NASCAR Cup Series at Riverside International Raceway explained

Race Title:NASCAR Winston Cup Series at Riverside International Raceway
Series Long:NASCAR Winston Cup Series
Venue:Riverside International Raceway
Location:Moreno Valley, California

Stock car races in the then-NASCAR Winston Cup Series have been held at the Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California during numerous times of year and season from 1958 to 1988.

January race

Race Title:Winston Western 500
Venue:Riverside International Raceway
Sponsor:Winston
First Race:1958 Crown America 500
Last Race:1987 Winston Western 500
Distance:311.8 miles (502 km)
Laps:119
Previous Names:Crown America 500 (1958)
Unnamed (1961)
Riverside 500 (1963)
Motor Trend 500 (1964–1971)
Winston Western 500 (1972–1987)
Most Wins Driver:Dan Gurney (5)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Ford (11)

The Winston Western 500 was an annual NASCAR Winston Cup race held at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, United States, in January, and then in later years, November. From 1963 to 1981, the race was held in January and was the season opening race. NASCAR elected to start its season with the Daytona 500 beginning in 1982, so a second Winston Western 500 was run in November to accommodate the change; the change resulted in Riverside hosting three Winston Cup races in 1981. The race ran in November from 1981 to 1987, serving as the Winston Cup Series' final race of the year from 1981 to 1986. The race distance was 500 miles until 1977 when it was shortened to 311 miles (500 kilometers). The other race held at Riverside, the Budweiser 400, was held in June.

Past winners

YearDateDriverTeamManufacturerRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
ReportRef
LapsMiles (km)
1958June 198Eddie GrayVel MiletichFord190499.89 (804.494)6:17:0079.481Report[1]
1959
–
1960
Not held
1961May 2144Lloyd DaneLloyd DaneChevrolet39100.62 (161.932)1:13:1082.512Report[2]
1962Not held
1963January 2028Dan GurneyHolman-MoodyFord185499.5 (803.867)5:53:2084.965Report[3]
1964January 19121Dan GurneyWood Brothers RacingFord185499.5 (803.867)5:28:4791.245Report[4]
1965January 17121Dan GurneyWood Brothers RacingFord185499.5 (803.867)5:41:4287.708Report[5]
1966January 23121Dan GurneyWood Brothers RacingFord185499.5 (803.867)5:05:5897.952Report[6]
1967January 22115Parnelli JonesBill StroppeFord185499.5 (803.867)5:29:0391.08Report[7]
1968January 21121Dan GurneyWood Brothers RacingFord186502.2 (808.212)4:57:55100.598Report[8]
1969February 143Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesFord186502.2 (808.212)4:45:37105.498Report[9]
1970January 1811A. J. FoytJack BowsherFord193505.66 (813.78)5:11:1997.45Report[10]
1971January 1096Ray ElderFred ElderDodge191500.42 (805.347)4:57:55100.783Report[11]
1972January 2343Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPlymouth149*390.38 (628.255)3:45:11104.016Report[12]
1973January 2116Mark DonohuePenske RacingMatador191500.42 (805.347)4:48:33104.055Report[13]
1974January 2611Cale YarboroughRichard HowardChevrolet191500.42 (805.347)4:56:52101.14Report[14]
1975January 1916Bobby AllisonPenske RacingMatador191500.42 (805.347)5:04:2598.627Report[15]
1976January 1821David PearsonWood Brothers RacingMercury191500.42 (805.347)5:02:4499.18Report[16]
1977January 1621David PearsonWood Brothers RacingMercury119311.78 (501.761)2:54:46107.038Report[17]
1978January 2211Cale YarboroughJunior Johnson & AssociatesOldsmobile119311.78 (501.761)3:02:55102.269Report[18]
1979January 1488Darrell WaltripDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet119311.78 (501.761)2:53:30107.82Report[19]
1980January 13/19*88Darrell WaltripDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet119311.78 (501.761)3:16:5894.974Report[20]
1981January 1128Bobby AllisonRanier-LundyChevrolet119311.78 (501.761)3:16:1895.263Report[21]
November 2228Bobby AllisonRanier-LundyBuick119311.78 (501.761)3:16:1995.288Report[22]
1982November 212Tim RichmondJim StacyBuick119311.78 (501.761)3:07:2499.823Report[23]
1983November 209Bill ElliottMelling RacingFord119311.78 (501.761)3:15:0995.859Report[24]
1984November 185Geoffrey BodineAll-Star RacingChevrolet119311.78 (501.761)3:10:0198.448Report[25]
1985November 1715Ricky RuddBud Moore EngineeringFord119311.78 (501.761)2:58:03105.065Report[26]
1986November 1625Tim RichmondHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet119311.78 (501.761)3:04:48101.246Report[27]
1987November 827Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac119311.78 (501.761)3:10:4998.035Report[28]

Multiple winners (drivers)

  1. Wins
ManufacturerYears won
5Dan Gurney1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968
3Bobby Allison1975, 1981 (Jan), 1981 (Nov)
2Richard Petty1969, 1972
David Pearson1976, 1977
Cale Yarborough1974, 1978
Darrell Waltrip1979, 1980
Tim Richmond1982, 1986

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

  1. Wins
ManufacturerYears won
11Ford1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1983, 1985
7Chevrolet1961, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986
2Matador1973, 1975
Mercury1976, 1977
Buick1981, 1982

Summer race

Budweiser 400
Sponsor:Budweiser
First Race:1963
Last Race:1988
Distance:249 miles (400 km)
Laps:95
Previous Names:Golden State 400 (1963, 1971–1972)
Falstaff 400 (1970)
Tuborg 400 (1973–1975)
Riverside 400 (1976)
NAPA 400 (1977–1978)
NAPA Riverside 400 (1979)
Warner W. Hodgdon 400 (1980–1981)
Budweiser 400 (1982–1988)

The Budweiser 400 was an annual summer NASCAR Winston Cup race held from 1970 to 1988 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, United States. A 400-mile race was also run at the track in November 1963. The race distance was 400 miles until 1976 when it was shortened to 249 miles (400 kilometers). The other race at Riverside, the Winston Western 500, was held in January from 1965 to 1981 and November from 1981 to 1987.

Past winners

YearDateDriverTeamManufacturerRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)
ReportRef
LapsMiles (km)
1963Nov 316Darel DieringerBill StroppeMercury148399.6 (643.093)4:21:3791.465Report[29]
1964
–
1969
Not held
1970June 1443Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesPlymouth153400.86 (645.121)3:57:51101.12Report[30]
1971June 2012Bobby AllisonHolman-MoodyDodge153400.86 (645.121)4:17:0593.427Report[31]
1972June 1896Ray ElderFred ElderDodge153400.86 (645.121)4:03:3298.761Report[32]
1973June 1712Bobby AllisonBobby AllisonChevrolet153400.86 (645.121)4:00:00100.215Report[33]
1974June 911Cale YarboroughRichard HowardChevrolet138*361.56 (581.874)3:31:40102.489Report[34]
1975June 843Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge153400.86 (645.121)3:58:04101.028Report[35]
1976June 1321David PearsonWood Brothers RacingMercury95248.9 (400.565)2:20:31106.279Report[36]
1977June 1243Richard PettyPetty EnterprisesDodge95248.9 (400.565)2:22:12105.021Report[37]
1978June 1172Benny ParsonsL.G. DeWittChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:23:10104.311Report[38]
1979June 1015Bobby AllisonBud Moore EngineeringFord95248.9 (400.565)2:23:58103.732Report[39]
1980June 888Darrell WaltripDiGard MotorsportsChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:26:38101.846Report[40]
1981June 1411Darrell WaltripJunior Johnson & AssociatesBuick95248.9 (400.565)2:39:3093.597Report[41]
1982June 132Tim RichmondJim StacyBuick95248.9 (400.565)2:23:51103.816Report[42]
1983June 53Ricky RuddRichard Childress RacingChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:49:3588.063Report[43]
1984June 344Terry LabonteBilly HaganChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:25:07102.91Report[44]
1985June 244Terry LabonteBilly HaganChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:23:13104.276Report[45]
1986June 111Darrell WaltripJunior Johnson & AssociatesChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:22:07105.083Report[46]
1987June 2125Tim RichmondHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet95248.9 (400.565)2:26:09102.183Report[47]
1988June 1227Rusty WallaceBlue Max RacingPontiac95248.9 (400.565)2:43:0388.341Report[48]

Multiple winners (drivers)

  1. Wins
DriverYears won
3Richard Petty1970, 1975, 1977
Bobby Allison1971, 1973, 1979
Darrell Waltrip1980, 1981, 1986
2Terry Labonte1984, 1985
Tim Richmond1982, 1987

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

  1. Wins
ManufacturerYears won
9Chevrolet1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
4Dodge1971, 1972, 1975, 1977
2Mercury1963, 1976
Buick1981, 1982

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1958 Crown America 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  2. Web site: 1961-22. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  3. Web site: 1963 Riverside 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  4. Web site: 1964 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  5. Web site: 1965 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  6. Web site: 1966 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  7. Web site: 1967 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  8. Web site: 1968 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  9. Web site: 1969 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  10. Web site: 1970 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  11. Web site: 1971 Motor Trend 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  12. Web site: 1972 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  13. Web site: 1973 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  14. Web site: 1974 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  15. Web site: 1975 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  16. Web site: 1976 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  17. Web site: 1977 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  18. Web site: 1978 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  19. Web site: 1979 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  20. Web site: 1980 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  21. Web site: 1981 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  22. Web site: 1981 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  23. Web site: 1982 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  24. Web site: 1983 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  25. Web site: 1984 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  26. Web site: 1985 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  27. Web site: 1986 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  28. Web site: 1987 Winston Western 500. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  29. Web site: 1963 Golden State 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  30. Web site: 1970 Falstaff 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  31. Web site: 1971 Golden State 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  32. Web site: 1972 Golden State 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  33. Web site: 1973 Tuborg 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  34. Web site: 1974 Tuborg 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  35. Web site: 1975 Tuborg 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  36. Web site: 1976 Riverside 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  37. Web site: 1977 NAPA 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  38. Web site: 1978 NAPA 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  39. Web site: 1979 NAPA Riverside 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  40. Web site: 1980 Warner W. Hodgdon 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  41. Web site: 1981 Warner W. Hodgdon 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  42. Web site: 1982 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  43. Web site: 1983 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  44. Web site: 1984 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  45. Web site: 1985 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  46. Web site: 1986 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  47. Web site: 1987 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.
  48. Web site: 1988 Budweiser 400. Racing-Reference. November 18, 2021.