Open-Wheel Legend Johnny Rutherford Signs on for Darlington Historic Racing Festival Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Aug. 25, 2009) – Open-wheel racing legend Johnny Rutherford has signed on to be a featured guest at the upcoming Darlington Historic Racing Festival presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts announced raceway president, Chris Browning.

Rutherford, a three-time Indianapolis 500 Champion, will participate in a question and answer session and autograph session with fans.

“Having Johnny Rutherford, a three-time Indy 500 Champion, at the Darlington Historic Racing Festival presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will be a special treat for our fans,” said Browning. “Victories in racing’s most prestigious events will be well represented with our current schedule of legends with nine Southern 500 victories, seven Daytona 500 victories and three Indy 500 victories between Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Marvin Panch and Johnny Rutherford.”

Although best known for his Indy racing accolades, Rutherford is no stranger to stock cars. Rutherford posted 35 starts in what is now the Sprint Cup Series with two starts at Darlington scoring a best finish of 28th in the 1981 CRC Chemicals Rebel 500. Rutherford also started two races for legendary car owner and South Carolina native Bud Moore at Daytona during the 1964 season. Moore and Rutherford will be reunited at Darlington for the autograph and Q&A sessions during the Darlington Historic Racing Festival presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on Saturday, September 26.

The event will also give Rutherford the opportunity to be reunited with one of his former cars. Vintage racing enthusiast Bob McConnell owns the 1963 Watson Roadster once driven by Rutherford and will have the care on display throughout the event weekend.

The Darlington Historic Racing Festival presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27. The event will offer fans two days of excitement featuring question and answer sessions with racing legends, exhibition laps by over 100 historic race cars including stock cars, Indy roadsters, midgets and modifieds, autograph sessions, a large display and vendor area, car corrals, and a variety of other activities.

Darlington Raceway or the track “Too Tough to Tame” as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Victory Lane. In 2009, a NASCAR tradition, the Southern 500®, returned to Darlington Raceway as part of the famed track’s celebration of 60 Seasons of Racing.

Don’t miss the 2009 Darlington Historic Racing Festival presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts. The event will feature something for the entire family. Tickets for the event are $15 per day or $25 for the entire weekend, kids age 12 and under will be admitted free and each admission includes access to the garage and infield area. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 843-395-8802 or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.