Dead On Tools 250
The Dead On Tools 250 is a NASCAR Xfinity Series stock car race held at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. Originally a Late Model race when it began in 1970, 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 with the ValleyStar Credit Union 300. The Advance Auto 500 served as the final race of the season for the series for ten years, from 1982 through 1991. The series returned to Martinsville for one year for one race in 2006, where it was known as the Goody's 250, before being removed from the schedule again in 2007. The track was given a date on the Xfinity Series schedule again starting in 2020.
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Martinsville Speedway |
| Corporate sponsor | Dead On Tools |
| First race | 1970 (Late Model) |
| First Xfinity Series race | 1982 |
| Distance | 157.8 mi (254.0 km) |
| Laps | 250 Stages 1/2: 60 each Final stage: 130 |
| 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) Goody's 250 (2006) Draft Top 250 (2020) |
| Most wins (driver) | Harry Gant (2) |
| Most wins (team) | Whitaker Racing (2) Thomas Brothers Racing (2) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Pontiac (5) |
History
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, when it changed in 1994 to 300 laps. When the 1st revival occurred the race was changed to 250 laps & now for the 2nd revival it will go remain to 250 laps.
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.
In 2006, the race returned at Martinsville and was only held once, as a standalone event during the summer. It had been speculated the race would be held at night, under a temporary lighting system to be installed at the track, but it was held in the afternoon instead. The Goody's 250 replaced the ITT Industries & Goulds Pumps Salute to the Troops 250 at Pikes Peak International Raceway on the Busch Series schedule. The race was replaced in 2007 by the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The race was the final start in NASCAR for Darrell Waltrip and Ricky Craven.
The Xfinity Series returned to Martinsville in 2020 for a night race at the track in the fall as part of a triple-header with the NASCAR Truck Series and NASCAR Cup Series. It was the second-to-last race of the season.[1] Draft Top was the title sponsor of the 250 lap race.[2] Dead On Tools will be the title sponsor of the race in 2021.[3]
Past winners (NASCAR Xfinity Series only)
| Year | Date | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
Race Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | ||||||||
| 1982 | October 31 | Butch Lindley | Emanuel Zervakis | Pontiac | 250 | 131.25 (211.226) | 2:08:12 | 61.420 | Report |
| 1983 | October 30 | Sam Ard | Thomas Brothers Racing | Oldsmobile | 250 | 131.25 (211.226) | 2:10:03 | 60.669 | Report |
| 1984 | October 28 | Morgan Shepherd | Lindy White | Pontiac | 250 | 131.5 (211.628) | 2:10:23 | 60.513 | Report |
| 1985 | October 27 | Tommy Ellis | Eric Freedlander | Pontiac | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:26:01 | 73.831 | Report |
| 1986 | November 2 | Brett Bodine | Thomas Brothers Racing | Oldsmobile | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:28:29 | 71.335 | Report |
| 1987 | November 1 | Jimmy Hensley | Sam Ard | Buick | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:27:10 | 72.413 | Report |
| 1988 | October 30 | Harry Gant | Whitaker Racing | Buick | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:33:08 | 65.083 | Report |
| 1989 | October 29 | L.D. Ottinger | Parker Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:31:56 | 68.658 | Report |
| 1990 | October 28 | Steve Grissom | Grissom Racing Enterprises | Oldsmobile | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:25:16 | 74.026 | Report |
| 1991 | October 27 | Harry Gant | Whitaker Racing | Buick | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:20:16 | 78.637 | Report |
| 1992 | October 18 | Bobby Labonte | Labonte Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 105.2 (169.302) | 1:32:57 | 67.907 | Report |
| 1993 | October 17 | Chuck Bown | Hensley Motorsports | Pontiac | 300 | 157.8 (253.954) | 2:12:59 | 71.197 | Report |
| 1994 | October 16 | Kenny Wallace | FILMAR Racing | Ford | 300 | 157.8 (253.954) | 2:15:39 | 69.797 | Report |
| 1995 – 2005 |
Not held | ||||||||
| 2006 | July 22 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 250 | 131.5 (211.628) | 2:09:03 | 61.139 | Report |
| 2007 – 2019 |
Not held | ||||||||
| 2020 | October 31 | Harrison Burton | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 250 | 131.5 (211.628) | 2:07:56 | 61.673 | Report |
| 2021 | October 30 | Noah Gragson | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 257* | 135.182 | 2:10:48 | 62.01 | Report |
- 2021: Race extended due to NASCAR overtime.
Multiple winners (drivers)
| # Wins | Driver | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Harry Gant | 1988, 1991 |
Multiple winners (teams)
| # Wins | Team | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Thomas Brothers Racing | 1983, 1986 |
| Whitaker Racing | 1988, 1991 |
References
- "Martinsville Speedway lands tripleheader playoff weekend". AP. April 3, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "Martinsville Speedway & Draft Top Partner on Entitlement for Draft Top 250". Martinsville Speedway (Press release). October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- "Dead On Tools Teams Up with Martinsville Speedway to Sponsor Penultimate Xfinity Race". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 2, 2021.

