Winston Classic
| Venue | Martinsville Speedway |
|---|---|
| Corporate sponsor | Advance Auto Parts |
| First race | 1970 (Late Model) 1982 (touring format) |
| Last race | 1994 (touring format) |
| Distance | 157.8 miles (254.0 km) |
| Laps | 300 |
| Previous names |
Cardinal 500 Classic (1970-1984) Winn-Dixie 500 (1985-1986) Winston Classic (1987-1992) Advance Auto Parts 500 (1993) Advance Auto 500 (1994) |
The Advance Auto 500 was a NASCAR Busch Series held at Martinsville Speedway, in Martinsville, Virginia. Originally a Late Model race when it began in 1970 as part of the Late Model and Modified Doubleader, it joined the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman touring series in 1982 (the original year), and remained a part of the series through 1994. Following the 1994 season, both of Martinsville's races, the Miller 500 and the Advance Auto 500, were switched to Late Model Only formats (see ValleyStar Credit Union 300 for details on the Late Model portion of this race). The Advance Auto 500 served as the final race of the season for the series for ten years, from 1982 through 1991.
The race changed distances several times in its history. From its inception until 1984, the twin feature races was 250 laps for each division, covering 131.2 miles (211.1 km). When both the Modified and Late Model Sportsman cars had both become touring format races, the local Late Model feature reduced the Modified and Busch features in 1985 to 200 laps, 105.2 miles (169.3 km). After Modifieds were dropped in 1993 in light of early 1990s safety issues, the distance was increased to 300 laps, 157.8 miles (254.0 km), while the Late Model race increased to 200 laps, where it remains.
As was the tradition at Martinsville, the two non-Cup race weekends featured two or three races that totaled 500 laps, a tradition still in place today by the now-Late Model only race, with qualifying races totaling 100 laps and a 200-lap feature.
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