May 3, 2019 – Johnny Sauter scored his third consecutive win at Dover International Speedway when he took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series JEGS 200. It was Sauter’s 24th career Truck Series win and first of the 2019 season. Sauter had to fend off Brett Moffitt on the race’s final restart with five laps to go and stayed in front the rest of the way. Sauter led twice for 43 laps, including the final 31. He fell back to ninth on Lap 114 when he turned off the engine to try and save fuel and couldn’t get it restarted fast enough.
May 3, 2015 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored his sixth win at Talladega Superspeedway in the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500. Earnhardt outran his teammate Jimmie Johnson to score his first win of the season and first at Talladega since 2004. The win also tied him with Jeff Gordon for second on the all-time win list at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. It marked the 24th (of 26) career win for Earnhardt Jr., who led a race-high 67 laps
May 3, 2014 – Elliott Sadler returned to Victory Lane for the first time since 2012 when he won the NASCAR Xfinity (Nationwide) Series Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway. Sadler got out front for the eighth time in the race as contact triggered a multi-car crash and a put the race under the red flag. When the race went back to green with three laps to go, Sadler, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, was able to hold off Chris Buescher to take the checkered flag.
May 3, 2008 – Clint Bowyer benefitted from Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s late race tangle to take his second NASCAR Cup Series victory in the Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400. The night appeared to belong to Denny Hamlin, who dominated the race and led a record 381 laps. Unfortunately a flat tire with 20 laps to go cost him the lead, a chance to win and ultimately ended Hamlin’s night with a 25th-place finish. Hamlin’s exit set-up a battle for the lead between Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who was looking to end his 71-race winless streak at the track where he scored his last Cup win two years prior. The duo was racing side-by-side with three laps to go and made contact entering the third turn, with Busch’s car sliding up into Earnhardt Jr.’s. The impact sent the No. 88 Chevrolet spinning backwards into the wall and not surprisingly, set off a near riot in the grandstands as Earnhardt Jr. fans voiced their displeasure over the turn of events. That led to a green-white-checkered overtime finish with Bowyer, who snuck by the front running duo as they crashed, the new leader. When the green flag flew, Bowyer was able to jump ahead to a two-car advantage and as Busch battled Mark Martin for the runner-up spot, was able to drive his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to his first win of the season.
May 3, 2003 – Joe Nemechek captured his third career NASCAR Cup Series win in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond Raceway. In race that saw 20 lead changes, Nemechek led the final 64 laps in the No. 25 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and was in the right place at the right time. On Lap 391 a caution came out after Jack Sprague got loose and Kevin Harvick had nowhere to go and they made contact. The caution soon turned into a red flag after it began to rain. The race was called with seven laps to go to seal the win for Nemechek.
May 3, 2002 – Jason Keller scored his third of four wins of the season in the NASCAR Xfinity (Busch) Series Hardee’s 250 at Richmond Raceway. Keller got by Bobby Hamilton Jr. with 11 laps to go and took the checkered flag over Ashton Lewis by 1.9 seconds. Hamilton was seeking his first career win after leading 159 laps ended up finishing 25th after late engine issues.
May 3, 1998 – Mark Martin scored his third (of 7) win of the season in the California 500 presented by NAPA at Auto Club (California) Speedway. Martin led 165 of the 250 laps and took the checkered flag by 1.3 seconds over Jeremy Mayfield, who took the points lead after the race.
May 3, 1997 – In the next to last Gander & RV Outdoors (Craftsman) Truck Series race at Portland Speedway it became a battle between two drivers. It turned into the Ron Hornaday Jr. and Rich Bickle show as they were the only drivers to lead laps the entire race. Bickle prevailed to get his first career win after leading 138 laps in the Craftsman 200.
May 3, 1992 – After missing the pole to Ernie Irvan, Davey Allison had a great day at Talladega Superspeedway. Despite leading 110 laps it came down to the final laps as Allison held off Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin and Ernie Irvan to win the Winston 500. This win earned him a $100,000 bonus as part of the Winston Million program.
May 3, 1987 – It was a wild weekend at the Talladega Superspeedway after 39 drivers qualified over 200 mph. Unfortunately on Lap 22 a violent crash sent Bobby Allison’s Buick airborne and made contact with the catchfence. As the race went on, and cut 10 laps short due to darkness, his son Davey Allison led 101 laps to capture the Winston 500, which marked his first career NASCAR Cup Series win. Bill Elliott won the pole with a record qualifying speed of 212.809 mph
May 3, 1986 – Tommy Houston was the class of the field in the Hampton 200 at Langley Field Speedway. Houston led 188 of the 200 laps and took the checkered flag by 5.6 seconds over Jack Ingram. It was the first of four wins that season for Houston.
Other winners on this date: 1981 – Bobby Allison (Talladega); 1968 – Bobby Isaac (Augusta); 1959 – Lee Petty (Martinsville); 1958 – Jack Smith (Greenville-Pickens); 1953 – Buck Baker (Langhorne)
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