# Winston Western 500

The Winston Western 500 was an annual NASCAR Winston Cup race held at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, United States, in January, and then in later years, November. From 1963 to 1981, the race was held in January and was the season opening race. NASCAR elected to start its season with the Daytona 500 beginning in 1982, so a second Winston Western 500 was run in November to accommodate the change; the change resulted in Riverside hosting three Winston Cup races in 1981. The race ran in November from 1981 to 1987, serving as the Winston Cup Series' final race of the year from 1981 to 1986. The race distance was 500 miles until 1977 when it was shortened to 311 miles (500 kilometers). The other race held at Riverside, the Budweiser 400, was held in June.

## Past winners

| Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | Report | Ref |
| Year | Date | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Miles (km) | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) | Report | Ref |
| 1958 | June 1 | 98 | Eddie Gray | Vel Miletich | Ford | 190 | 499.89 (804.494) | 6:17:00 | 79.481 | Report | |
| 1959 – 1960 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1961 | May 21 | 44 | Lloyd Dane | Lloyd Dane | Chevrolet | 39 | 100.62 (161.932) | 1:13:10 | 82.512 | Report | |
| 1962 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1963 | January 20 | 28 | Dan Gurney | Holman-Moody | Ford | 185 | 499.5 (803.867) | 5:53:20 | 84.965 | Report | |
| 1964 | January 19 | 121 | Dan Gurney | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 185 | 499.5 (803.867) | 5:28:47 | 91.245 | Report | |
| 1965 | January 17 | 121 | Dan Gurney | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 185 | 499.5 (803.867) | 5:41:42 | 87.708 | Report | |
| 1966 | January 23 | 121 | Dan Gurney | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 185 | 499.5 (803.867) | 5:05:58 | 97.952 | Report | |
| 1967 | January 22 | 115 | Parnelli Jones | Bill Stroppe | Ford | 185 | 499.5 (803.867) | 5:29:03 | 91.08 | Report | |
| 1968 | January 21 | 121 | Dan Gurney | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 186 | 502.2 (808.212) | 4:57:55 | 100.598 | Report | |
| 1969 | February 1 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Ford | 186 | 502.2 (808.212) | 4:45:37 | 105.498 | Report | |
| 1970 | January 18 | 11 | A. J. Foyt | Jack Bowsher | Ford | 193 | 505.66 (813.78) | 5:11:19 | 97.45 | Report | |
| 1971 | January 10 | 96 | Ray Elder | Fred Elder | Dodge | 191 | 500.42 (805.347) | 4:57:55 | 100.783 | Report | |
| 1972 | January 23 | 43 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | Plymouth | 149* | 390.38 (628.255) | 3:45:11 | 104.016 | Report | |
| 1973 | January 21 | 16 | Mark Donohue | Penske Racing | Matador | 191 | 500.42 (805.347) | 4:48:33 | 104.055 | Report | |
| 1974 | January 26 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Richard Howard | Chevrolet | 191 | 500.42 (805.347) | 4:56:52 | 101.14 | Report | |
| 1975 | January 19 | 16 | Bobby Allison | Penske Racing | Matador | 191 | 500.42 (805.347) | 5:04:25 | 98.627 | Report | |
| 1976 | January 18 | 21 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing | Mercury | 191 | 500.42 (805.347) | 5:02:44 | 99.18 | Report | |
| 1977 | January 16 | 21 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing | Mercury | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 2:54:46 | 107.038 | Report | |
| 1978 | January 22 | 11 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson & Associates | Oldsmobile | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:02:55 | 102.269 | Report | |
| 1979 | January 14 | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 2:53:30 | 107.82 | Report | |
| 1980 | January 13/19* | 88 | Darrell Waltrip | DiGard Motorsports | Chevrolet | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:16:58 | 94.974 | Report | |
| 1981 | January 11 | 28 | Bobby Allison | Ranier-Lundy | Chevrolet | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:16:18 | 95.263 | Report | |
| 1981 | November 22 | 28 | Bobby Allison | Ranier-Lundy | Buick | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:16:19 | 95.288 | Report | |
| 1982 | November 21 | 2 | Tim Richmond | Jim Stacy | Buick | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:07:24 | 99.823 | Report | |
| 1983 | November 20 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Melling Racing | Ford | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:15:09 | 95.859 | Report | |
| 1984 | November 18 | 5 | Geoffrey Bodine | All-Star Racing | Chevrolet | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:10:01 | 98.448 | Report | |
| 1985 | November 17 | 15 | Ricky Rudd | Bud Moore Engineering | Ford | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 2:58:03 | 105.065 | Report | |
| 1986 | November 16 | 25 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:04:48 | 101.246 | Report | |
| 1987 | November 8 | 27 | Rusty Wallace | Blue Max Racing | Pontiac | 119 | 311.78 (501.761) | 3:10:49 | 98.035 | Report | |
* 1964: Two-time defending champion Joe Weatherly was killed instantly when he struck the turn 6 wall on lap 86. Weatherly was 41 years old.
* 1972: Race shortened due to fog.
* 1980: Race started on January 13; finished on January 19 because of rain.
* 1984: Race delayed several hours due to rain during the day - NASCAR was able to get the race in with darkness threatening. The race ended close to sunset (5 PM PT).

### Multiple winners (drivers)

| # Wins | Manufacturer | Years Won |
| 5 | Dan Gurney | 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968 |
| 3 | Bobby Allison | 1975, 1981 (Jan), 1981 (Nov) |
| 2 | Richard Petty | 1969, 1972 |
| 2 | David Pearson | 1976, 1977 |
| 2 | Cale Yarborough | 1974, 1978 |
| 2 | Darrell Waltrip | 1979, 1980 |
| 2 | Tim Richmond | 1982, 1986 |

### Multiple winners (manufacturers)

| # Wins | Manufacturer | Years Won |
| 11 | Ford | 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1983, 1985 |
| 7 | Chevrolet | 1961, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986 |
| 2 | Matador | 1973, 1975 |
| 2 | Mercury | 1976, 1977 |
| 2 | Buick | 1981, 1982 |