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Home | NASCAR race | Southern 500 (1950-2004)
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Prior to 2004, this annual event was held on Labor Day weekend, and in most years before 1984, was held on Monday, Labor Day itself. For the 2004 season, a shuffling of the schedule saw the race move to November. Track management considered the November date would allow for cooler, more comfortable weather for fans, whom had increasingly voiced concerns about the weather. Rockingham lost its fall date to Fontana, and the Pop Secret 500 was moved to the lucrative Labor Day weekend date. Incidentally, and originally unbeknownst to fans and competitors, the 2004 Southern 500 would be its last running, despite the seemingly popular move to November. In 2004, Francis Ferko, a shareholder of the company that owned Texas Motor Speedway, sued NASCAR, saying they had violated anti-trust laws by refusing to have a second race at Texas Motor Speedway, as many other tracks had. The judge ruled in his favor, and NASCAR was forced to give up the Southern 500 date so that a second race could be held at Texas Motor speedway, which became the Dickies 500. Many fans were furious. They believed that NASCAR had put money before the fans. Even after the Southern 500 returned in 2009, fans still believe that the Labor Day race should be in Darlington. In 2005, the Mountain Dew Southern 500 was removed from the NASCAR schedule and Darlington's Spring race, the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, was lengthened into the Dodge Charger 500 and changed its date on the calendar to a Saturday night race in May. The absence of the Labor Day Southern 500 race continues to be a sticking point between NASCAR and much of its fanbase, especially the more traditional wing. However, since May of 2009, the "Southern 500" name has been revived for the remaining race at Darlington Raceway. See also: List of current NASCAR races; List of Southern 500 (1950-2004) broadcasters |
