 (211.226) 2:10:03 60.669
1984 October 28 Morgan Shepherd Lindy White Pontiac 250 131.5 (211.628) 2:10:23 60.513
1985 October 27 Tommy Ellis Pontiac 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:26:01 73.831
1986 November 2 Brett Bodine Thomas Brothers Racing Oldsmobile 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:28:29 71.335
1987 November 1 Jimmy Hensley Sam Ard Buick 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:27:10 72.413
1988 October 30 Harry Gant Whitaker Racing Buick 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:33:08 65.083
1989 October 29 L.D. Ottinger Parker Racing Pontiac 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:31:56 68.658
1990 October 28 Steve Grissom Grissom Racing Enterprises Oldsmobile 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:25:16 74.026
1991 October 27 Harry Gant Whitaker Racing Buick 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:20:16 78.637
1992 October 18 Bobby Labonte Labonte Motorsports Chevrolet 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:32:57 67.907
1993 October 17 Chuck Bown Hensley Motorsports Pontiac 300 157.8 (253.954) 2:12:59 71.197
1994 October 16 Kenny Wallace FILMAR Racing Ford 300 157.8 (253.954) 2:15:39 69.797

References


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