O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 explained

Race Title:O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
Series Long:NASCAR Cup Series
Venue:Texas Motor Speedway
Location:Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Sponsor:O'Reilly Auto Parts
First Race:1997
Last Race:2020
Distance:501miles
Laps:334 (Stages 1/2: 105 each
Final stage: 124)
Previous Names:Interstate Batteries 500 (1997)
Texas 500 (1998)
Primestar 500 (1999)
DirecTV 500 (2000)
Harrah's 500 (2001)
Samsung / RadioShack 500 (2002–2006)
Samsung 500 (2007–2009)
Samsung Mobile 500 (2010–2012)
NRA 500 (2013)
Duck Commander 500 (2014–2016)
Most Wins Driver:Kyle Busch (3)
Most Wins Team:Roush Fenway Racing (7)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Ford (10)
Surface:Asphalt
Length Mi:1.5
Turns:4

The O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in Fort Worth, Texas. Even though it is advertised as a "500-mile" race, because TMS is a track that is 1.5miles in length, the actual race distance is 501miles. Austin Dillon was the last race winner having won it in 2020.

Race history

The first two runnings of the race were controversial, crash-strewn affairs, with universal criticism that the track's design was one groove; Kenny Wallace argued, "They're so busy building condos they don't have time to fix the racetrack."

There were ten different winners in the first ten races, the longest such streak for any NASCAR track in the Cup Series. This list includes Texas native Terry Labonte, who won in 1999, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning his first race in 2000. Jeff Burton, the winner of the inaugural race, broke that streak by getting his second Texas win in a last-lap pass in 2007. In 2011, the race became a Saturday night event, whereas before it was always a Sunday afternoon race. This was done since the night race at Phoenix was moved to February and became a day race. The 2011 race was run on April 9, 2011, and was the first scheduled night race of the season, and in Texas Motor Speedway history for the Cup Series.

In 2013, NASCAR became involved in controversy when the National Rifle Association (NRA) began to sponsor the race; although race sponsorships are negotiated with the track owner, not NASCAR itself, the sanctioning organization has final approval and did not object to the sponsorship.[1] [2] [3] [4] Both NASCAR's acceptance of this sponsorship, and its timing, has been controversial, and offensive to gun control activists.[5] [6] [7] [8] Because of the sponsorship, Senator Chris Murphy asked Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corporation owns Fox Sports, which was scheduled to air the race, to not broadcast it.[9] Fox broadcast the race as scheduled, not least because failure to do so would have been a breach of the network's contract with NASCAR. However, Fox only used the official sponsored name once per hour (the minimum mandated by NASCAR) and otherwise referred to it generically (in this case as the "Texas 500"), the network's usual practice when a race's title sponsor does not buy ads during the race broadcast; the NRA reportedly did not seek to purchase any such ads.[1] The NRA would return as a race sponsor in 2016 for the Bristol Night Race in August at Speedway's owned Bristol Motor Speedway.[10]

In 2014, the race returned to being a Sunday afternoon race because of the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four games being held at AT&T Stadium in nearby Arlington so that the race occurs on a day in between tournament games.[11] On February 6, 2014, Duck Commander, the business that is the subject of the TV show Duck Dynasty, bought the naming rights for the race.[12] The race returned to its Saturday night date in 2015.[13] In 2017, the race would once again return to Sunday afternoon and the race was renamed under a new sponsorship deal with O'Reilly Auto Parts.[14]

Since 2002, the trophy awarded to the winner has been cowboy boots, a white cowboy hat, and a pair of six-shooters to fire off in victory lane. The winner of the event and the same goes for the Fall race, bolts their name onto a Wall of Champions that have their name engraved on a plate using a laser engraver.

Samsung sponsored the race from 2002 to 2012, while RadioShack was previously a co-sponsor. The joint sponsorship was grandfathered in 2003 by NASCAR's grandfather clause when Nextel became a NASCAR sponsor, as they banned rival wireless sponsorships (Nextel used Motorola exclusively); the ban was lifted after the 2005 merger of Sprint and Nextel because Sprint is sold at RadioShack, and Sprint offers Samsung products.

The race was removed from the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series as Texas Motor Speedway instead hosted NASCAR All-Star Race and Circuit of the Americas in Austin was added to the schedule.[15]

Past winners

YearDateDriverTeamManufacturerSponsorRace DistanceRace TimeAverage Speed
(mph)		ReportRef
LapsMiles (km)
1997April 699Jeff BurtonRoush RacingFordExide Batteries334501 (806.281)4:00:16125.111Report[16]
1998April 56Mark MartinRoush RacingFordValvoline/Cummins334501 (806.281)3:39:47136.771Report[17]
1999March 285Terry LabonteHendrick MotorsportsChevroletKellogg's334501 (806.281)3:28:21144.276Report[18]
2000April 28Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt, Inc.ChevroletBudweiser334501 (806.281)3:49:12131.152Report[19]
2001April 188Dale JarrettRobert Yates RacingFordUPS334501 (806.281)3:31:59141.804Report[20]
2002April 8*17Matt KensethRoush RacingFordDeWalt334501 (806.281)3:31:01142.453Report[21]
2003March 3012Ryan NewmanPenske RacingDodgeAlltel334501 (806.281)3:43:28134.517Report[22]
2004April 438Elliott SadlerRobert Yates RacingFordM&M's334501 (806.281)3:36:30138.845Report[23]
2005April 1716Greg BiffleRoush RacingFordPost-It/National Guard334501 (806.281)3:51:08130.055Report[24]
2006April 99Kasey KahneEvernham MotorsportsDodgeDodge Dealers/UAW334501 (806.281)3:37:55137.943Report[25]
2007April 1531Jeff BurtonRichard Childress RacingChevroletPrilosec OTC334501 (806.281)3:39:41143.359Report[26]
2008April 699Carl EdwardsRoush Fenway RacingFordAflac339*508.5 (818.351)3:30:41144.814Report[27]
2009April 524Jeff GordonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletDuPont/National Guard/GED Plus334501 (806.281)3:25:22146.372Report[28]
2010April 19*11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaFedEx Ground334501 (806.281)3:25:34146.23Report[29]
2011April 917Matt KensethRoush Fenway RacingFordCrown Royal Black334501 (806.281)3:21:26149.231Report[30]
2012April 1416Greg BiffleRoush Fenway RacingFord3M/Filtrete334501 (806.281)3:07:12160.577Report[31]
2013April 1318Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaInterstate Batteries334501 (806.281)3:27:40144.751Report[32]
2014April 7*[33] 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFordShell/Pennzoil/Hertz340*510 (820.765)3:39:02134.191Report[34]
2015April 1148Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's Pro Services334501 (806.281)3:33:57140.5Report[35]
2016April 9–10*18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaInterstate Batteries334501 (806.281)3:37:16138.355Report[36]
2017April 948Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevroletLowe's/Hitachi334501 (806.281)3:24:18147.137Report[37]
2018April 818Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaInterstate Batteries334501 (806.281)3:32:07141.714Report[38]
2019March 3111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyotaFedEx Office334501 (806.281)3:16:11153.224Report[39]
2020July 193Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevroletBass Pro Shops/Tracker Off-Road334501 (806.281)3:38:57137.292Report[40]

Notes

Multiple winners (drivers)

  1. Wins
DriverYears Won
3Kyle Busch2013, 2016, 2018
2Jeff Burton1997, 2007
Matt Kenseth2002, 2011
Greg Biffle2005, 2012
Jimmie Johnson2015, 2017
Denny Hamlin2010, 2019

Multiple winners (teams)

  1. Wins
TeamYears Won
7Roush Fenway Racing1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012
5Joe Gibbs Racing2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019
4Hendrick Motorsports1999, 2009, 2015, 2017
2Robert Yates Racing2001, 2004
Team Penske2003, 2014
Richard Childress Racing2007, 2020

Manufacturer wins

  1. Wins
ManufacturerYears Won
10Ford1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014
7Chevrolet1999, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2020
5Toyota2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019
2Dodge2003, 2006

Sponsor wins

  1. Wins
SponsorYears Won
3Interstate Batteries2013, 2016, 2018
2National Guard2005, 2009
FedEx2010, 2019
Lowe's2015, 2017

Notes and References

  1. News: National Rifle Association sponsors NASCAR Sprint Cup race . Usatoday.com . 2013-03-04 . 2013-04-10 . Nate . Ryan.
  2. Web site: Short Bus . NASCAR NRA 500 . Daily Kos . 2013-03-08 . 2013-04-10.
  3. Web site: ASSOCIATED PRESS . NRA Nascar sponsorship: Texas race will be known as NRA 500 - Associated Press . Politico.Com . 2013-03-05 . 2013-04-10.
  4. News: NRA to be title sponsor for NASCAR Cup race in Texas . Fox News . March 5, 2013. 2013-04-10.
  5. Web site: Zach Bowman RSS feed Google+ . Conn. Senator Murphy urges NASCAR to reconsider NRA race sponsorship [w/poll] |publisher=Autoblog.com |access-date=2013-04-10].
  6. Web site: New MURPHY URGES NASCAR TO REVERSE DECISION TO NAME NEW RACE NRA 500 . Politicalnews.me . 2013-04-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140328072903/http://politicalnews.me/?id=21903&keys=NRA-NASCAR-RACE-NAME . 2014-03-28 . dead .
  7. Web site: Populi . Vox . Vox Populi: 'Now that the NRA is sponsoring a NASCAR race, I'm glad I stopped following NASCAR years ago.' . savannahnow.com . 2013-04-10.
  8. News: NRA 500 NASCAR Race Will Be Free From Gun Group Propaganda, Says Organizer . Huffingtonpost.com . April 8, 2013. 2013-04-10 . Amanda . Terkel.
  9. News: Gendreau. LeAnne. Schulz. Sam. Conn. Senator to Rupert Murdoch: Don't Air NRA-500 Race. NBC Bay Area . KNTV. 2013-04-11. 2013-04-11.
  10. Web site: Pockrass. Bob. NRA will sponsor NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway. ESPN. 2015-11-06. 2016-04-07.
  11. "Texas Motor Speedway alters race schedule with NCAA Final Four in Dallas"
  12. News: Owens. Jeff. Duck Dynasty stars to sponsor NASCAR race at Texas. Sporting News. February 6, 2014. February 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140208023919/http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-02-06/duck-dynasty-texas-motor-speedway-sponsor-race-phil-robertson-controversy-ae-suspension. February 8, 2014. dead.
  13. News: NASCAR reveals 2015 schedules for national series . . August 26, 2014 . August 26, 2014 . August 27, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140827080712/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/8/26/2015-nascar-schedule-release-sprint-cup-series-darlington-bristol.html . dead .
  14. Web site: O'Reilly Auto Parts Signs Multi-year Entitlement Deal for Annual Spring NASCAR Sprint Cup Race . Texas Motor Speedway . 2016-05-16 . 2016-05-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160619131749/http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/news/daily-news/news-releases/2016/05/16/o'reilly-auto-parts-signs-multi-year-entitlement-deal-for-annual-spring-nascar-sprint-cup-race . 2016-06-19 .
  15. News: Sturbin. John. NASCAR All-Star Race headlines revamped 2021 schedule at Texas Motor Speedway. The Dallas Morning News. September 30, 2020. January 3, 2021.
  16. Web site: 1997 Interstate Batteries 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  17. Web site: 1998 Texas 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  18. Web site: 1999 Primestar 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  19. Web site: 2000 DirecTV 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  20. Web site: 2001 Harrah's 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  21. Web site: 2002 Samsung / Radio Shack 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  22. Web site: 2003 Samsung / Radio Shack 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  23. Web site: 2004 Samsung / Radio Shack 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  24. Web site: 2005 Samsung / Radio Shack 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  25. Web site: 2006 Samsung / Radio Shack 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  26. Web site: 2007 Samsung 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  27. Web site: 2008 Samsung 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  28. Web site: 2009 Samsung 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  29. Web site: 2010 Samsung Mobile 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  30. Web site: 2011 Samsung Mobile 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  31. Web site: 2012 Samsung Mobile 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  32. Web site: 2013 NRA 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  33. Web site: Hawkins. Stephen. Rain postpones NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway. Yahoo! Sports. April 6, 2014. April 6, 2014.
  34. Web site: 2014 Duck Commander 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  35. Web site: 2015 Duck Commander 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  36. Web site: 2016 Duck Commander 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  37. Web site: 2017 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  38. Web site: 2018 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  39. Web site: 2019 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  40. Web site: 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. November 25, 2023.
  41. News: Jennings. Randy. As far as rain delays at Texas Motor Speedway go, the one before the Duck Commander 500 was a breeze. The Dallas Morning News. April 10, 2016. November 25, 2023.
  42. News: COVID-19 Impacts NASCAR Schedule Through May 3, TMS O'Reilly 500 Postponed. KXAS-TV. March 16, 2020. November 25, 2023.
  43. News: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 to return to Metroplex in July. Austin American-Statesman. June 4, 2020. November 25, 2023.

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