YellaWood 500 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
YellaWood 500

NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Talladega Superspeedway
Location	Talladega, Alabama, United States
Corporate sponsor	YellaWood
First race	1969 (1969)
Distance	500.08 miles (804.801 km)
Laps	188 Stages 1/2: 60 each Final stage: 68
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) CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega (2015) Hellmann's 500 (2016) Alabama 500 (2017) 1000Bulbs.com 500 (2018–2019)
Most wins (driver)	Dale Earnhardt (7)
Most wins (team)	Richard Childress Racing (8)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Chevrolet (22)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	2.66 mi (4.28 km)
Turns	4

The YellaWood 500 is a thrilling NASCAR Cup Series stock car race. It takes place at the famous Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. This race is a key event in the NASCAR playoffs, where drivers compete for the championship.

The YellaWood 500 is one of four NASCAR Cup Series races that use special engine parts called tapered spacers. These parts help control the car's speed. For many years, the race was held in the hot summer months. But in 1997, it moved to early October. This was because of the very hot summer temperatures and sudden thunderstorms in Alabama. In 2009, the race moved again to November 1.

The race has had many different names over the years. From 1969 to 1987, it was called the Talladega 500. Later names included DieHard 500, Winston 500, and Alabama 500.

This race is known for being super competitive. It often has many "lead changes," meaning different drivers take the front spot. In 2010, there were 87 lead changes, which is almost a record! The 2000 race was special because it was the last win for racing legend Dale Earnhardt. He came from 18th place to win in the final laps.

Past Race Winners

• 1977: Darrell Waltrip finished the race for Allison. Allison still got the win and points.
• 1996: The race started late due to rain. It was shortened because it got dark after a long break from a big crash.
• 2005, 2008–2009, 2011–2012, 2014–2016, 2018, & 2020: These races went longer than planned due to NASCAR overtime rules.
• 2019: The race started on Sunday but stopped after 57 laps because of rain. It finished on Monday.
• 2021: The race was moved to Monday and shortened due to rain.

Drivers with Multiple Wins

Teams with Multiple Wins

Winning Car Brands

Exciting Moments and Records

The YellaWood 500 is known for surprise winners. In its first 40 years, seven drivers got their first career win here. Some famous surprise winners include James Hylton, Dave Marcis, and Bubba Wallace.

Key Race Highlights

1969: A Driver's Protest

The first race in 1969 had a driver's strike. Drivers were worried about track safety. Even though officials said the track was safe, many drivers refused to race.

1973: A Surprise Victory and a Sad Day

In 1973, Dick Brooks won his only career race. He overcame the heat and an overheating engine. Sadly, a young driver named Larry Smith was in a serious accident and passed away early in the race.

1974: Mystery and a Close Finish

Before the 1974 race, crew members found strange things. Tires were cut, car parts were tampered with, and fuel lines were blocked. NASCAR had to stop the race several times to check cars. Richard Petty won on the very last lap by just a tiny bit!

1975: Another Sad Accident

The 1975 race was marked by a terrible accident. Former Daytona 500 winner Tiny Lund was involved in a crash and sadly passed away. Despite this, Buddy Baker won after many lead changes.

1981: A Last-Lap Thriller

The 1981 race had an amazing finish. Ron Bouchard, running third on the last lap, sped past both Terry Labonte and Darrell Waltrip to win! It was his first and only career victory.

1983: A Rivalry Plays Out

The rivalry between Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison was clear in 1983. Allison, who was two laps behind, helped Dale Earnhardt pass Waltrip on the final lap to win. Waltrip's team was not happy!

1986: Many Leaders and a Big Crash

The 1986 race had 26 different leaders, which was a record at the time. There were also 49 lead changes. Many cars crashed, including a six-car pile-up on the final lap. Bobby Hillin Jr. won the race.

1993: Scary Crashes Lead to Safety Changes

The 1993 race was very close, with Dale Earnhardt winning by just 0.005 seconds. But it was also known for two scary crashes. One car went over the outside wall and tumbled down a hill. This led to new safety fences around the track. Another crash saw a car fly into the catch fence, which led to the invention of "roof flaps" to keep cars on the ground during spins.

1996: The Big One and a Heroic Driver

In 1996, a huge crash happened involving many cars. Dale Earnhardt's car flipped over and was hit again while sliding on its roof. Even though he had broken bones, Earnhardt climbed out and waved to the crowd. This crash showed how tough NASCAR drivers are.

2000: Dale Earnhardt's Final Win

This was a very memorable race. Dale Earnhardt won his 76th and final race before he passed away. He was in 17th place with only four laps left. But he found a way to the front and won, holding off the other cars. His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., had been leading but finished 14th.

2001: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s First of Many Wins

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his third race of 2001, starting a streak of four straight wins at Talladega. The race had a huge crash near the end, involving 14 cars. Earnhardt Jr. won the race and a $1 million bonus, just like his father did the year before. He was later penalized points because his car's rear spoiler was too short.

2002: A Caution-Free Race and Odd Incidents

This was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s third win in a row at Talladega. It was also one of the few Talladega races with no caution flags. There was a strange accident during the warm-up laps when two cars crashed before the race even officially started!

2004: More Crashes and a Penalty

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won again in 2004, his fifth win at Talladega. The race had several crashes, including one on the last lap where a car flipped over at the finish line. Earnhardt Jr. was penalized after the race for using bad language in his TV interview.

2005: Movie Moments and More Flips

The 2005 race was wild, with two cars flipping over in separate accidents. Scenes from this race were even used in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby! Dale Jarrett got his last win in this race.

2006: A New Track Surface and Fan Anger

Talladega's track was repaved in 2006, making the race even faster. There were 63 lead changes! On the final lap, Brian Vickers made a move that caused Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to crash. Vickers won, but fans were so angry they threw bottles at him!

2008: Record Leaders and a Controversial Finish

The 2008 race had a record 28 different leaders. There were also two big crashes. The finish was very controversial. Regan Smith passed Tony Stewart below the yellow line, which NASCAR said was illegal. Stewart was given the win, causing a lot of debate.

2009: More Overtime and Flips

This race went into overtime after a scary crash where Ryan Newman's car flipped over. This crash helped NASCAR decide to change car parts for safety. Jamie McMurray won the race, his last win for his team.

2010: Halloween Thriller and a Close Call

On Halloween 2010, Clint Bowyer was declared the winner after a yellow flag flew on the final lap. There was confusion about who won, and Bowyer started celebrating too early! This race had 87 lead changes, almost tying a record.

2012: A Massive Crash and Driver Injury

Matt Kenseth won his first Talladega race in 2012. On the final lap, a huge crash collected 23 cars, including many top drivers. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was involved and later had to miss two races because of a concussion.

2013: A Clean Race and a Long-Awaited Win

The 2013 race was surprisingly clean, with only two caution flags for most of the race. Jamie McMurray won, ending a long streak without a victory. It was also his final career win.

2014: Overtime Chaos and Playoff Drama

This race went into multiple overtime attempts. A "Big One" crash collected 11 cars. Brad Keselowski won, securing his spot in the next round of the playoffs. Several big-name drivers were eliminated from the championship chase.

2015: A Controversial Finish and Fan Outrage

The 2015 race had a very controversial ending. After a crash, NASCAR tried to restart the race multiple times. Eventually, Joey Logano was declared the winner. Fans were so upset that they threw beer cans at Logano during his celebration! This led to NASCAR changing its overtime rules.

2017: Many Crashes and a Playoff Shake-Up

The 2017 race had many crashes, involving 10 of the 12 playoff drivers. A "Big One" crash took out 17 cars. Brad Keselowski won after a tough battle. Only 14 cars finished the race, one of the lowest numbers ever at Talladega.

2019: Rain Delay and a Photo Finish

The 2019 race was stopped by rain and finished on Monday. It had three "Big One" crashes. On the very last lap, Ryan Blaney won by just 0.006 seconds, one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history! This win helped him move forward in the playoffs.

2020: Longest Race and More Controversy

The 2020 race was the most competitive of the season, with 58 lead changes. It went into three overtime attempts, making it the longest race in Talladega history. Denny Hamlin won, but there was controversy about drivers racing below the yellow line.

2021: Bubba Wallace Makes History

The 2021 race was postponed to Monday due to rain. As more rain was expected, the race was called early. Bubba Wallace was leading when the race ended, earning his first career win! This made him the first African-American driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since 1963.