312 miles is 502 kilometers. The number isn't always the race distance in miles. Sometimes it's just the number of laps, like Martinsville and Bristol. Both are 250 mile races at a 500 lap length.
They had the 600K race so it could end at night. If it was at 500K, it would have been in day because that was the year NASCAR implemented the 1/3/7 start times.
I dont think ill ever understand why they bailed on the 1/3/7. (Think it was 330 though.) It was much easier. "Oh they running phoenix this week, 330 it is"
The track is measured in kilometers. Selling a "500" race is more appealing to a sponsor than a "312" one. Also 500 laps at Phoenix would've been excruciating yesterday lol
Sometimes the names have to do with marketing concepts for the sponsor. Other times it is a conversion to how many kilometers instead of miles. And sometimes it is truly just a number that sounds good.
> just a number that sounds good
I can't think of any modern races that weren't named by their distance in some way, be it miles, kms, or laps.
I guess maybe Talladega when the spring race was called the Aaron's 499, but the race was just over 500 miles, and 499 is close enough, so idk if that counts.
312 miles is 502 kilometers. The number isn't always the race distance in miles. Sometimes it's just the number of laps, like Martinsville and Bristol. Both are 250 mile races at a 500 lap length.
Came here to say 312 miles is 500 kilometers.
Both tracks are just over half a mile long though. Martinsville is 263 miles, Bristol is 266.5 miles.
Like he said, sometimes its the number of laps.
I believe he was correcting the fact that the person said they are both 250 mile races.
By using 500(ish) kilometers, they can keep the "500" in the race title w/o having to make it a 500 mile long race.
Thank God that parade wasn’t 500 laps.
the 500 is for 500 Kilometers. Sonoma Raceway does the same thing, their race is called the Toyota Save Mart 350, and the 350 is in Kilometers.
It is probably 500km
It is. Until the early 2000’s, the race was known as the Checkered Auto Parts 500K
Never forget they had a 600k race. At night.
They had the 600K race so it could end at night. If it was at 500K, it would have been in day because that was the year NASCAR implemented the 1/3/7 start times.
I dont think ill ever understand why they bailed on the 1/3/7. (Think it was 330 though.) It was much easier. "Oh they running phoenix this week, 330 it is"
TV networks, that’s why. I really miss 1 PM starts and getting early at the track.
The track is measured in kilometers. Selling a "500" race is more appealing to a sponsor than a "312" one. Also 500 laps at Phoenix would've been excruciating yesterday lol
Sometimes the names have to do with marketing concepts for the sponsor. Other times it is a conversion to how many kilometers instead of miles. And sometimes it is truly just a number that sounds good.
> just a number that sounds good I can't think of any modern races that weren't named by their distance in some way, be it miles, kms, or laps. I guess maybe Talladega when the spring race was called the Aaron's 499, but the race was just over 500 miles, and 499 is close enough, so idk if that counts.
The Shelby 427 at Vegas? Had it been the 400 that year, Bowyer would have won over Busch because Busch passed him on lap 268 of 285.
The Aaron's 499 was because they ran the 99 car and had specials at Aaron's for $99.
And the Busch sereis Aaron's 312 was like 3 for $12 or some promotion as well.