Miller 500 (Busch race)
Encyclopedia
The Miller 500 was a NASCAR
Busch Series
stock car race
held at Martinsville Speedway
, in Martinsville, Virginia
. It was first held during the inaugural season for the Busch Series in 1982
, and remained a part of the series through 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's race, the Miller 500 and the Advance Auto 500
, were removed from the Busch Series schedule.
The race changed distances several times in its history. When first held in 1982, the race was 250 laps, covering 131.2 miles (211.1 km). In 1985, the race was decreased to 200 laps, 105.2 miles (169.3 km), where it remained until 1993, when the distance was increased to 300 laps, 157.8 miles (254 km).
The "500" moniker in the race title appears to have had no meaning, as the race was never 500 laps, miles, or kilometers in distance at any point in its history.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
stock car race
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
held at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, in Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
. It was first held during the inaugural season for the Busch Series in 1982
1982 NASCAR Busch Series
The inaugural NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series began on Saturday February 13 and ended on Saturday October 31. Jack Ingram, driving as an owner-driver, won the championship at season's end.-Calendar:Calendar as follows-Goody's 300:...
, and remained a part of the series through 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's race, the Miller 500 and the Advance Auto 500
Advance Auto 500
The Advance Auto 500 was a NASCAR Busch Series stock car race held at Martinsville Speedway, in Martinsville, Virginia. It was first held during the inaugural season for the Busch Series in 1982, and remained a part of the series through 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's race,...
, were removed from the Busch Series schedule.
The race changed distances several times in its history. When first held in 1982, the race was 250 laps, covering 131.2 miles (211.1 km). In 1985, the race was decreased to 200 laps, 105.2 miles (169.3 km), where it remained until 1993, when the distance was increased to 300 laps, 157.8 miles (254 km).
The "500" moniker in the race title appears to have had no meaning, as the race was never 500 laps, miles, or kilometers in distance at any point in its history.
Race results
Year | Date | Winner | Make | Laps | Winner's Prize (USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
Average Race Speed (mph) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994 | March 20 | Terry Labonte Terry Labonte Terrance Lee Labonte is a semi-retired NASCAR driver who occasionally drives in the Sprint Cup Series when called upon and is a two-time Winston Cup and IROC champion. He currently drives the #32 U.S. Chrome Ford for FAS Lane Racing. Labonte was introduced to the sport through his father, who had... |
Chevrolet Chevrolet Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918... |
300 | $22,400 | 71.511 |
1993 | May 8 | Ward Burton Ward Burton John Edward Burton III is an American NASCAR auto racer, who has a total of five career Sprint Cup wins. He last drove the #4 State Water Heaters Chevrolet Impala SS for Morgan-McClure Motorsports in 2007. He is the older brother of fellow NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, against whom he first... |
Buick Buick Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make... |
300 | $25,300 | 70.142 |
1992 | March 22 | Kenny Wallace Kenny Wallace Kenneth Wallace is an American stock car driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers/University of Northwestern Ohio/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry for RAB Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series... |
Pontiac Pontiac Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the... |
200 | $19,150 | 73.225 |
1991 | March 10 | Jimmy Hensley Jimmy Hensley Jimmy Hensley is a former NASCAR driver. With a career spanning 27 seasons in all three of NASCAR's elite divisions, Hensley may be best remembered for his Rookie of the Year award won in 1992, his 15th season in the series, and for his nine career Busch Series wins. He spent most of his career... |
Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory... |
200 | $16,125 | 68.559 |
1990 | March 11 | Tommy Houston Tommy Houston Tommy Houston, is a retired NASCAR Busch Series' drivers. Over his career, Houston and Jack Ingram became known as the pair journeymen drivers that helped that series grow throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.... |
Buick | 200 | $13,395 | 64.212 |
1989 | March 12 | Tommy Ellis Tommy Ellis Tommy Ellis was a NASCAR short track ace of the 1970s and 1980s. Often referred to as "Terrible" Tommy Ellis for his rough tactics, he won the National Late Model Sportsman championship in 1981 and was one of six drivers enrolled in the Winner's Circle plan at the formation of the Busch Series in... |
Buick | 200 | $14,108 | 63.629 |
1988 | March 13 | Jimmy Hensley | Buick | 200 | $12,400 | 70.237 |
1987 | March 22 | Brad Teague Brad Teague Brad Teague is a veteran of the NASCAR Busch Series and the Nextel Cup Series. He was born November 9, 1947 in Buladean, North Carolina. He resides in Johnson City, Tennessee.- Nationwide Series :... |
Chevrolet | 200 | $11,400 | 65.229 |
1986 | March 23 | Morgan Shepherd Morgan Shepherd Clay Morgan Shepherd has been a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver since 1977. He has also raced in the Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. He is a born again Christian who serves as a lay minister to the racing community... |
Pontiac | 200 | $9,675 | 69.592 |
1985 | April 6 | Brett Bodine Brett Bodine Brett Bodine is a former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and is the current driver of the pace car in Sprint Cup events. Brett is the younger brother of 1986 Daytona 500 winner Geoff Bodine and the older brother of 2006 Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine... |
Pontiac | 200 | $9,675 | 61.202 |
1984 | March 25 | Jack Ingram | Pontiac | 250 | $9,000 | 77.751 |
1983 | March 20 | Sam Ard Sam Ard Sam Ard is a former NASCAR driver.Ard was the runner-up in 1982 of NASCAR's Late Model Sportsman Series , and followed up his run with back-to-back championships in 1983 and 1984... |
Oldsmobile | 250 | $9,200 | 62.682 |
1982 | March 28 | Sam Ard | Oldsmobile | 250 | $9,150 | 67.244 |