COMPLETE RESULTS, RECAP, and SCREENSHOTS

1999

The begining of 1999 marked a significant event in simracing history; the N.R.O.S. (NASCAR© Racing Online Series) was completed. Champions were crowned and history was made. However, the ending of the amaizing series left many people upset. Upset at each other, upset and NASCAR©, upset at TEN (Total Entertainment Network). Upset about what? Well many things. Most felt it should have been their championship. Boots, crashes, and other unfortunate internet racing deals left people sidelined before the finals in late '98 early '99 came around. In short, the attitude of the online racers in general were terrible.

Just after the end of the N.R.O.S. a new major event was born. It was called the Online 500. It would be the first major single race event ever done online. At least that was the dream. The first year, rules, procedures, and prizes were kept minimum. In fact, no prizes at all were given out. The event had no sponsors, but it had several great drivers and some good racing. The First Annual Online 500 used similar rules and procedures as its sanctioning series, the TRS (Talladega Racing Series). At the time, the TRS was the best, in fact, the only Talladega league going. With TRS drivers and outside top gun drivers mixing together in one event, it looked to be a great adventure.

The Online 500 was designed to provide a battle ground for all drivers, slow, fast, experienced, and inexperienced to prove themselves and to become the best of the best for a year. It also served as a way for many of the unhappy to redeem themselves after the N.R.O.S. What better way to hold a major event online than to mimic its real life race, the Daytona 500. So the stage was set, the plans were made, now all it look was determination.

Using NASCAR© Racing 2 and T.E.N., the 1999 Online 500 had its problems, but overall things went well. Ninty-four drivers signed up for the event and sixty-four attempted to qualify for the event. Several qualifiers were run as well as a B main and A main. Unfortunate for the B main guys, its all you got. Winner of the B main did not advance to the A main, but was king of the consolation race. David Douglas (TRUCKIN_UP) took the win in the Inaugural Online 500's B main. In the A main, the racing was intense. Eight cautions plauged the race. However, the end of the race still came down to greenflag pit stops. With a two-tire stop and a fast car, Chris Shearburn (Laser36) managed to hold off Philip Malphrus(Malphrus) and George Ojeda (G_Ojeda) for the win. A great finish to the first ever Online 500, but the racing can only get better as the years go on.

2000

The 2000 Online 500 was a learning year. Jumping to the new sim on the block, NASCAR® Racing 3, many hard lessons were learned but overall things went fairly well. The popularity of the Online 500 had risen dramatically. Over two hundred drivers signed up for the event and almost one-hundred fifty drivers attempted to qualify. The competition was tough, and the racing was close. The 2000 event showed drivers that to make the field you not only have to be fast, but you have to be smart.

The race came down to a run to the caution. Fifteen cautions slowed the race and the last few laps hosted one of them. Jim Smith (NOFEAR) was able to sneak around a wreck involving the top two drivers while coming to the yellow and eventually the checkers to pick up the win. The finish was exciting and the racing was intense. The improved popularity was definitely a sign of things to come.

2001

After the 2000 event, it was obvious the bar needed to be risen to keep the Online 500 as the most prestigious event. Again, the Online 500 used NASCAR® Racing 3. Still being the only single race event that allowed anyone and everyone to join; the Online 500 seeked sponsorship. In 2001, the Online 500 became the TSW 500. Thomas Enterprises, Inc became the official sponsor of the 500 giving away a free TSW2 Stock wheel to the winner. Several other sponsors combined were gotten which allowed the event to grow in future races.

The racing was much tougher in the 2001 race. Seven-hundred and seventy drivers signed up for the 2001 event. Five-hundred and sixty five drivers attempted a qualifying run. The competition was tougher than ever before in any online race. The racing was fierce. Even though the big one came up on one occasion, only five cautions slowed the pace. Dan Rimar (Digital_6) captured the win and the TSW wheel. Rimar became the first ever in history to receive anything from the Online 500.

2002

With the completion of the 2001 event, everyone looked forward to the 2002 edition. The popularity had risen once again. In fact, so much interest was taken to this race at one time, registration was closed early. Because of this, entries were similar to the 2001 event where they could have been almost doubled. The new sim, NASCAR® Racing 4, was utilized this time around. Venturing into the unknown, over five-hundred drivers attempted make the field. Thomas Enterprises, Inc. again sponsored the event giving a TSW2 Stock wheel to the winner.

Yet again, the racing got tougher and more intense. The competition was so close, slightly over a tenth of a second separated the top two-hundred drivers in open qualifying. That meant making the field took much preparation. When the field was set, the racing began with some of the best side by side racing to be had, at least when there weren't cautions. Fifteen cautions again slowed the race. In the end, John Mills (2-loose-BC) made an outside move around Roger Wagner (BigDawg97) on the final lap in the final turn. The last month and a half was settled in less than a straightaway by a mere 0.11second margin.

2003

2003 marked a special year for the Online 500. It would make it the 5th runing of the prestigious event. It was thought impossible to be able to match the competition level and dramatic racing the 2002 event provided, especially the way it ended. In 2003, the goal was to try to do just that. Thomas Enterprises, Inc. yet again signed on as the primary sponsor for the 2003 Online 500, again making it the 2003 TSW 500. As in years past with the new year begining, there was a new sim to be used. This time around NASCAR® Racing 2002 was used as the battle grounds for the 2003 TSW 500 event... and what a battle ground it was. The new physics provided constant side by side racing on the superspeedways, and Daytona was no different.

Every race within the event saw non-stop two by two racing throughout the field. Because of the non stop two wide, qualifying was a premium, but not a must. The 2003 event had its share of problems, as in every event ever run online. Viruses plagued the internet messing up connections for most online servers during the time of the Last Chance races. Unfortunately, these races were cancelled leaving it up to the open qualifying results to decide the transfers. A shame it was, since the qualifier races saw awesome side by side action with less than three or four cautions each. Both Racersdomain.com 175s were no different, and the start of the 2003 TSW 500 main event saw much of the same in clean, exciting, and competitive racing.

In the end, it came down to patience and situational awareness. After the dust settled, Chris Bland (HAMMERDOWN_RRT) emerged victorious in an otherwise somewhat calm and quiet run. When the checkers flew, congratulations were exchanged back and forth amongst the winners. Another year in the Online 500 was completed. Some felt a sense of accomplishment; others a sense of disappointment. Another year was etched into the history books.

2004

The 2004 running of the Online 500 was one to remember for many reasons. 2004 makes it the 6th running of the event. Many firsts for the event, and a lot of great competition made the 2004 Online 500 memorable for each participant. TSW again signed on as the primary sponsor naming it the TSW 500 for the fourth year in a row. For the first time in history, The TSW 500 was held on onlineracin.com (OLR). OLR is a pay-to-play service that allows anyone to log in and set up/join races whenever they feel like it. Along with rankings, special events, and live broadcasted races; OLR was set as the place to be for the 2004 TSW 500.

In addition, as if we already haven't set a record for firsts for the 500; the Online 500, for the first time ever, did not use racecars as the weapon for battle. Instead, the newly created Truck (CTS) mod by Project Wildfire was utilized giving the drivers never before experienced superspeedway action for the 500. The Trucks provide some of the best high speed bumper to bumper side-by-side superspeedway action you can ever witness. What better venue for this combination than the TSW 500?

The racing was tough, the action was intense. In the end, teamwork and patience came out on top. Another first was set when Chris Shearburn, with the help of first time participant Kevin King, took the win in the 500 miler after coming back from a lap down making him the first ever repeat winner of the event. Kevin Wasson came home 2nd, Dain Ness (DMP) finished 3rd, Kevin King, also coming back from a lap down, raced back to 4th, and John Walters rounded out the top 5. Shearburn declined his prize which gave the two wheels (a TSW2 Cup and a TSW2 Stock, courtesy of TSW) to Kevin Wasson and Dain Ness.

With the 6th Annual Online 500 now in the books; everyone looks forward to the 2005 running of the event. 2004 has set itself as the year of firsts for the 500. One can only wonder whats in store for the Online 500's future.

2005

The 2005 event was one of controversy. A controversial begining with the event going to invite only for the first, and hopefully last, time ever; as well as a controversial ending in one of the most dramatic and exciting finishes the race has ever seen. The invite only found many drivers left out of the historical event and many left upset about not getting a shot at the prestigious Online 500 title. With fewer drivers to deal with; it was hoped that the race would prove to be easier to manage and allow more time for preparation for things to come for the 2005 and even 2006 racing seasons.

On the bright side; invite only didn't mean less comeptition. The field was as tough as ever with quite a bit of side by side action. Thomas Enterprises, Inc. again sponsored the event naming it the TSW 500. They along side FRS Hosting, GSXN.com, and Simracingnetwork.com helped make the 7th Annual Online 500 one to remember.

Unfortunately, attrition was a big factor in the main event leaving only a handfull of stellar drivers to fight it out for the win in the end. The race saw the most realistic looking racing most anyone has ever seen in online racing when Josh Skroupa and Bob Bryant battled it out for the win in the last 10 laps following a greenflag stop. The two literally traded paint on several occasions with both drivers keeping control of their cars. With under 5 laps to go Skroupa made a move to the high side only to be picked off by a slower car. With nowhere to go Skroupa clipped the lapped car sending him into the wall leaving Bryant to take the yellow in the lead. The incident was ruled a racing deal and Bryant claimed the victory which was his first top 5 ever in the Online 500 main event. Skroupa held on for 2nd, Sonny Freeland finished 3rd, Mark Jones wound up 4th, and George Buhr rounded out the top 5.

The controversial ending left some unhappy with the outcome, and others cheering. Regardless of which side of the fence you sat on; it was definitely a finish to remember.

2006

As the 2006 racing season begins; so does the stagnitation of online racing. With no main software company cranking out new (worth-while) Stockcar sims every year; there was no growth to what use to be a thriving community. However, this did not stop the Annual Online 500 to continue what has become a great tradition to online racing. In a low point of online racing, the 500 still turned out over 400 entries and over 300 different drivers making qualifying attempts. No record-setting numbers for sure, but definitely respectible in what can be considered a very scattered racing community.

The 2006 Online 500 marks the 8th Annual running of the event. TSW again signs on as title sponsor and coupled with the newly created DaytonaMOD track; the action couldn't have been any better! The main event saw over 120 laps of greenflag racing until the first caution flag waived. By the end of the race only four cautions were thrown, one of which at the very end causing a race to the yellow for all the marbles. When the dust settled, Trey Eidson held off a hard charging defending Champion Bob Bryant becoming the 7th different winner of the event. Brad Davies, Derek Wood, and Erik Grant rounded out the top five in probably the best overall Online 500 to date.

After such an exciting TSW 500 event. The 2006 Online 500 left most everyone chomping at the bit to go at it again in 2007.