Alabama 500 (fall)

Thomas & Friends 500 presented by Mattel
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Venue Talladega Superspeedway
Location Talladega, Alabama, United States
Corporate sponsor Thomas & Friends, Mattel Creations, HIT Entertainment
First race 1969 (1969)
Distance 500.08 miles (804.80 km)
Laps 188 (Stage 1: 55
Stage 2: 55
Stage 3: 78)
Previous names Talladega 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)[1]
CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega (2015)
Hellmann's 500 (2016)
Most wins (driver) Dale Earnhardt (7)
Most wins (team) Richard Childress Racing (8)
Most wins (manufacturer) Chevrolet (21)
Circuit information
Surface Asphalt
Length 2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Turns 4

The Thomas & Friends 500 presented by Mattel is a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The race is one of four NASCAR Cup Series races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the GEICO 500 in May, the Coke Zero 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).

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 in order 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, and every year in the period spanning 2003–2012. In 13 of these, the race exceeded 60 lead changes, most recently in 2012 with 65, and in 2010 the race reached 87 lead changes, one short of the motorsports record set in April.

Joey Logano is the defending winner, having won it in 2016.

Past winners

Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race distance Race time Average speed
(mph)
Report
Laps Miles (km)
1969 September 14 99 Richard Brickhouse Ray Nichels Dodge 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:15:07 153.778 Report
1970 August 23 40 Pete Hamilton Petty Enterprises Plymouth 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:09:17 158.517 Report
1971 August 22 12 Bobby Allison Holman-Moody Mercury 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:25:38 145.945 Report
1972 August 6 48 James Hylton James Hylton Mercury 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:22:09 148.728 Report
1973 August 12 22 Dick Brooks Crawford Brothers Plymouth 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:26:17 145.454 Report
1974 August 11 43 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:21:52 148.637 Report
1975 August 17 15 Buddy Baker Bud Moore Engineering Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:49:14 130.892 Report
1976 August 8 71 Dave Marcis Nord Krauskopf Dodge 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:10:27 157.547 Report
1977 August 7 1 Donnie Allison* Ellington Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:04:37 162.524 Report
1978 August 6 54 Lennie Pond Ranier-Lundy Oldsmobile 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:51:43 174.7 Report
1979 August 5 88 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Motorsports Oldsmobile 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:06:06 161.229 Report
1980 August 3 21 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Mercury 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:59:47 166.894 Report
1981 August 2 47 Ron Bouchard Race Hill Farm Team Buick 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:11:24 156.737 Report
1982 August 1 11 Darrell Waltrip (2) Junior Johnson & Associates Buick 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:58:26 168.157 Report
1983 July 31 15 Dale Earnhardt Bud Moore Engineering Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:55:52 170.611 Report
1984 July 29 3 Dale Earnhardt (2) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:12:04 155.485 Report
1985 July 28 28 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:21:41 148.772 Report
1986 July 27 8 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:17:59 151.522 Report
1987 July 26 9 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:55:10 171.293 Report
1988 July 31 25 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:14:12 154.505 Report
1989 July 30 11 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:10:41 157.354 Report
1990 July 29 3 Dale Earnhardt (3) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:52:01 174.43 Report
1991 July 28 3 Dale Earnhardt (4) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:23:35 147.383 Report
1992 July 26 4 Ernie Irvan Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:05:11 176.309 Report
1993 July 25 3 Dale Earnhardt (5) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:15:01 153.858 Report
1994 July 24 27 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:03:50 163.217 Report
1995 July 23 4 Sterling Marlin Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:53:15 173.188 Report
1996 July 28 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 129* 343.14 (552.23) 2:34:21 133.387 Report
1997 October 12 5 Terry Labonte (2) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:11:36 156.601 Report
1998 October 11 88 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:08:20 159.318 Report
1999 October 17 3 Dale Earnhardt (6) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:00:04 166.632 Report
2000 October 15 3 Dale Earnhardt* (7) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:01:06 165.681 Report
2001 October 21 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:02:45 164.185 Report
2002 October 6 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:43:22 183.665 Report
2003 September 28 15 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:12:17 156.045 Report
2004 October 3 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. (3) Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:11:12 156.929 Report
2005 October 2 88 Dale Jarrett (2) Robert Yates Racing Ford 190* 505.4 (813.362) 3:30:51 143.818 Report
2006 October 8 25 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:10:23 157.602 Report
2007 October 7 24 Jeff Gordon (2) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:29:11 143.438 Report
2008 October 5 20 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 190* 505.4 (813.362) 3:36:10 140.281 Report
2009 November 1 26 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford 191* 508.06 (817.643) 3:13:54 157.213 Report
2010 October 31 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:03:23 163.618 Report
2011 October 23 33 Clint Bowyer (2) Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 3:29:14 143.404 Report
2012 October 7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 189* 502.74 (809.081) 2:56:12 171.194 Report
2013 October 20 1 Jamie McMurray (2) Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 188 500.08 (804.8) 2:47:49 178.795 Report
2014 October 19 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 194* 516.04 (830.485) 3:13:09 160.302 Report
2015 October 25 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 196* 521.36 (839.047) 3:06:56 167.311 Report
2016 October 23 22 Joey Logano (2) Team Penske (3) Ford (3) 192* 510.72 (821.924) 3:11:38 159.905 Report

Multiple winners (drivers)

# of wins Driver Years 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
Dale Jarrett 1998, 2005
Jeff Gordon 1996, 2007
Clint Bowyer 2010, 2011
Jamie McMurray 2009, 2013
Joey Logano 2015, 2016

Multiple winners (teams)

# of wins Team Years won
8 Richard Childress Racing 1984, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2010, 2011
5 Hendrick Motorsports 1988, 1996, 1997, 2006, 2007
4 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
3 Junior Johnson & Associates 1982, 1989, 1994
Team Penske 2014, 2015, 2016
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

Manufacturer wins

# of wins Manufacturer Years won
21 Chevrolet 1977, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013
13 Ford 1975, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
3 Dodge 1969, 1974, 1976
Mercury 1971, 1972, 1980
Buick 1981, 1982, 1986
2 Plymouth 1970, 1973
Oldsmobile 1978, 1979
1 Toyota 2008

Notable races

1978: The lead changed a then-record 67 times as Lennie Pond stole the win over Allison and Yarborough; it was Pond's only career win and the first win for Ranier Racing.

Television broadcasters

Year Network Lap-by-lap Color commentator(s)
1970 ABC Bill Flemming Keith Jackson
1973 Jackie Stewart
1974
1975 Keith Jackson
1976 CBS Ken Squier Lee Petty
1977
1978
1979
1980 David Hobbs
1981 Donnie Allison
1982 David Hobbs
1983 Ned Jarrett
1984 Ned Jarrett
Benny Parsons
1985 Ned Jarrett
David Hobbs
1986 Ned Jarrett
Neil Bonnett
1987 Ned Jarrett
1988 Ned Jarrett
Chris Economaki
1989
1990 Ned Jarrett
David Hobbs
1991 Ned Jarrett
Chris Economaki
1992
1993 Ned Jarrett
Neil Bonnett*
1994 Ned Jarrett
Richard Petty
1995
1996 Ned Jarrett
Buddy Baker
1997 Mike Joy
1998 ESPN Bob Jenkins Benny Parsons
Ned Jarrett
1999 Jerry Punch
2000
2001 NBC Allen Bestwick Benny Parsons
Wally Dallenbach, Jr.
2002
2003
2004 Bill Weber
2005
2006
2007 ABC Jerry Punch Rusty Wallace
Andy Petree
2008 Dale Jarrett
Andy Petree
2009
2010 ESPN Marty Reid
2011 Allen Bestwick
2012
2013
2014
2015 NBCSN Rick Allen Jeff Burton
Steve Letarte
2016
2017 NBC

Notes

References

  1. "GEICO’s Partnership Grows with Talladega Superspeedway - "GEICO 500" Fall Classic Sprint Cup Series Race Set for Oct. 19". Talladega Superspeedway. 2014-01-30. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  2. 1984 Talladega finish
  3. "40 years of Talladega -- Birmingham News special report". The Birmingham News. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  4. "EA Sports 500". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  5. Newton, David (2011-10-20). "Wheldon tribute in works at Talladega". ESPN. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  6. "IndyCar: NASCAR drivers to display Dan Wheldon tribute decals at Talladega". Autoweek. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  7. Utter, Jim (October 19, 2014). "Brad Keselowski wins GEICO 500 at Talladega to advance in Chase". ThatsRacin.com. The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  8. Pistone, Pete (October 19, 2014). "Keselowski Scores Must Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Network. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  9. Fryer, Jenna (October 19, 2014). "Keselowski keeps title hopes alive at Talladega". racing.ap.org. The Associated Press. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  10. Ryan, Nate (October 19, 2014). "Keseloskwi wins at Talladega; Earnhardt, Johnson out of Chase". usatoday.com. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  11. Fryer, Jenna (October 23, 2016). "Logano wins Talladega to advance in NASCAR's playoffs". Associated Press. Talladega, Alabama: AP Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  12. Associated Press (2004-10-06). "Post-Talladega expletive costs Earnhardt". ESPN. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
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