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Southern 500

Venue	Darlington Raceway
Corporate Sponsor	Mountain Dew
First Race	1950
Distance	500 miles (805 km)
Number of Laps	366
Previous Names	Southern 500 (1950-1988) Heinz 500 (1989-1991) Mountain Dew Southern 500 (1992-1997) Pepsi Southern 400 (1998-2000)

The Mountain Dew Southern 500 is a 500 mile (805 km) NASCAR Nextel Cup race. Prior to 2004, this annual event was held on the Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway. For the 2004 season, the Pop Secret 500 was moved from North Carolina Speedway to California Speedway and given the lucrative Labor Day weekend date. The Mountain Dew Southern 500 will be run in November 2004 for the final time. In May 2005, Darlington's Spring race, the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, will merge with the Southern 500, and will be run on a Saturday night on Mother's Day weekend. The race was originally known as the Southern 500 when it was first held in 1950, and was the first 500 mile NASCAR race. Other names for this race include the Heinz 500 (1989-1991) and the Pepsi Southern 500 (1998-2000).

See also: List of current NASCAR races

Past Winners

Mountain Dew Southern 500

• 2003: Terry Labonte
• 2002: Jeff Gordon
• 2001: Bobby Labonte
• 1999: Jeff Gordon

Mountain Dew Southern 500

• 1997: Jeff Gordon
• 1996: Jeff Gordon
• 1995: Jeff Gordon
• 1994: Bill Elliott
• 1993: Mark Martin
• 1992: Darrell Waltrip

Heinz 500

• 1991: Dale Earnhardt
• 1989: Dale Earnhardt

Southern 500

• 1988: Bill Elliott
• 1987: Dale Earnhardt
• 1986: Bobby Allison
• 1982: Neil Bonnett
• 1980: Terry Labonte
• 1979: Richard Petty
• 1966: Checker Auto Parts 500

|align="center"|Current NASCAR Races |width="30%" align="center"|Followed by:
Ford 400 |}