Miller 500 (Busch race)

From 1982 to 1994 and since 2021, the NASCAR Xfinity Series has held stock car races in the spring at Martinsville Speedway, in Martinsville, Virginia. Under its most recent iteration in 1994, the race was known as the Miller 500.

Dogwood 250
NASCAR Xfinity Series
VenueMartinsville Speedway
LocationRidgeway, Virginia, United States
First race1970
First NXS race1982
Distance125 miles (201.2 km)
Laps250[1]
Stages 1/2: 60 each
Final stage: 130
Previous namesDogwood 500 (1982)
Miller Time 250 (1983–1984)
Miller 200 (1985)
Miller Classic (1988–1991)
Miller 500 (1986–1987, 1992–1994)
Most wins (driver)Sam Ard
Jimmy Hensley (2)
Most wins (team)Thomas Brothers Racing (2)
Most wins (manufacturer)Buick
Pontiac (4)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Concrete (turns)
Length0.526 mi (0.847 km)
Turns4

It was first held as a Late Model Sportsman and Modified doubleheader in 1970, and in 1982 the Late Model Sportsman feature changed to a touring format for the original 1982 Budweiser Late Model Sportsman season, and stayed as a touring race until 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's race, the Miller 500 and the Advance Auto 500, were converted to Late Model only races. The March Late Model race was discontinued at the end of the 1997 season.

In 2021, the Xfinity Series restored Martinsville's spring date as a night race in support of the NASCAR Cup Series' Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500. The race is one of two Xfinity events at the short track along with the Draft Top 250 in the fall.[2]

Distance

The race changed distances several times in its history. When first held in 1970, the Late Model Sportsman and Modified features were both 250 laps, covering 131.2 miles (211.1 km). Following the addition of local Late Models and the conversion of the Modified race into part of the NASCAR's regional touring series in 1985, the two touring races were decreased to 200 laps, 105.2 miles (169.3 km) with a 100 lap, 52.6 miles (84.7 km) Late Model feature, where it remained until the Modifieds were removed for the 1993 season, when the distance was increased to 300 laps, 157.8 miles (254.0 km) for the touring Busch Grand National cars, and 200 laps, 105.2 miles (169.3 km) for the Late Model race. When the race format became strictly Late Model only, the qualifying races and Late Model feature (25 lap heat races and last chance race) totaled 300 laps. The race was discontinued after the 1997 season, and only the fall race was held for Late Models.

The race was never 500 laps, miles, or kilometers in distance at any point in its history. The "500" originated from Martinsville's two traditional combination Late Model and/or Modified races that resulted in a 500-lap format:

  • 1970–84: 250 laps, co-featured with Modifieds
  • 1985–91: 200 laps, co-featured with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and 100 laps Late Model racing
  • 1992–94: 300 laps, and 200 laps Late Model racing
  • 2021: 250 laps, part of the Cup weekend. The Whelen Modified Tour will race on the Thursday of the meeting.

Past winners
Year Date Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Laps Miles (km)
1982 March 28 Sam Ard Thomas Brothers Racing Oldsmobile 250 131.25 (211.226) 67.244
1983 March 20 Sam Ard Thomas Brothers Racing Oldsmobile 250 131.25 (211.226) 2:05:46 62.682
1984 March 25 Jack Ingram Jack Ingram Racing Pontiac 250 131.5 (211.628) 1:42:16 77.751
1985 April 6 Brett Bodine Hendrick Motorsports Pontiac 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:43:08 61.202
1986 March 23 Morgan Shepherd Whitaker Racing Pontiac 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:30:42 69.592
1987 March 22 Brad Teague Charlie Henderson Chevrolet 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:36:36 65.229
1988 March 13 Jimmy Hensley Sam Ard Buick 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:29:52 70.237
1989 March 12 Tommy Ellis J&J Racing Buick 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:39:12 63.629
1990 March 11 Tommy Houston Houston Racing Buick 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:38:18 64.212
1991 March 10 Jimmy Hensley Beverly Racing Oldsmobile 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:32:04 68.559
1992 March 22 Kenny Wallace Rusty Wallace Racing Pontiac 200 105.2 (169.302) 1:26:12 73.225
1993 May 8 Ward Burton A.G. Dillard Motorsports Buick 300 157.8 (253.954) 2:14:59 70.142
1994 March 20 Terry Labonte Labonte Motorsports Chevrolet 300 157.8 (253.954) 2:12:25 71.511
1995
–
2020		 Not held
2021 April 9

References
  1. "Stage lengths for 2021 NASCAR season". NASCAR. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. "Martinsville Speedway to Host 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Races on April 9, 2021 & Draft Top 250 on Oct. 30, 2021". Martinsville Speedway. October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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