description Winston Western 500 Overview
The Winston Western 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock-car race held at Riverside International Raceway in California. Unlike races run on oval tracks, it used Riverside's winding road-course layout and required drivers to manage corners, braking, and elevation changes over a long distance. The event appeared regularly on the series calendar during the 1970s and 1980s, with the final Winston Western 500 held in 1987, and is of interest to researchers and fans of NASCAR road-racing history.
help Winston Western 500 FAQ
Where was the Winston Western 500 held?
It was held at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. The race was part of NASCAR's Winston Cup era and used Riverside's road course rather than a traditional oval.
Why was the Winston Western 500 different from most NASCAR races?
Riverside required stock-car drivers to brake for corners, handle elevation changes, and manage a winding road-course layout. That made the event a test of road-racing technique as well as NASCAR drafting and pit strategy.
Which famous driver won the 1983 Winston Western 500?
Bill Elliott won the 1983 Winston Western 500 at Riverside, earning his first NASCAR Cup Series victory. NASCAR later highlighted that race as the beginning of Elliott's eventual 44-win Cup career. [NASCAR race archive](https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/02/27/watch-full-race-replay-bill-elliotts-first-nascar-cup-series-win-1983-riverside/)
When was the Winston Western 500 usually run during its later years?
From 1981 through 1987, the race was generally held in November as one of the final events of the NASCAR season. The 1987 running at Riverside is remembered as one of the last races under the Winston Western 500 name. [NASCAR Riverside archive](https://www.nascar.com/gallery/best-drivers-at-riverside-international-raceway/)
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