2023 Southern 500 winner Kyle Larson celebrating his victory.
The Southern 500 is the oldest superspeedway race in the NASCAR Cup Series. It is a matter of pride and historic importance to NASCAR fans and drivers. The race was themed as “Throwback Race” till the 2020 Cup Series. The teams used to run various “Throwback” liveries on their cars to resonate with the history of the event. Southern 500 is a part of the “Crown Jewels”. It is an inherently difficult race, held on a track which cannot be tamed easily. The Southern 500’s trophy is a special one. It features pictures of every driver who has won the race to date.
The Southern 500 is held on the Darling Raceway in Darling, South California. The event has 500 miles of racing over 367 laps, distributed in three stages. The surface of the track is paved asphalt. The unique egg-shape layout of the track gives it a risky, unforgiving nature. Southern 500 has gone through many name changes over the years. It was famously used to endorse Dodge’s new product line from 2005-2008.
The track of Darlington has seen some of the most memorable wins in the history of NASCAR. Bill Elliot’s victory in the 1985 Winston Million and Jeff Gordon’s victory in the 1997 season are some of the main highlights of the track. The track is also famously the last career victory of NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip. There is no doubt that every NASCAR driver perseveres to have his face etched on the winner’s trophy at least once in their career.
Following is a list of the Cook Out Southern 500 winners by the year:
| S.No | Year | Driver Name | Team |
| 1. | 2023 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2. | 2022 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports |
| 3. | 2021 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 4. | 2020 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 5. | 2019 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 6. | 2018 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske |
| 7. | 2017 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 8. | 2016 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing |
| 9. | 2015 | Carl Edwards | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 10. | 2014 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 11. | 2013 | Matt Kenseth | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 12. | 2012 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 13. | 2011 | Regan Smith | Furniture Row Racing |
| 14. | 2010 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 15. | 2009 | Mark Martin | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 16. | 2008 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 17. | 2007 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 18. | 2006 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing |
| 19. | 2005 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing |
| 20. | 2004 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 21. | 2003 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 22. | 2002 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 23. | 2001 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing |
| 24. | 2000 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 25. | 1999 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing |
| 26. | 1998 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 27. | 1997 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 28. | 1996 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 27. | 1995 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 28. | 1994 | Bill Elliot | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 29. | 1993 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing |
| 30. | 1992 | Darrell Waltrip | DarWal Inc. |
| 31. | 1991 | Harry Gant | Leo Jackson Racing |
| 32. | 1990 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing |
| 33. | 1989 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing |
| 34. | 1988 | Bill Elliot | Melling Racing |
| 35. | 1987 | Dale Earnhardt | Richard Childress Racing |
| 36. | 1986 | Tim Richmond | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 37. | 1985 | Bill Elliot | Melling Racing |
| 38. | 1984 | Harry Gant | Mach 1 Racing |
| 39. | 1983 | Bobby Allison | DiGard Motorsports |
| 40. | 1982 | Cale Yarborough | M. C. Anderson Racing |
| 41. | 1981 | Neil Bonnett | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 42. | 1980 | Terry Labonte | Billy Hagan |
| 43. | 1979 | David Pearson | Rod Osterlund Racing |
| 44. | 1978 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 45. | 1977 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 46. | 1976 | David Pearson | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 47. | 1975 | Bobby Allison | Penske Racing |
| 48. | 1974 | Cale Yarborough | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 49. | 1973 | Cale Yarborough | Richard Howard |
| 50. | 1972 | Bobby Allison | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 51. | 1971 | Bobby Allison | Holman-Moody |
| 52. | 1970 | Buddy Baker | Cotton Owens |
| 53. | 1969 | LeeRoy Yarborough | Junior Johnson and Associates |
| 54. | 1968 | Cale Yarborough | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 55. | 1967 | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises |
| 56. | 1966 | Darel Dieringer | Bud Moore Engineering |
| 57. | 1965 | Ned Jarrett | Bondy Long |
| 58. | 1964 | Buck Baker | Ray Fox |
| 59. | 1963 | Fireball Roberts | Holman-Moody |
| 60. | 1962 | Larry Frank | Ratus Walters |
| 61. | 1961 | Nelson Stacy | Dudley Farrell |
| 62. | 1960 | Buck Baker | Jack Smith |
| 63. | 1959 | Jim Reed | Jim Reed |
| 64. | 1958 | Fireball Roberts | Frank Strickland |
| 65. | 1957 | Speedy Thomspson | Speedy Thomspson |
| 66. | 1956 | Curtis Turner | Charlie Schwam |
| 67. | 1955 | Herb Thomas | Herb Thomas |
| 68. | 1954 | Herb Thomas | Herb Thomas |
| 69. | 1953 | Buck Baker | Bob Griffin |
| 70. | 1952 | Fonty Flock | Frank Christian |
| 71. | 1951 | Herb Thomas | Herb Thomas |
| 72. | 1950 | Johnny Mantz | Hubert Westmoreland |
Read more About Southern 500 Winner
FAQ's On List of Cook Out Southern 500 Winner by the Year
A. The Southern 500 lasts for 367 laps for a total of 501.32 miles.
A. Jeff Gordon has claimed 3 victories at the oldest speedway of NASCAR Cup Series.
A. Southern 500 is held at the Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South California.
A. Kyle Larson is the winner of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500.
A. Denny Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing has the most victories among the active drivers at the Darlington Raceway.
