The YellaWood 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, hosting an event in the NASCAR playoffs. The race is one of four NASCAR Cup Series races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the Jack Link's 500 in May, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and the Daytona 500. Through 1996, this race was normally held in early August or late July. In 1997, it was moved to early October due to the uncomfortably hot summer temperatures, and sometimes unpredictable summertime thunderstorms in the Alabama area. In 2009, the race moved again, this time to November 1 as part of a realignment agreement with Atlanta and Fontana (where Fontana earned a race in the Chase and Atlanta gained the Labor Day weekend race).
In 1998, the name of the race was swapped with that of the Talladega spring race. The fall race became known as the Winston 500 for three years to promote the Winston No Bull 5 program.
This race has been on average the most consistently competitive in NASCAR history. The race has broken 40 official lead changes in 1971, 1973, 1975–1978, 1983–1984, 1989, 2000, every year in the period spanning 2003–2013, 2019–20, and once again from 2022 to 2024. In 13 of these, the race exceeded 60 lead changes, most recently in 2024 with 66, and in 2010 the race reached 87 lead changes, one short of the motorsports record set in April. The 2000 running of the race is especially notable for being the final career victory for Dale Earnhardt, charging from 18th to the lead in the final 6 laps of the race.
Past winners YearDateDriverTeamManufacturerRace distanceRace timeAverage speed(mph)ReportRef Laps Miles (km) 1969 September 1499 Richard Brickhouse Ray Nichels Dodge188500.08 (804.8)3:15:07153.778 Report 1970 August 2340 Pete Hamilton Petty Enterprises Plymouth188500.08 (804.8)3:09:17158.517 Report 1971 August 2212 Bobby Allison Holman-Moody Mercury188500.08 (804.8)3:25:38145.945 Report 1972 August 648 James Hylton James Hylton Mercury188500.08 (804.8)3:22:09148.728 Report 1973 August 1222 Dick Brooks Crawford Brothers Plymouth188500.08 (804.8)3:26:17145.454 Report 1974 August 1143 Richard Petty Petty Enterprises Dodge188500.08 (804.8)3:21:52148.637 Report 1975 August 1715 Buddy Baker Bud Moore Engineering Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:49:14130.892 Report 1976 August 871 Dave Marcis Nord Krauskopf Dodge188500.08 (804.8)3:10:27157.547 Report 1977 August 71 Donnie Allison* Ellington Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:04:37162.524 Report 1978 August 654 Lennie Pond Ranier-Lundy Oldsmobile188500.08 (804.8)2:51:43174.7 Report 1979 August 588 Darrell Waltrip DiGard Motorsports Oldsmobile188500.08 (804.8)3:06:06161.229 Report 1980 August 321 Neil Bonnett Wood Brothers Racing Mercury188500.08 (804.8)2:59:47166.894 Report 1981 August 247 Ron Bouchard Race Hill Farm Team Buick188500.08 (804.8)3:11:24156.737 Report 1982 August 111 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson & Associates Buick188500.08 (804.8)2:58:26168.157 Report 1983 July 3115 Dale Earnhardt Bud Moore Engineering Ford188500.08 (804.8)2:55:52170.611 Report 1984 July 293 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:12:04155.485 Report 1985 July 2828 Cale Yarborough Ranier-Lundy Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:21:41148.772 Report 1986 July 278 Bobby Hillin Jr. Stavola Brothers Racing Buick188500.08 (804.8)3:17:59151.522 Report 1987 July 269 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford188500.08 (804.8)2:55:10171.293 Report 1988 July 3125 Ken Schrader Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:14:12154.505 Report 1989 July 3011 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson & Associates Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:10:41157.354 Report 1990 July 293 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)2:52:01174.43 Report 1991 July 283 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:23:35147.383 Report 1992 July 264 Ernie Irvan Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:05:11176.309 Report 1993 July 253 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:15:01153.858 Report 1994 July 2427 Jimmy Spencer Junior Johnson & Associates Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:03:50163.217 Report 1995 July 234 Sterling Marlin Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)2:53:15173.188 Report 1996 July 2824 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet129*343.14 (552.23)2:34:21133.387 Report 1997 October 125 Terry Labonte Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:11:36156.601 Report 1998 October 1188 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:08:20159.318 Report 1999 October 173 Dale Earnhardt Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:00:04166.632 Report 2000 October 153 Dale Earnhardt* Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:01:06165.681 Report 2001 October 218 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:02:45164.185 Report 2002 October 68 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)2:43:22183.665 Report 2003 September 2815 Michael Waltrip Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:12:17156.045 Report 2004 October 38 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:11:12156.929 Report 2005 October 288 Dale Jarrett Robert Yates Racing Ford190*505.4 (813.362)3:30:51143.818 Report 2006 October 825 Brian Vickers Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:10:23157.602 Report 2007 October 724 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:29:11143.438 Report 2008 October 520 Tony Stewart Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota190*505.4 (813.362)3:36:10140.281 Report 2009 November 126 Jamie McMurray Roush Fenway Racing Ford191*508.06 (817.643)3:13:54157.213 Report 2010 October 3133 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:03:23163.618 Report 2011 October 2333 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet189*502.74 (809.081)3:29:14143.404 Report 2012 October 717 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford189*502.74 (809.081)2:56:12171.194 Report 2013 October 201 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)2:47:49178.795 Report 2014 October 192 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford194*516.04 (830.485)3:13:09160.302 Report 2015 October 2522 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford196*521.36 (839.047)3:06:56167.311 Report 2016 October 2322 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford192*510.72 (821.924)3:11:38159.905 Report 2017 October 152 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:47:52131.677 Report 2018 October 1410 Aric Almirola Stewart–Haas Racing Ford193*513.38 (826.04)3:20:24153.707 Report 2019 October 13/14*12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:39:35136.644 Report 2020 October 411 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota200*532 (856)4:05:58129.774 Report 2021 October 4* 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota117*311.22 (500.859)2:23:24130.218 Report 2022 October 2 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet188500.08 (804.8)3:15:23153.569 Report 2023 October 1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford188500.08 (804.8)3:07:25160.097 Report 2024 October 647 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet195*518.7 (834.766)3:26:24150.773 Report 2025 October 1919 Chase Briscoe Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota193*513.38 (826.04)3:26:29149.178 Report 2026 October 25 Report
1977: Darrell Waltrip finished the race in relief of Allison. Per NASCAR rules Allison is credited with the victory and points. 1996: Race started late due to rain, and shortened due to darkness after a lengthy red flag due to the Big One. 2005, 2008–2009, 2011–2012, 2014–2016, 2018, 2020, 2024–2025: Race extended due to NASCAR overtime. 2019: Race started on Sunday, suspended after 57 laps due to rain and completed on Monday. 2021: Race postponed to Monday and shortened due to rain.
Multiple winners (drivers) # of wins Driver Years won 7 Dale Earnhardt 1983–1984, 1990–1991, 1993, 1999–2000 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2001–2002, 2004 2 Darrell Waltrip 1979, 1982 Terry Labonte 1989, 1997 Jeff Gordon 1996, 2007 Dale Jarrett 1998, 2005 Jamie McMurray 2009, 2013 Clint Bowyer 2010–2011 Brad Keselowski 2014, 2017 Joey Logano 2015–2016 Ryan Blaney 2019, 2023
Multiple winners (teams) # of wins Team Years won 8 Richard Childress Racing 1984, 1990–1991, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2010–2011 6 Hendrick Motorsports 1988, 1996–1997, 2006–2007, 2022 Team Penske 2014–2017, 2019, 2023 4 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 2001–2004 3 Junior Johnson & Associates 1982, 1989, 1994 Joe Gibbs Racing 2008, 2020, 2025 2 Petty Enterprises 1970, 1974 Bud Moore Engineering 1975, 1983 Ranier-Lundy 1978, 1985 Morgan-McClure Motorsports 1992, 1995 Robert Yates Racing 1998, 2005 Roush Fenway Racing 2009, 2012
Manufacturer wins # of wins Manufacturer Years won 23 Chevrolet 1977, 1984, 1988, 1990–1993, 1995–1997, 1999–2004, 2006–2007, 2010–2011, 2013, 2022, 2024 18 Ford 1975, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014–2019, 2023 4 Toyota 2008, 2020–2021, 2025 3 Dodge 1969, 1974, 1976 Mercury 1971–1972, 1980 Buick 1981–1982, 19862 Plymouth1970, 1973 Oldsmobile1978–1979
Notable races The race is famous for the high number of dark horses and first-time winners in its history — in the race's first 40 years seven drivers posted their first career win; notable dark horses to win include James Hylton, Dave Marcis, Jimmy Spencer, Jamie McMurray and Bubba Wallace. 1969: The race was marred by a driver's strike by the Professional Drivers Association over track safety issues, even though officials proved the track was safe for racing. 1971: In the 1971 race, Bobby Allison collided with Richard Petty and Pete Hamilton on the last lap, sending Hamilton into the inside wall. 1972: James Hylton raced from mid-pack to the win; he was using a year-old tire compound from Goodyear while fast qualifiers got a new compound, including Joe Frasson; Frasson was involved in an early crash and angrily ripped the new compound ("These new tires Goodyear brought here weren't worth a damn"). 32 of 50 starters failed to finish as Hylton led 106 laps and edged Ramo Stott at the stripe. "I was going with the old tire anyway," Hylton said afterward. "I figured it would be better." 1973: In 1973 Dick Brooks survived heat and humidity to himself as well as an overheating engine and shot down heavy favorites Buddy Baker and David Pearson to his only career win. Driving a Plymouth Roadrunner, Brooks started 24th and whipped his way into contention right away; he'd expected to drive a Tom Pistone Ford in the race but the car never showed up, so Jimmy and Peter Crawford hired him to drive their Plymouth. The lead changed 64 times, a motorsports record that stood until 1978. Tragedy marred the race when sophomore driver Larry Smith crashed and was killed in his car early in the race. 1974: Before the race, crewmen found slashed tires, tampered alignments, and dirt clogging fuel lines in the garage area. NASCAR threw several competition yellows to allow teams to further check their cars for undetected sabotage; two early crashes happened when cars slipped in oil from other sabotaged cars. Richard Petty won on the last lap by sideswiping David Pearson in the tri-oval and winning by a nose. 1975: The race was blackened when former Daytona 500 winner Tiny Lund was crushed to death in a vicious melee on the backstretch by the spinning car of Terry Link. Dick Brooks survived a wild tumble down the backstretch later in that race. Buddy Baker edged Richard Petty after 60 lead changes among 17 drivers. 1976: The lead changed 57 times as Richard Petty fell out in the final 20 laps and Buddy Baker had to pit late for fuel, allowing Dave Marcis to whip to the win, his only Talladega win. It was also the first Talladega win for crew chief Harry Hyde whose Dodges had won nine poles at the track. 1977: Darrell Waltrip relieved Donnie Allison for the final 40 laps and grabbed the win over Cale Yarborough; it is the most recent time a relief driver won a Winston Cup race.