Blog: From the President's Desk
November 14, 2011
What a week it has been! Tickets to the 2012 Southern 500 have gone on sale, Kasey Kahne picked up the win in Phoenix and the points spread is still at three points. It’s this time of year that leaves you wanting more.
We haven’t seen a points race this close in years! The 2011 Chase for the Sprint Cup is down to the very last race, leaving only two drivers still mathematically eligible for the win. During last weekend’s race at Phoenix Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards traded the points lead several times. Making each on track position and each scheduled or unscheduled pit stop some of the most crucial moves of the race. Tony knew that with only three points separating the two of them that he would have to do everything possible to gain the points lead. Smoke led 160 laps of Sunday’s Kobalt Tools 500 but would end up finishing third, just behind Carl Edwards who finished second.
Congratulations to Kasey Kahne who charged to victory lane after leading only 14 laps this weekend. This was his first win of the season and his first in nearly two years.
With a points battle so close, it certainly paves the way to a spectacular season ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Will Tony be able to take the championship or is it just out of his reach?
October 31, 2011
Tony Stewart earned his third win of The Chase this weekend, leaving him only eight points behind Carl Edwards. Edwards received the Lucky Dog pass twice after being lapped to hang on to the points lead leaving only eight points separating him from second place Tony Stewart.
Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth both took hard hits in the points this weekend when they experienced trouble late in the race. Dropping to fourth and fifth in points, respectively, doesn’t completely cut them out of The Chase; it simply makes it more important than ever that they perform well over these next few races.
Many other Chase competitors finished well this weekend in the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville. Jimmie Johnson finished second, followed by fellow teammate Jeff Gordon in third place. A total of eight Chase drivers finished in the top ten with only four Chase competitors finishing outside of the top ten.
With Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards performing well at both Texas and Phoenix, the championship could go either driver’s favor. But, don’t count Kevin Harvick out just yet. Those 21 points can be made up easily over the next few races.
October 24, 2011
Richard Childress Racing earned its 100th Sprint Cup win this weekend when Clint Bowyer drove to victory at Talladega Superspeedway. As the white flag waved it appeared emanate that an RCR car would end up in Victory Lane. There was only one question; would it be Jeff Burton or Clint Bowyer? Clint dove around Burton to claim the checkered flag in a race that would end up becoming known for its abandonment of teammates and allies.
Bowyer was there to help Burton as a teammate should, but in the end Bowyer saw a chance and he took it. His 34 race winless streak ended with last weekend’s Talladega victory. Too many times over the last year Bowyer had a chance to win but would have the untimely luck of running out of gas or having to finish second in the spring race at Talladega after Dale Jr. pushed Jimmie Johnson to the front.
The Bowyer over Burton victory was a little easier to take considering they were both driving for RCR. The ditching of allies would however not be as easy to take for some of the other drivers. Trevor Bayne, who won the season opening Daytona 500, had committed to working with Jeff Gordon until he was forced to abandon him since Gordon was behind the wheel of a Chevy.
Next week the Sprint Cup Series heads to Martinsville. Will there be another championship shakeup? Will the drivers have worked out their frustrations by then? I guess we will just have to wait and see.
September 26,2011
Tony Stewart appears to be poised to make a run at his third NASCAR Sprint Cup title following back-to-back wins at Chicagoland Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Stewart drove to victory after Clint Bowyer ran out of fuel in the closing laps of the race. Running out of fuel in the late goings of an event is something Stewart is familiar with; in the same event in 2010 it was Stewart relinquishing the lead to Bowyer after running out of fuel.
The win, Stewart’s second of the season, gives him a seven point lead heading into the third race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this weekend at Dover International Raceway.
Stewart appears to be peaking at the perfect time. For much of the season his No. 14 team was an after thought with only three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Stewart was vocal about his disappointment saying just weeks ago that if he and his team made the Chase they would wasting a spot in the coveted Chase. Now it looks like Stewart and his team are the ones everyone else is trying to beat.
August 22, 2011
What a weekend of racing at Michigan International Speedway! In typical fashion, the Roush Fenway Racing Fords showed strong in practice and qualifying on Friday and had everyone else in the garage searching for extra horsepower.
Greg Biffle started Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 from the pole and dominated mush of the afternoon. Biffle and teammate Matt Kenseth looked like the class of the field early on but eventually faded to the back of the pack leaving the door wide open for eventual winner Kyle Busch.
Busch has been running well all year and was able to outlast Jimmie Johnson on a wild green-white-checkered finish to claim victory for his Joe Gibbs Racing team. His win marks the second consecutive victory by a Toyota in the backyard of Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers.
The action at MIS started on Saturday with Kevin Harvick getting the victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. Harvick outlasted second-place finisher Timothy Peters on a green-white-checkered finish to claim the victory.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series took to the road course in Montreal for a weekend of twists and turns in front of a huge crowd. Marcos Ambrose took the checkered flag but there were some post race fireworks on pit road between Steve Wallace and a crew member from the no. 99 team. We will probably be hearing more about that from NASCAR later this week.
August 8, 2011
Yesterday’s event at Pocono Raceway was pretty interesting. Brad Keselowski showed some real toughness coming away with the victory following a crash in a practice session last Wednesday that left him with a broken ankle. I don’t think anyone can ever question Brad’s determination again after a win like that.
The win also puts Brad in a great position to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. With just five races to go, Brad has one of the wild card positions locked up and looks to be headed to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time in his career.
There was excitement for the other Penske Racing team at Pocono when their driver, Kurt Busch, had a heated exchange with Jimmie Johnson on pit road after the race. I wasn’t surprised to see some tempers flare after the race but I was surprised to see Jimmie Johnson as upset as he was. I think Kurt raced Jimmie the way drivers should race in the closing laps of the race. A little contact should be expected from time to time. Kurt was not trying to intentionally wreck Jimmie; he was simply trying to gain the position.
All of this means that the next few races should be full of excitement as we head towards the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. I know I can’t wait to see how everything plays out!
August 1, 2011
2011 continues to be the year of first time winners! Congratulations to Paul Menard, who captured his first career Cup victory this weekend in one of the sport’s biggest races, the Brickyard 400. In the final laps, Menard held off four time Brickyard winner Jeff Gordon, despite being close on fuel. Southern 500 winner Regan Smith scored a top five with his third place finish, followed by Jamie McMurray and Matt Kenseth.
Points leader Carl Edwards finished 14th and extended his lead over Jimmie Johnson to eleven points. The countdown is on, with only six races remaining until the Chase field is set. With his victory this weekend, Paul Menard gained five spots in points. He is now 14th in the standings, making him a frontrunner for one of the wild card positions in the Chase.
This week, the Cup Series returns to Pocono for the second event of the season. Will Jeff Gordon be able to capitalize on his second place finish this weekend and get the season sweep at Pocono? We’ll see! Have a great week!
July 25, 2011
Although the Cup Series had a weekend off, there was still plenty of racing action this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway for the Truck and Nationwide Series. Congratulations to Carl Edwards, who overcame a pit road speeding penalty to get his fifth Nashville Nationwide victory of his career. He led 124 of the race’s 225 laps, and was followed by his Roush Fenway Racing teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier and Aric Almirola in the top five. Reed Sorenson finished in the 8th position and assumed the points lead. He now leads Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by five points as the series heads to Lucas Oil Raceway next week.
Austin Dillon’s third place finish Saturday night was a strong follow up to his victory in the Truck Series the night before. Dillon started on the pole, battled with points leader Johnny Sauter for the victory, and slimmed Sauter’s points margin to 18 with the win. Timothy Peters, Nelson Piquet Jr. and Parker Kligerman rounded out the top five. It was great to see great racing under the lights this weekend!
Next weekend, the Cup Series is back in session for the prestigious Brickyard 400. It will be interesting to see if there will be another first time winner in one of NASCAR’s biggest events. Have a great week, and don’t forget to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tootoughtotame to keep up with Darlington Raceway.
July 18, 2011
Congratulations to Stewart-Haas Racing on their phenomenal weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Drivers Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart swept the front row in qualifying, and continued their success with a one-two finish. Newman was able to hold on in the final laps to secure the victory on close fuel mileage. The win was Newman’s first since April 2010, so it was good to see him return to Victory Lane. The pair of Newman and Stewart were followed by a pair of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. Jimmie Johnson rounded out the top five after a day full of adversity. In the point standings, Carl Edwards regained the points lead after Kyle Busch slipped to fifth place in the standings due to tire issues. Edwards now leads Jimmie Johnson by seven points with seven races remaining until the Chase field is set.
This weekend in the Nationwide Series, Kyle Busch further cemented his name in the record books with his victory at New Hampshire. Busch now has 49 career Nationwide Series wins, tying Mark Martin for the series’ most. This victory was also his 100th career NASCAR win across all three series, and his 14th of 2011.
Thank you to everyone who came out to support Darlington Raceway’s car wash on Thursday. It was a huge success! We raised over $2,000, and all proceeds benefit the NASCAR Foundation. Also, don’t forget today is the last day to nominate someone for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian award at http://www.nascar.com/unites. Have a great week!
July 11, 2011
What a weekend for Kyle Busch at Kentucky Speedway! Busch started his weekend off well, winning the truck race Thursday night. He followed that victory with the pole position for Sunday’s inaugural Cup race after qualifying was rained out. He won the event in dominant fashion, leading a race high 125 laps out of 267. Second place finisher David Reutimann was closing quickly after the final restart with two laps remaining, only to finish a mere .179 seconds behind Busch. He was followed by five time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, and Carl Edwards. Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch also ran well throughout the event, but finished 7th and 9th at the checkered flag.
With the victory, Kyle Busch now leads the standings by four points over fifth place finisher Carl Edwards as the series moves to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. Busch now has three victories this season, each one giving him an advantage when the Chase field is reset after Richmond. Busch is the third different points leader in the past three weeks. I think it will continue to be a tight battle for the Championship into the Chase!
This week, don’t forget to nominate a NASCAR fan that makes a difference through volunteer work or charitable donations for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian award. This new award is presented by the NASCAR Foundation, To apply or get more information, visit http://www.nascar.com/unites. The deadline for applications is approaching soon, July 18th, 2011. Have a great week!
July 5, 2011
I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July! What great racing we saw under the lights at Daytona! David Ragan became the third first time winner this season, achieving his first career Cup victory Saturday night in a double green-white-checkered finish. Ragan’s Roush Fenway teammate Matt Kenseth gave him a great push at the final restart of the event, and a massive wreck on the white flag lap helped Ragan secure the victory. Kenseth, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne started on the front row, only to be collected in an early wreck that ended his chances for a season sweep at Daytona.
This weekend also saw the return of the new style of restrictor plate racing, the two car draft. Like always, it was entertaining to see which drivers ended up working together, especially when wrecks split up pairs and drivers had to scramble to find someone else to work with on the final restart.
Kevin Harvick assumed the series point lead with his seventh place finish after Carl Edwards struggled throughout the race. Edwards was mired in a wreck early in the event, and finished 37th. Harvick now leads the standings by five points over Edwards as the series heads to the inaugural Cup event at Kentucky Speedway this weekend.
Keep following us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tootoughtotame and become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway. Have a great week!
June 27, 2011
Congratulations to Kurt Busch who won Sunday’s race at Infineon Raceway in dominant fashion, leading 76 of the event’s 110 laps. This was his first career road course victory. He finished over two seconds ahead of second place finisher Jeff Gordon. Gordon was followed by Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, and Marcos Ambrose in the top five. This was the Penske driver’s first win of the season, and the victory propelled him to fourth in the point standings, 34 points back from leader Carl Edwards, who opted not to run the Nationwide race in order to focus on his Cup car. Looks like the decision paid off!
This weekend’s road course events were a welcome change of pace. The Nationwide Series visited Road America and had a wild finish, with points leader Reed Sorenson capturing the victory in a thrilling fuel mileage gamble that included three attempts at a Green-White-Checkered. This was his first win since 2007 in the Nationwide Series. What a great weekend of road course racing!
This weekend, NASCAR heads to Daytona International Speedway for restrictor plate racing under the lights to celebrate the Fourth of July! Have a great week, and don’t forget to check in with us on Facebook and Twitter at http://www.facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and http://www.twitter.com/tootoughtotame.
June 20, 2011
Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway saw Denny Hamlin capture his first Cup series victory this year. Hamlin’s crew got their driver off pit road first for the restart with five laps to go, and he held off Roush driver Matt Kenseth for the victory. Kenseth spun his tires on the restart, but a push from teammate Carl Edwards helped him regain momentum. Regardless, Hamlin could not be caught. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has had several strong performances this season, only to have fuel mileage gambles and mechanical issues lead to a lack of victories. Kenseth was followed by Kyle Busch, Paul Menard, and Carl Edwards, who stretched his championship point lead to 20 points over Kevin Harvick.
This week also saw the announcement of the third class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. South Carolina native Cale Yarborough led the class, followed by five-time Darlington winner Darrell Waltrip, and eight-time Cup series champion crew chief Dale Inman. Modified legend Richie Evans, and longtime owner Glen Wood rounded out the 2012 class. This distinguished group will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in January.
This coming weekend the Cup Series heads to Sonoma, California, to tackle a road course event. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/tootoughtotame to keep updated with Darlington Raceway.
June 13, 2011
Jeff Gordon won his second race of the season on Sunday afternoon at Pocono Raceway, and the win helped him achieve a career milestone. The win, his 84th, tied him for third on the all time win list. He now shares this achievement with Darrell Waltrip and recently inducted NASCAR Hall of Fame member Bobby Allison. Gordon is the fourth driver to win multiple races in 2011. He also tied Bill Elliott’s record of five victories at Pocono Raceway. Pole sitter Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five.
Series points leader Carl Edwards saw his 40 point lead diminish to six points over current series champion Jimmie Johnson after he experienced engine issues early in the race. Denny Hamlin also ran a strong race, leading 76 of the race’s 200 laps, the most of any driver. However, a broken valve stem led to a 19th place finish for Hamlin.
On Tuesday, we look forward to the announcement of the inductees of the third class into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as we continue to honor the sport’s history.
Although the racing is complete for the year at Darlington Raceway, you can become a fan of our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DarlingtonRaceway and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/tootoughtotame to keep updated with everything Darlington Raceway.
The SHOWTIME Southern 500 weekend at Darlington Raceway was a great success with exciting racing and a first-time winner. Congratulations to Regan Smith for his first victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on Saturday night! It is an incredible achievement for both Regan and Furniture Row Racing to earn their first victory at the track Too Tough To Tame.
Friday night’s Royal Purple 200 showed the dominance of Kyle Busch in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He earned his fifth victory of the 2011 season in a commanding fashion. Congratulations to Joe Gibbs Racing for their victory as well as Denny Hamlin’s second place finish.
Thank you to all of our fans who made this past weekend such a success for Darlington Raceway. I hope that you enjoyed your experience and that you will join us again next year!
May 2, 2011
Kyle Busch became the second repeat winner of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season on Saturday night. The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas proved their dominance at Richmond International Raceway, with Denny Hamlin finishing second to Busch. This victory marked Busch’s third consecutive victory in the spring race at Richmond. Congratulations to Joe Gibbs Racing for their continued success and happy birthday to Kyle Busch who turns 26 today!
With another top five finish, Carl Edwards maintains a lead of nine points over Jimmie Johnson heading into Saturday’s race at Darlington Raceway. For the second consecutive week both the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series will race under the lights. It is sure to be a weekend of memorable racing as they take to the track Too Tough To Tame.
Many ticket options are still available for this weekend’s events at Darlington Raceway. The track has redesigned its pricing for the 2011 season in order to make the weekend more family friendly. This includes new youth pricing as well as tickets priced specifically for the men and women serving in the military. You can get your tickets by calling 866-459-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
April 18, 2011
Hendrick Motorsports dominated on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway with Jimmie Johnson taking the victory and Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin finishing third, fourth and eighth, respectively. Congratulations to the entire organization for an incredible weekend including a qualifying sweep of the first two rows. Johnson’s victory by .002 second, matching the record set at Darlington Raceway in 2003, gave him 54 total wins in his career, tying him with Lee Petty for ninth overall. Eight races into the 2011 season, Johnson now finds himself in second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. It seems that the five time champion will be a threat to win a sixth consecutive championship.
Saturday’s running of the NASCAR Nationwide Series Aaron’s 312 saw some great racing as well. With eleven total caution flags, the race broke the previous record of ten. Also, congratulations goes out to Kyle Busch who got his first Nationwide victory at Talladega Superspeedway. He has now won four of the seven races of the 2011 Nationwide season.
The SHOWTIME Southern 500 returns to Darlington Raceway on Mother’s Day weekend! Don’t miss out on any of the action in a weekend filled with both Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series racing. Tickets are available by calling 866-459-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
April 11, 2011
The Roush Fenway Racing Fords dominated the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Congratulations to Matt Kenseth and his entire team for their dominating win by leading 169 of the 344 laps. Teammates Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and David Ragan finished third, fourth, and seventh respectively, completing the great run for the entire Roush Fenway Racing team.
Kenseth is not the only NASCAR Sprint Cup driver who has had a good start to the 2011 season. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has proven that he can produce consistent solid finishes by finishing in the top 12 in six of the seven point events run this season. It appears that some of the struggles of the No. 88 team in 2010 have been solved as Earnhardt Jr. is currently sixth in the Sprint Cup standings.
There are only 26 days until the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Darlington Raceway for the SHOWTIME Southern 500 on May 7. Make sure to get your tickets for both this event as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series Royal Purple 200! Tickets can be obtained by calling 866-459-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
April 4, 2011
Kevin Harvick became the first repeat winner of the 2011 season, proving that he will be a real threat for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. Congratulations to Kevin and Richard Childress Racing for their early success in back to back weekends! With four laps left in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500, Harvick passed Dale Earnhardt Jr. ending his hope for the win, and increasing Earnhardt Jr.’s winless streak to 99 races. With his win, Harvick also made his mark in history by matching a record set by Bobby Labonte. They are the only two drivers to have won a race at Martinsville in NASCAR’s top three touring series. The Sprint Cup Series races Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway and we will all wait to see if Harvick can make it three in a row.
With the Nationwide Series enjoying a weekend off, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced Saturday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway. Congratulations to Johnny Sauter on his first win of the 2011 season and his first win at Martinsville! In the four races this season there have been four different winners, it will be interesting to see if this continues when the series returns at Nashville Superspeedway on April 22nd.
There are now only 33 days until the SHOWTIME Southern 500! With the stars of both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series racing, this is a weekend of racing not to be missed. Tickets are available by calling 866-459-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
March 28, 2011
What an exciting finish to the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday afternoon! Congratulations to Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing on their first win of the season in the No. 29 Chevrolet. It was Harvick’s first win at Auto Club Speedway, in front of his hometown crowd. On the last lap, Harvick used the outside line to pass Jimmie Johnson for the win in turns 3 and 4. Harvick who hadn’t led a lap all day, until the final lap, found himself in a position to win when he stayed out during the last caution of the race.
Heading into this weekend’s racing at Martinsville Speedway, Carl Edwards sits at the top of the points standing. Although it is still early in the season, Carl’s consistency has been proven week after week at different types of tracks on the circuit. With a sixth place finish at Auto Club Speedway, Carl earned enough points to surpass Kurt Busch in the Sprint Cup standings. He has now accrued four top-10 finishes in the first five races of the season. It will be interesting to see how long Carl can continue his dominant run!
The NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series return to Darlington Raceway for the May 6-7th weekend. Make sure to get your tickets today so that you don’t miss out on any of the action! Expanded family sections and new youth ticket prices make the weekend a fun event for the entire family. Tickets can be bought by calling 866-459-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
March 21, 2011
What an impressive run Kyle Busch is having at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has now won five consecutive races at Bristol in NASCAR’s top three series: NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck. Congratulations to Kyle and Joe Gibbs Racing for their continued dominance at Bristol Motor Speedway. It will be interesting to see if Kyle Busch can continue his streak when all three NASCAR National Series return to the track for night racing in August.
Carl Edwards has had a strong start to the season, posting his second, second-place finish this past weekend at Bristol. Combined with his win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Carl is sitting second overall in the point standings. With this momentum, he has a good opportunity to contend for the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.
With only 47 days before the SHOWTIME Southern 500, it is time to get your tickets if you haven’t yet done so. Tickets are half price for youth 17 and under in reserved seating as well as for military members. Get yours today by calling 866-459-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
March 14, 2011
Congratulations to Kasey Kahne and the entire No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports team for their victory in the Too Tough To Tame 200 on Saturday night. Kahne’s Toyota Tundra was dominant all night as he led 95 of 147 laps. His victory Saturday night keeps his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series record at Darlington Raceway perfect. It was a very exciting start to the 2011 season at Darlington Raceway!
The race was the first time that many of the young drivers in the field had ever run laps at the track in competition. Rookie Cole Whitt was impressive, sitting on the pole and ending with an 8th place finish. In addition, rookies Parker Kligerman, Craig Goess and Jeffrey Earnhardt all posted top 20 finishes. It is great to see these drivers have success in their first start at Darlington Raceway.
With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in an off weekend, all attention was on the Too Tough To Tame 200. The weather Saturday night could not have been better with the sun out and the temperature warm. The fans that came out Saturday night created a great atmosphere and enjoyed some terrific racing. Thank you to everyone who attended and we look forward to having everyone back on Mother’s Day weekend for both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races.
Tickets are still available for the SHOWTIME Southern 500 and the Royal Purple 200 for the May 6-7th weekend. Make sure to get yours today by call 866-495-RACE or online at Darlingtonraceway.com.
March 7, 2011
Congratulations to Carl Edwards and Roush Fenway Racing for their win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. It appears that the momentum of Edwards and his team from the end of last season has continued into the beginning of 2011, making him an early contender for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
With both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series off next weekend, all attention turns to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway on March 12. With only five days to go before the Too Tough To Tame 200, we are anticipating the return of the series best drivers for some night racing action. The race which will begin at 5pm will start while the sun is out and end under the lights. Many of the drivers in this weekend’s race will be making their first career Truck Series start at Darlington Raceway. With a large rookie class, those drivers in their first race at Darlington will be the ones to keep an eye on.
This past week NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers Johanna Long and Joey Coulter made a visit to Darlington County schools. They went on a tour, involving seven elementary schools in the district, to discuss their careers with the children while also communicating the importance of staying in school. Thank you to both Johanna and Joey for taking the time to visit with these children and share their message.
Tickets are still available for Saturday night’s Too Tough To Tame 200. Make sure you get yours by calling 866-459-RACE or by visiting Darlingtonraceway.com. For fans looking for an in-depth experience on Saturday, the WBTW Truck Garage Package for only $55 provides both pre-race pit and garage access. Beautiful weather is expected for this weekend in Darlington, South Carolina so don’t miss out on this great night of racing!
February 21, 2011
The 53rd running of the Daytona 500 did not disappoint. In an exciting fashion 20 year old Trevor Bayne won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. This incredible accomplishment came in Bayne’s second Sprint Cup start and first start at the Daytona International Speedway. Prior to this win the Wood Brothers’ Ford had not visited victory lane since 2001, almost 10 years ago. Congratulations to both Trevor Bayne and everyone at Wood Brothers Racing for their historic victory. He will definitely be a driver to watch during the 17 races he has chosen to run this season in the Sprint Cup Series as well as in his full-time Nationwide Series ride.
Congratulations also goes out to all of the NASCAR winners during Speedweeks. Kurt Busch had an impressive run winning both the Budweiser Shootout and the first Gatorade Duel. He completed Speedweeks with a 5th place finish in the Daytona 500. Jeff Burton won the second Gatorade Duel, Tony Stewart won the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 and in a tribute to Dale Earnhardt, Michael Waltrip won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 200.
With the NASCAR season off to a strong start it is time to focus the attention on the Too Tough To Tame 200 here at Darlington Raceway. With only three weeks to go it is not too late to buy your tickets by calling 866-459-RACE!
February 9, 2011
The excitement for the 2011 NASCAR season is in full swing as everyone prepares to head to Daytona next week. Testing at Daytona at the end of January increased the anticipation as it was the first opportunity for drivers to get out on the newly repaved track. The new surface should make for some fender-to-fender racing over the next couple of weeks. The 2011 installment of Speedweeks gets kicked off this weekend with the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night at Daytona. The Shootout is exciting and unpredictable and with no championship points on the line it will be action-packed from green-flag to the checkers. From then on Speedweeks continues highlighted by the Gatorade Duels, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 200, NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500.
At Darlington Raceway we are beginning to look ahead in preparation of the Camping World Truck Series return to Darlington Raceway for the Too Tough To Tame 200 on March 12th, 2011. Tickets are still available so make sure you get yours by calling 866-459-RACE or by going to our website, DarlingtonRaceway.com. New this year youth (17 and under) are free in general admission and half price in reserved seating. This is the perfect event for the entire family.
November 22, 2010
Congratulations are in order for Jimmie Johnson and the entire No. 48 team on winning an unprecedented fifth-straight Sprint Cup Championship!
Yesterday’s race was full of everything that the Chase is about. We had a tight points race between three drivers going into the day and a dramatic race that saw a championship contender spin and then rebound trying to win a Sprint Cup championship. Denny Hamlin did not disappoint fighting all the way to the end of the race trying to win his first Sprint Cup title.
At the end of the day it was Johnson and his No. 48 team packing up another Sprint Cup Series trophy. What an impressive run he has had.
November 15, 2010
What a great weekend of racing at Phoenix International Raceway!
The point standings have really tightened up down the stretch and Jimmie Johnson has shown that he and his team are vulnerable. Denny Hamlin has captured the point lead and is hanging on to a very slim margin after needing to make a late stop for fuel in Phoenix.
Hamlin’s 15-point lead heading into this weekend’s Sprint Cup Series finale is the smallest margin ever in the Chase. The top three competitors – Hamlin, Johnson and Kevin Harvick – are separated by just 46 points.
The standings are so tight heading into Homestead that the only way points leader Denny Hamlin can guarantee a clinch of his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship is by either finishing second while leading the most laps or winning next Sunday’s season finale Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
This weekend’s finale is sure to go down in the record books as an instant classic! Good luck to all three Chase competitors!
October 18, 2010
Last week was certainly a busy week for race fans! On Wednesday the second class for the NASCAR Hall of Fame was announced and it includes South Carolina natives David Pearson and Bud Moore. I couldn’t be happier for these two men who have each contributed so much to our sport. Pearson has certainly left his mark at Darlington leading all drivers with 10 victories at the Lady in Black.
The other inductees are also very deserving of induction into the Hall of Fame. Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison and Lee Petty all had such an impact on NASCAR and it will be great to see them honored at the induction ceremony next May.
Congratulations to Jamie McMurray and his team for a great win at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night. Jamie played spoiler becoming the first driver outside of the Chase to win the fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
I want to remind all of our fans that this Friday is the renewal deadline for 2011 SHOWTIME Southern 500 tickets. Make sure to renew your tickets before the deadline to take advantage of all of the great VIP benefits that come with being a renewing customer! For more information or questions visit our website, DarlingtonRaceway.com or call us at 866-459-RACE.
October 11, 2010
The Chase for the Sprint Cup is really tightening up as we come into the final homestretch and head for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Tony Stewart got a much needed win yesterday at Auto Club Speedway and moved up five spots in the Chase standings from 10th to fifth. Stewart is really starting to hit his stride at just the right time. While Jimmie Johnson leads the standings he has plenty of competition to worry about over the next six races. With the top-five drivers in the Chase standings separated by just 107 points the championship is still up for grabs!
Ticket renewals for the 2011 season are underway at Darlington Raceway. Be sure to check your mailbox and inbox for your exclusive VIP renewal benefits and get your renewal form in before the deadline.
If you haven’t already, be sure to enter the Darlington Raceway Name the Hospitality Zone contest. Simply log on to DarligntonRaceway.com and click on the link on the homepage to enter. You could win VIP treatment at the 2011 Royal Purple 200!
September 27, 2010
Another successful Darlington Historic Racing Festival is in the books and it was a great weekend for everyone involved!
The third annual event saw some of the nicest vintage race cars around take to the high-banks of Darlington Raceway. While participants enjoyed the on-track action, fans got to get up close with some of their favorite NASCAR legends including Harry Gant.
Several of the vintage participants received awards at the awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Here is a complete list of winners:
Best in Class – Historics: Jim Kaserman
Best in Class – Modifieds: Marty VanDruten
Best in Class – Midgets and Sprints: George Edwards
Best in Class – 1950 – 1969 Stock Cars: Mack Sarvis
Best in Class – 1970 – 1995 Stock Cars: Bill Rhine
Best in Class – Dirt Champ and Indy Roadsters: Joe Freeman
Class Spirit Award – Historics: Marshall Griffin
Class Spirit Award – Modifieds: Ronald Hess
Class Spirit Award – Midgets and Sprints: Jack Sapp
Class Spirit Award – 1950 – 1969 Stock Cars: Bob Moore
Class Spirit Award – 1970 – 1995 Stock Cars: John Finger
Class Spirit Award – Dirt Champ and Indy Roadsters: Paul Mondo
Best Unrestored Car: Joe Freeman
Best Restored Car: Jack Lewis
Hard Luck Award: Bucky Guilfoy
Bill France Sr. Spirit Award: Bridget Holloman
September 13, 2010
What a great weekend of racing at Richmond International Raceway! Congratulations to Kevin Harvick and everyone at Kevin Harvick Inc. on their impressive win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event. That event sure set the table for a great night of racing on Saturday!
Denny Hamlin was strong at Richmond from the drop of the green flag and thundered to victory lane at one of the most exciting tracks on the circuit. The win also vaulted Denny to the top of the point standings to start the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
The Chase will take the green flag this weekend at New Hampshire this weekend with everyone gunning for four-time defending champion, Jimmie Johnson. Johnson and his team have had what many are calling an off year making this the perfect time for another driver and team to take home the championship!
Last week at Darlington we hosted the fifth annual Darlington Raceway Blood Drive with the American Red Cross. The drive was a great success potentially saving 573 lives. I want to say a special thank you to everyone who came out and donated.
We are just days away from the third annual Darlington Historic Racing Festival. The festival will feature Harry Gant, a four-time Darlington winner. Gant will participate in a question and answer session as well as an autograph session with other legends. You can get your tickets today online at DarlingtonRaceway.com or by calling 866-459-RACE.
August 23, 2010
This weekend’s racing at Bristol Motor Speedway was great! It was a historic weekend for Kyle Busch who became the first driver to sweep all three NASCAR National Series races in the same weekend. Congratulations to Kyle Busch who has really shown that he is a force to be reckoned with anytime he is on the race track.
Last week we announced our 2011 NASCAR event dates. The 2011 season will once again see the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series at the track “Too Tough To Tame!” The trucks will be the first series on the track with the “Too Tough To Tame” 200 on March 12 with the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series following on Mother’s Day weekend May 6-7. Renewals will be hitting the mail soon so keep your eyes on your mailbox and inbox for 2011 ticket information!
Remember, the Darlington Historic Racing Festival will be back at Darlington Raceway on September 24-26 and will include a new swap meet and car show component. We are working on finalizing our list of drivers appearing at the event so keep checking our website for updates!
August 16, 2010
What a great weekend at the Lady in Black! The Too Tough To Tame 200 certainly lived up to the hype as one of the most exciting NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races of the season.
The day started off with a very active practice session. Timothy Peters was at the top of the board most of the way until rookie Austin Dillon knocked him from the top spot late in the session. Peters regained his form in qualifying scoring his second pole of the season.
It looked like Peters had the truck to beat leading 47 laps and running in the top 10 for most of the night but it was veteran Todd Bodine who used pit strategy to keep himself up front and in position for the win. Peters had a shot to take the lead back late in the race but Bodine held him off and recorded his second career victory at Darlington Raceway.
I want to say a special thank you to all of our fans who came out and enjoyed the day with us at Darlington. We could not have put on such a great show without you! I hope you enjoyed your day at the track from the opening practice session, to qualifying, the pre-race concert by Midway Blue and the Too Tough To Tame 200!
Keep visiting our website for updates on the third annual Darlington Historic Racing Festival. We are very excited to have this event back for a third year and promise to make this year’s festival the biggest and best yet!
August 9, 2010
Race week is finally here at Darlington Raceway! We have all been counting down to this week since we announced the return of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series back in January. This Saturday the track “Too Tough To Tame” will be abuzz with the roaring engines of the truck series.
Watching the truck series event on Saturday night at Nashville I listened to several drivers talk about how excited they were to come to Darlington Raceway, many of them for the first time. That may be one of the most exciting factors to Saturday’s race. Only a handful of current drivers have raced at Darlington meaning that the majority of the field will be taking to the track for the first time.
Tickets for the event are still available and we have something for everyone! Tickets are $25 for adults, children 12 and under get in for free. You can also purchase a pre-race pit pass for just $15. For die-hard fans looking to get an inside look at the truck series garage you can purchase the SPEED Open Garage ticket package. For just $55 you will be able to take in the “Too Tough To Tame” from the stands and get an inside look at the truck series garage from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. To get your tickets call 866-459-RACE or visit our website at DarlingtonRaceway.com!
Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you at the “Too Tough To Tame” 200!
August 2, 2010
Summer certainly is flying by! I can hardly believe that it is already August and the Too Tough To Tame 200 at Darlington Raceway is less than two weeks away! I have been looking forward to the truck race since we announced the trucks would be making their return last January. The race is sure to be one for the record books and I know all of our fans will enjoy this great event!
Last week we were happy to have NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Timothy Peters join us for a media tour around South Carolina. We kicked things off in Columbia, SC at Fort Jackson and then headed to Myrtle Beach. The tour finished with a stop at McLeod Children’s Hospital in Florence. We had such a great response at the beach we will actually be returning tomorrow night to take part in the Sprite Under the Stars Concert Series at Broadway at the Beach. Timothy will be on-hand to again sign autographs and promote the truck series’ return to Darlington.
Make sure to get your tickets for the race today. Tickets are only $25 and children 12 and under are admitted for free! We are also selling special pre-race pit passes that will give you access to the pits for the entire day including a special autograph session before driver introductions! You can order your tickets by calling 866-459-RACE or at DarlingtonRaceway.com!
July 12, 2010
I hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed the NASCAR racing at Chicagoland Speedway! Friday and Saturday nights saw some great racing under the lights at Chicagoland with Kyle Busch and David Reutimann winning the Nationwide and Cup races, respectively.
It was great to see David get his second career win on Saturday night, he is truly on of the good guys in NASCAR and to see him get a much deserved victory was very special. David’s family has a long history in racing, his father Buzzie raced throughout Florida during David’s childhood and he is the reason David races the number 00.
Reutimann got his start in the NASCAR Camping World truck Series a few years back driving for Darrell Waltrip. The Truck Series is a great place for a young driver to get some valuable experience. One of the latest up and coming drivers in the series is Austin Dillion, grandson of car owner Richard Childress. Dillion scored his first career victory on Sunday at Iowa Speedway. Dillion and the rest of the Truck Series drivers will be making their way to Darlington soon for the Too Tough To Tame 200!
Ticket for the Too Tough To Tame 200 are available now online at DarlingtonRaceway.com or by calling 866-459-RACE. Tickets for the race are only $25 and kids 12 and under are admitted FREE! It’s going to be a great day of racing and we hope to see you there!
June 28, 2010
Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team on an impressive victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday. It was Jimmie’s second victory in as many weeks and it is beginning to look like the No. 48 team is making a strong push to the top as we get closer to the Chase. It will be interesting over the next couple weeks to see how things shake out with Jimmie as he and his wife, Chandra, are expecting a baby. Aric Almirola is standing by to get in the No. 48 car when Jimmie has to get out of the car so things could get pretty interesting.
I hope everyone is looking forward to the Coke Zero 400 this weekend at Daytona International Raceway. It will be a historic race at Daytona with crews standing by to begin construction on repaving the track following the race. Daytona always produces great racing and this weekend should be no exception.
Another race that is sure to produce excitement this summer is the Too Tough To Tame 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway on August 14. The race marks the first time the truck have raced at Darlington since 2004 and everyone at the track is really looking forward to having them back at the track “Too Tough To Tame!” You can get tickets for the race now for just $25 each and kids 12 and under get in FREE! Give us a call at 866-459-RACE or visit us online here to get your tickets today!
June 7, 2010
Congratulations to Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team on another win at Pocono Raceway! Denny certainly does know how to get around the “Tricky Triangle” and showed everyone that he is a true championship contender. The post-race fireworks between Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick also remain something to be watched over the next few weeks. This has been a feud that has been brewing for a while and I would not be surprised to see some more action between Harvick and Logano this weekend!
I spent a good part of yesterday at the new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. It was the first chance I have had to actually go through the hall and let me tell you I was impressed! There are so many great artifacts on display it took us nearly three hours to experience everything. The Hall does a great job telling the story of NASCAR and putting it on display for generations to come. There are also plenty of Darlington artifacts on display throughout the Hall which goes to show you just how important Darlington Raceway has been in the history of our sport.
This week the Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series will be racing in the Irish Hills of Michigan. I’m looking forward to the race as it will be a great chance to see some possible payback from one or more of the feuds that has taken place in the Cup series in recent weeks. I hope everyone has a great week and remember to keep checking our website for updates on the Camping World Truck Series Too Tough To Tame 200 at Darlington Raceway!
June 1, 2010
Congratulations to Kurt Busch on his win in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday! It was Busch’s second win in as many weeks at Charlotte Motor Speedway and team owner Roger Penske’s first points win at the track. The No. 2 team really looks to be coming on strong in recent weeks with crew chief Steve Addington really clicking with Busch. There is still plenty of racing to do but I think that Busch is certainly looking to challenge for a Championship in 2010.
While Kurt Busch was busy celebrating in Victory Lane, Kyle Busch was getting an earful from Jeff Burton on pit road. Kyle got a little too aggressive late in the race and made contact with Burton causing him to cut a tire a few laps later. Burton was not happy about the situation and made that very clear to Kyle after the race. It was good to see Burton stand up and speak his mind. It will be interesting to watch the No. 31 and No. 18 this weekend at Pocono Raceway!
With Memorial Day weekend in the rearview mirror June is here! NASCAR has hit its summer stretch and one of the most exciting times on the schedule for race fans. Everyone at Darlington is really excited to be hosting the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on August 14. In fact, Camping World Truck Series Director Wayne Auton stopped by on Friday and we had time to discuss the Too Tough To Tame 200 and everyone is really excited to see the tough trucks back at the track “Too Tough To Tame!” You can order your tickets for this event now at DarlingtonRaceway.com or by calling 866-459-RACE.
May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23 will go down as one of the most significant days in the history of NASCAR because it was the day that the Inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class was inducted into the newly opened hall. The class included five men who all had a profound effect on motorsports.
Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr. built the sport from the ground up and helped shape what we know as NASCAR today. Junior Johnson was a popular figure during NASCAR’s early days that saw success not only as a driver but also as an owner. Richard “The King” Petty blazed the trail for today’s current drivers writing the NASCAR record books along the way. Dale Earnhardt or the Intimidator as he became known among competitors was as well liked for his driving ability on the track as he was for his everyman persona that NASCAR fans could identify with. All five of these men deserve to be part of NASCAR’s Inaugural Hall of Fame class and they will be remembered and revered for many generations to come.
This inaugural class has 13 combined wins at Darlington Raceway and will go down as one of the most influential groups in the history of NASCAR.
May 17, 2010
What a great weekend of racing at the Monster Mile in Dover, Delaware! Dover International Speedway certainly did live up to its reputation this weekend producing three great races.
Congratulations to Aric Almirola for a tough win in the Camping World Truck Series event on Friday. Aric was at Darlington earlier this year for a Goodyear tire test and he is a great competitor.
Kyle Busch also had a stellar weekend at Dover. Kyle won Saturday’s Nationwide Series event along with the Cup race Sunday. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle battled for the lead almost all day and then in the closing laps Jimmie got caught speeding on pit road. Johnson has had a tough time since the spoiler returned to the Sprint Cup cars and although he is still high in the standings I think this may be the year someone stops his championship dominance.
Everyone at Darlington is looking forward to the upcoming NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race scheduled for August 14. With tickets priced at just $25 and kids 12 and under getting in free it is sure to be a great event! You can get your tickets online at DarlingtonRaceway.com or by calling 866-459-RACE.
I hope everyone has a great week and enjoys the All-Star race this weekend!
May 10, 2010
Darlington Raceway proved, once again, why it is a premiere track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. Racing of this caliber cannot be found anywhere else and the drivers put on a great show under the lights. Congratulations to Denny Hamlin on his weekend sweep at the track “Too Tough To Tame!” Even at a physically demanding track like Darlington, Denny showed tremendous poise and perseverance.
A big thank you needs to go out to all of Darlington Raceway fans for their continued support of this historic racetrack. We have the best fans and that was proven on Saturday night as I watched everybody pour into the grandstands. Darlington Raceway hosted people from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries over the weekend which is an absolutely astonishing figure.
Everybody at Darlington Raceway puts in a tremendous amount of time to make sure that all of our fans enjoy every part of their experience here. Even with all of the success that we had from this year’s event, I know that Darlington Raceway is going to make the 2011 SHOWTIME Southern 500 bigger and better. Don’t forget about the Too Tough To Tame 200 on August 14, as the Camping World Truck Series drivers trade paint around Darlington Raceway. It will be an event you do not want to miss!
May 3, 2010
Richmond International Raceway proved Saturday night why it is arguably the best short track on the NASCAR circuit. Racing under the lights at Richmond is so exciting to watch and it was obvious that it is a track that drivers love to compete at. Congratulations to Kyle Busch on a hard-fought victory against some intense competition.
Richmond certainly is a challenging track to win at but Darlington Raceway did not get its slogan, “Too Tough to Tame,” for no reason. Every driver has to work hard to earn their position at Darlington, let alone win at the track.
The time has finally come. It is officially race week at Darlington Raceway and I can assure you one thing; this is going to be the best SHOWTIME Southern 500 we have seen in a long time! It is only Monday and my adrenaline is already pumping to see the best racing NASCAR can offer. Witnessing a race of this caliber is an experience of a lifetime and we do not want you to miss it. The loyalty and support of Darlington Raceway fans takes a back seat to no one and that will be proven Saturday when the green flag drops.
Darlington Raceway is geared up to put on a fantastic show for race fans and we can not wait to see everybody fill the grandstands Saturday night. If you have not purchased your tickets yet, be sure to call our ticket office at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com. You do not want to miss the Sprint Cup drivers trade paint this weekend at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” Enjoy the 2010 SHOWTIME Southern 500!
April 26, 2010
Talladega Superspeedway showed Sunday, why they are the host to some of the best finishes that NASCAR tracks can offer. It certainly was a great race to watch, especially when Kevin Harvick put that classic move on Jamie McMurray to clinch his first win ever at Talladega Superspeedway. Congratulations to Harvick and the No. 29 team on a job well done.
Last week, I had the pleasure to spend some time with the young and talented Justin Allgaier, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Wireless Dodge in the Nationwide Series. He made an appearance at the NASCAR Speedpark in Myrtle Beach and raced go-carts with Darlington Raceway fans. Not only is Allgaier a tremendous talent behind the wheel, he is a great kid that will have a bright future in NASCAR. People like Justin is why our sport is go great and it was a pleasure to watch him interact with the fans on such a personable basis.
Speaking of Nationwide Series Racing, Royal Purple has signed a multi-year deal with Darlington Raceway to become the title sponsor for the NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Royal Purple is a great fit for Darlington Raceway and we are extremely excited to have them onboard.
Darlington Raceway is just 11 days from hosting the 2010 SHOWTIME Southern 500! I cannot believe how close we are to seeing some of the best racing NASCAR can offer. The fans are certainly going to witness some paint-scraping action as the Sprint Cup Series’ drivers drive white-knuckled around the track “Too Tough To Tame.” If you have not purchased SHOWTIME Southern 500 tickets yet, be sure to call our ticket office at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com. Have a great week!
April 19, 2010
Now that is what I call racing! Texas Motor Speedway put on a great show for the fans and it is safe to say that it was Monday mayhem out on the track today. Congratulations to Denny Hamlin on his second victory of the season. Denny is the prime example of what NASCAR racing is all about. Just a couple weeks after knee surgery and he is already back in victory lane. He is a tough competitor and showed why he is so deserving of that trophy in victory lane today.
Last week, the announcement was made that Kasey Kahne will be leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after the 2010 season is over. He will be joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2012, so he will be trying to find a ride for the 2011 season. I am happy for Kasey and I wish him the best in his future with Hendrick Motorsports. He is a phenomenal talent behind the wheel of a stock car and he has proved that by winning 11 career races in the Sprint Cup Series. I am curious to see which team picks him up for the 2011 season.
The Sprint Cup Series runs wide-open this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. I cannot wait to see some restrictor plate racing at NASCAR’s largest oval track! It is hard telling who might come out with the trophy this week. Brad Keselowski showed that anyone can cross the finish line first, doing that with his part time ride in last year’s race at Talladega.
Brad Keselowski knows how to get around Darlington Raceway too. In last year’s SHOWTIME Southern 500, he posted a seventh-place finish in his first date with the “Lady in Black.” I find that pretty impressive for a young man who had never raced with the ‘big boys’ at Darlington Raceway. We will see how he does on May 8, when the Sprint Cup drivers trade paint and earn their Darlington Stripe at the track “Too Tough To Tame.”
We are just 18 days from intense Sprint Cup Series action at Darlington Raceway! The 2010 SHOWTIME Southern 500 is geared up to be the best ever and I know that all race fans will have a great time. Make sure you purchase your tickets if you want to get in on the action. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-459-RACE or by visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com. Have a great week!
April 12, 2010
Good afternoon race fans! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. We were fortunate to have great weather in Darlington all weekend long and I certainly enjoyed it. What a phenomenal race at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday night. My eyes were glued to the intense flat-track action in the Sprint Cup Series. Congratulations to Ryan Newman on his first win of the 2010 season, the win snapped a 77-race winless drought. His last victory came in Daytona, where he won the 2008 Daytona 500 with a different race team. I’m sure Ryan and the entire No. 39 team will appreciate their first victory as a team. I am happy for Stewart-Haas Racing on their continued success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
NASCAR will speed things up this weekend as the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series go full-throttle at Texas Motor Speedway. Jeff Gordon, a seven-time winner at Darlington Raceway, will try to defend his title at Texas Motor Speedway, where he was hoisting the six-shooter pistols in victory lane last April.
Darlington Raceway is just 26 days from seeing the Sprint Cup Series drivers trade paint at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” There are just three races that stand between now and the 2010 SHOWTIME Southern 500. We cannot wait to put on a great show for all of the Darlington Raceway fans on May 8th. If you have not purchased your Southern 500 tickets yet, be sure to call our ticket office at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com. Enjoy the rest of your week and check out my blog next Monday!
April 5, 2010
Good afternoon everyone! I hope all of you enjoyed your Easter weekend. For those of you that stayed close to home, I’m glad the sun was shining down on us! It certainly made for a more pleasurable weekend with my family. The sun was also shining down on Nashville Superspeedway during the weekend, where the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series raced on Friday and Saturday. Congratulations to Kyle Busch on his first win as an owner in the truck series. I anticipate many more to come, especially when he is behind the wheel. Kudos to Kevin Harvick on winning his second Nationwide Series race of the 2010 season.
Big news at Darlington Raceway! We were pleased to announce last week that Showtime, the leader in premium cable television, has become the title sponsor for the SHOWTIME Southern 500. We are extremely excited about having Showtime on board with Darlington Raceway. This deal comes at a perfect time for us due to their recent launch of Inside NASCAR, which airs at 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Their commitment to NASCAR is going to have a great impact on the sport and we look forward to building a great relationship with them.
This weekend, the Sprint Cup guys head out west to Phoenix International Raceway for 600 miles of flat-track racing. Phoenix always puts on a great race and I am extremely excited to watch it on Saturday. As for the other two premiere series in NASCAR, the Nationwide Series will also run wide-open at Phoenix, while the trucks are off until May 2nd. Mark Martin, the defending SHOWTIME Southern 500 Champion, is also defending his title at Phoenix, where he won a year ago.
The SHOWTIME Southern 500 is right around the corner and we can’t wait to get the green flag waiving in the air! Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for an action-packed weekend at the track “Too Tough To Tame.” To get your tickets, give our ticket office a call at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com.
March 30, 2010
What a finish at Martinsville yesterday! Even though the race was postponed until Monday afternoon, it was all worth it for the fans that stuck around to witness a phenomenal display of short track racing. Congratulations to Denny Hamlin on a hard-fought victory in his home state. Considering he is undergoing knee surgery this week for a torn ACL, it was a surprise to see him battling up front all day, determined to take home the Grandfather Clock. This just goes to show that NASCAR is full of competitors that go for broke no matter what the circumstances may be. Denny displayed a great deal of grit and toughness, especially while surging his way from 4th to 1st in the last green-white-checkered laps.
This weekend, the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series travel to the Music City for some intense racing at Nashville Superspeedway. Both of these series always put on a great show for the fans and this weekend all eyes will be on them as the Sprint Cup drivers enjoy a rare off weekend.
We are just over a month away from this year’s Southern 500 and Darlington Raceway is getting prepared for an action-packed weekend. Fans are going to see some great racing at the track “Too Tough To Tame” and we can’t wait to get everyone here to enjoy it! The Southern 500 never disappoints and we are excited to see the stands packed with fans who love 500 miles of paint-scraping action. Believe me; you do not want to miss out on this kind of racing. Make sure you purchase your tickets if you want to get in on the action. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866-459-RACE or by visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com. Have a great week and remember to check out my blog next week!
March 22, 2010
What a phenomenal race at Bristol this weekend! I enjoyed watching all 500 laps of the intense Sprint Cup action on the half-mile track. Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team on their third victory of the season and Jimmie’s first win ever at Bristol Motor Speedway. Right when I think other teams are going to push to be the best team in NASCAR, the 48 team answers right away with a win.
Last week, Darlington Raceway hosted a luncheon with Mark Martin and nearly 300 fans. Due to such a quick response by the fans, the event reached its capacity within a couple of days. The event was absolutely spectacular and we were pleased to see the fans enjoying themselves. No fans are better than Darlington Raceway fans and that showed at the luncheon.
Mark Martin is one of the reasons why this sport is so great and it was a pleasure having him interact with fans that are very passionate about NASCAR. Not even a year ago, Mark took the checkered flag at Darlington Raceway so look for him to be a favorite for this year’s Southern 500 at the track “Too Tough to Tame.”
We are counting the days and drawing closer to the paint-scraping action at Darlington Raceway! Make sure you purchase your Southern 500 tickets to watch NASCAR’s finest earn their Darlington Stripe. You can get your tickets by calling 866-459-RACE or by visiting Darlingtonraceway.com. We look forward to seeing the fans fill the stands on race weekend.
March 15, 2010
I hope everyone had a safe and exciting weekend. Since we all were left without any racing to watch, I put together some ideas for the Southern 500 coming in May. Darlington Raceway is poised to host one of the most thrilling race weekends in recent memory and we can’t wait to see the fans pour through the gates! Nothing excites us more than knowing our fans are enjoying themselves at the track “Too Tough to Tame.”
Speaking of excitement, Darlington Raceway has its Media Day Luncheon with Mark Martin this Wednesday. Mark will be our guest for a special fan luncheon and Q&A session. The event has reached capacity due to a great response from the fans as soon as the announcement was made. We are looking forward to having Darlington Raceway’s biggest fans attend the event. For those who have signed up, remember to bring your confirmation e-mail and photo ID with you to the event.
When the event concludes, Mark Martin will be heading to Bristol Motor Speedway, where he will be racing in 500 miles of intense Sprint Cup action. Bristol always puts on a great show and I cannot wait until Sunday to see some short track racing! I am curious to see if Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski play nice on a track that is known for high tempers and aggressive driving.
I cannot believe we are less than two months away from the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway! Those of you who have not purchased tickets can do so by calling 866-459-RACE. You can also visit Darlingtonraceway.com to order tickets or check out track updates and news. Enjoy your week and don’t forget to check out my blog next Monday!
March 8, 2010
What a race at Atlanta this weekend! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Start to finish, I thought that both events at Atlanta this weekend were intense. Congratulations to Kurt Busch on his first victory of the season. With only four races in the books, everyone still has a great shot to win the 2010 Sprint Cup Championship.
NASCAR might have an intense rivalry brewing after Sunday’s race when Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski got into each other on different occasions. This could be the next big rivalry in NASCAR and I’m looking forward to some beatin’ and bangin’ at Bristol Motor Speedway in two weeks.
With NASCAR taking a break this weekend it is a perfect time to get ready for the 2010 Southern 500! We have an action-packed weekend for all fans attending on May 7th and 8th. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets for the Southern 500 at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” To get your tickets, give our ticket office a call at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com.
March 1, 2010
March is here and Darlington Raceway is just over two months away from hosting another thrilling Southern 500 weekend! We are extremely excited to see the Sprint Cup and Nationwide series cars unloaded from the haulers and out on the track “Too Tough to Tame.” We know that both events will be full of excitement and will bring race fans to their feet as usual.
Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports Lowes team on their second straight victory of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jimmie, a two-time winner at Darlington Raceway, is showing that he has the team to beat in 2010, but lets not hand him the championship trophy just yet because there is still plenty to be determined out on the track.
This weekend the Sprint Cup cars will be on the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It will be interesting to see how everyone approaches this weekend’s event, especially with Jimmie Johnson going for three in-a-row. Personally, I think we are going to see the teams in the garage competing harder than ever this season to keep Jimmie and the No. 48 out of Victory Lane.
The fight to keep the No. 48 out of Victory Lane is sure to be a great one at Darlington! If you have not purchased your Southern 500 tickets yet, be sure to call our ticket office at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com. Don’t forget to keep posted on our website for track news and my weekly blog. Have a great rest of the week race fans!
February 15, 2010
NASCAR racing is underway and the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 was one of the most exciting 500s in recent memory! Congratulations to Jamie McMurray on his victory at the “Great American Race.” How about Dale Earnhardt Jr. making a surge toward the front to take the runner-up position! The racing was fantastic in all three of NASCAR’s National series and I am excited to watch some west coast racing this weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
I had the pleasure of being in Daytona during Speedweeks and it was good to get some business taken care of to make Darlington Raceway’s 2010 Southern 500 the best experience possible for race fans. Due to being present in Daytona, I missed all of the snow that came to Darlington on Friday night! I cannot believe how much snow was on the ground. I was happy to come back home to a somewhat dry and sunny day in Darlington.
Speaking of dry and sunny, Darlington Raceway cannot wait to host a dry and sunny race weekend for all fans to enjoy! Don’t forget to visit www.DarlingtonRaceway.com to purchase your tickets. Thank you again for visiting our website and keep checking us out for updates and announcements.
February 1, 2010
February is here and that means NASCAR racing is right around the corner. I am extremely excited to see the Shootout this Saturday night at Daytona. The Shootout never disappoints with all of the entrants going for broke trying to get the win. This is Sprint Cup racing at its very best and I am excited to see the drivers put on a great show for the fans.
Last Friday I was proud to announce Darlington Raceway’s Race Rates for Race Fans program. We have partnered with several local hotels that have agreed to reduce their nightly rates, as well as their minimum stay requirements. I am extremely pleased that these hotels value our race fans just as much as we do.
Today I had the pleasure of greeting Cale Yarborough at Darlington Raceway for an interview that took place inside of our President’s Suite. Cale is one of NASCAR’s all-time greats and it is always a delight to have him visit the track. Just like all of us at Darlington Raceway, Cale is excited to see the green flag drop for the 2010 Southern 500.
The track “Too Tough to Tame” is always thrilled to accommodate race fans to the highest level possible. Those who plan on attending the Southern 500 can access the Race Rates for Race Fans hotel list by clicking HERE. Fans that have not purchased their Southern 500 tickets can do so by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online HERE. Have a great week and don’t forget to check out my blog next week!
January 25, 2010
The 52nd annual Daytona 500 is right around the corner and I can not wait to see the Sprint Cup cars back at the track. At Darlington Raceway, we are preparing for another successful and exciting Southern 500. Year 2010 has already brought plenty of exciting news to Darlington Raceway.
Just last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Suggs family from Loris, S.C., who will soon be featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. It was a great feeling to see how happy the Suggs family was with their new home. To help make this experience extra special, I presented the family with a piece of asphalt from the track’s start-finish line, as well as lifetime tickets to the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. I am looking forward to hosting the family for many years to come.
Last week, I was happy to announce a new event to our race schedule. Darlington Raceway will host a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on August 14, 2010. We are extremely excited to have the trucks put on a show at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” Truck Series drivers always put on thrilling races and Darlington Raceway will be a challenging track for the drivers to navigate, we will certainly have plenty of paint-scraping action in August! Tickets are available now for all of the events at Darlington Raceway. For ticket information, you can call our ticket office at 1-866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com.
January 11, 2010
Happy New Year NASCAR fans! I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holiday season. I can’t believe the 2010 NASCAR season is right around the corner already. We are extremely excited to see the teams gear up for the 52nd Annual Daytona 500. I am confident that this year will bring as much thrill as the 2009 season brought.
Just like every year, teams make changes to their personnel. One of the most significant changes took place at Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s company, JR Motorsports. Recently, Danica Patrick signed a deal with JR Motorsports to run in the ARCA and Nationwide series. I am extremely excited to see her race with NASCAR’s finest.
Here at Darlington Raceway we are getting ready for another year of racing. We are energized and eager to get the 2010 Southern 500 underway. Everyone is working very hard to assure the best race weekend possible for the fans. May is approaching very quickly and we can’t wait to get the green flag in the air! For information on track news and tickets, you can always visit our website, DarlingtonRaceway.com. Enjoy the rest of the week and don’t forget to keep in touch with our website to see my newest blogs!
November 23, 2009
Well we have closed the book on another successful NASCAR season. Jimmie Johnson has won his NASCAR-record fourth consecutive championship and now it is time to go celebrate out in Las Vegas!
The 2009 was a great season at Darlington Raceway and included our 60th season celebration. It all started with the return of the Southern 500. Bringing back the Southern 500 race name was a hit with all of our fans and I can not think of a better winner during our 60th season than Mark Martin. We also had nearly every former Southern 500 winner on-hand for our pre-race ceremonies making that more special than ever.
Later in the season the second annual Darlington Historic Racing Festival was a great success. The only historic racing event for oval-track cars in the country continues to grow and attract new fans. We had a record car count this year and great participation from fans in the NASCAR Legend Q&A sessions and autograph sessions. We will continue to build this special event so keep an eye on DarlingtonRaceway.com for updates and information on the 2010 event.
I am heading out to Las Vegas to take part in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series awards ceremony to honor Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team. Moving the season ending awards ceremony to Vegas is sure to be a hit with teams and fans and I can not wait experience NASCAR on the Vegas strip. Keep an eye on this blog for updates on my trip to Vegas!
November 16, 2009
There was plenty of racing excitement over the weekend in the desert at Phoenix International Raceway.
The action started on Friday in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Ron Hornaday Jr., becoming the first four-time champion in that series. Hornaday’s truck owner, Kevin Harvick, won the race making it a big night for Kevin Harvick Inc.
The excitement continued on Saturday with Carl Edwards narrowing the Kyle Busch’s point lead in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with his win at PIR. While Busch will still win the series championship, it did postpone his championship celebration for one more week.
All eyes were on Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin heading into Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event. Johnson’s point lead was a slim 73 points to start the day and with both drivers qualifying in the top five Sunday was a great show.
Johnson had a dominant car and was able to storm to victory in the desert with Martin coming home fourth. Johnson leads Martin by 108 points heading into this seasons final event at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday and with a finish of 25th or better Johnson will clinch his fourth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.
If Johnson does go on to win his fourth straight championship it will make NASCAR history and how special it has been to be a part of it this season!
November 9, 2009
The points race is heating up after yesterday’s exciting race at Texas Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson’s early race incident helped his point lead shrink by more than 110 points over second place driver and teammate, Mark Martin.
Mark Martin, who of course won the Southern 500 at Darlington in May, finished fourth and now has a shot to overtake Johnson in the standings over the season’s final two events. It should be a great battle between the Hendrick Motorsports teammates as Phoenix and Homestead are good tracks for both drivers.
I know I am looking forward to watching the final two races of the season. It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for the Daytona 500 and now the season is already coming to a close. It has been a great year with interesting storylines and looking ahead to next year I am sure we will be in for another great season of racing!
October 26, 2009
Congrats to Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team for getting another Martinsville victory! It was Hamlin’s second career win at the track they call the paper clip. It looked like Jimmie Johnson was going to cruise to his second win at Martinsville in 2009 until Denny Hamlin passed the No. 48 and stormed to victory lane.
Much like Darlington, Martinsville is a track rich in history and tradition. NASCAR’s top series has been racing at Martinsville since 1948 making Martinsville the only track on the NASCAR schedule longer than Darlington.
We are really looking forward to the 2010 season and the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Tickets for the famed event are on sale now and start as low as $35, you can get your tickets by calling our ticket office at 843-395-8823 or on our website by clicking on the ‘Events & Tickets’ page.
Southern 500 tickets make a great holiday gift and with the holiday season approaching now is a great time to get tickets for someone on your list. You don’t need to worry about size or color when it comes to race tickets; they are a perfect fit for everyone!
October 19, 2009
Jimmie Johnson did it again! Johnson recorded his sixth career victory at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday night picking up his third win in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The win extends Johnson’s point lead to 90 points over second place contender and Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Mark Martin.
The performance of the No. 48 team in the Chase has been something phenomenal to watch. These guys really know how to get to the front of the pack when it counts and put distance between themselves and the rest of the Chase field. I can’t remember a more dominant performance in all of my years in NASCAR.
While Jimmie has performed well thus far in the Chase there is still time for the rest of the field to make up ground. What happened to Juan Pablo Montoya this weekend at Lowe’s is a perfect example that a driver and his team can never be too careful, a bad finish could be coming right around the corner.
October 12, 2009
It is hard to believe that the 2009 season is wrapping up and 2010 is only a couple of months away. Four races into the Chase and Jimmie Johnson has the No. 48 team in familiar territory at the top of the Sprint Cup Series standings. Johnson scored an impressive win at his home track over the weekend and vaulted past teammate Mark Martin into first place.
It’s not time to hand the championship trophy to Jimmie just yet, though. Mark Martin is still hungrier than ever for his first championship and has some tracks coming up that really play into his style of racing. One thing is for sure, this is going to be a great championship battle all the way to the finish at Homestead Miami Speedway.
At Darlington we are already looking to the 2010 season and after months of waiting tickets for the 2010 Southern 500 have finally gone on-sale! We have reduced our prices on over 40,000 seats at the track “Too Tough to Tame” making it more affordable than ever to attend this marquee NASCAR Sprint Cup event at the most unique track on the schedule.
Tickets start as low as $35 making night racing at Darlington the best value on the Sprint Cup circuit. To purchase your tickets visit DarlingtonRaceway.com/tickets, call 866-459-RACE or stop by the track. We can’t wait to see you in the stands in 2010!
October 5, 2009
Congratulations to Tony Stewart and the entire No. 14 team at Stewart-Haas racing on a great win at Kansas Speedway last weekend!
It has been very exciting to watch Tony Stewart and his team storm to the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings this year. What he has been able to accomplish in such a short time at SHR is pretty incredible. We have not seen a strong performance from a driver/owner since Alan Kulwicki in the early 1990s.
One thing that still eludes Stewart is a win at Darlington Raceway in the prestigious Southern 500. Speaking of the Southern 500, tickets for the 2010 event will go on-sale this weekend! It is hard to believe that the Southern 500 event weekend is just around the corner.
Fans purchasing tickets for the 2010 installment of the Southern 500 will notice new, lower prices in nearly every grandstand at Darlington Raceway. Officials at Darlington reduced ticket prices on over 40,000 seats during the off-season making attending the Southern 500 more affordable than ever. With ticket prices starting as low as $35 night-racing at Darlington is the best value on the Sprint Cup Circuit.
You can purchase tickets by calling our ticket office at 866-459-RACE or visit DarlingtonRaceway.com. Everyone at Darlington Raceway is looking forward to seeing you at the track “Too Tough to Tame.”
September 28, 2009
We had a great weekend at the Darlington Historic Racing Festival Presented by O’Reilly Auto parts!
The weekend started out on Saturday with NASCAR legends Cale Yarborough and Junior Johnson answering questions and signing autographs for fans. To hear these guys reminisce about their careers in NASCAR is really something special and I know that all of the fans getting autographs enjoyed meeting two of NASCAR’s original heroes.
Three time Indy 500 champion Johnny Rutherford was also on hand Saturday and talked about his impressive career in Indy racing as well as NASCAR. Rutherford talked about coming into Darlington and getting chills just thinking about all of the history at the track “Too Tough to Tame.”
The excitement continued on Sunday with all-time Darlington wins leader David Pearson and Leonard Wood taking the stage for questions and autographs. These two really have some great stories about Darlington and it was great to hear about their impressive run together in the 1970s.
I would really like to thank all of our fans for coming out and supporting this event. We are already planning for the 2010 Darlington Historic Racing Festival so keep checking DarlingtonRaceway.com for details.
September 21, 2009
It was great to see Southern 500 winner, Mark Martin, get off to a great start in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Mark and his No. 5 team have put together a great year leading the point standings heading into the Chase and getting an important win to kickoff the Chase and keep their momentum going.
Martin also announced late last week that he will be back in the No. 5 next season at Hendrick Motorsports full-time. Having Martin back in 2010 is good for NASCAR. He is a fan favorite, one of the classiest drivers in the garage and a throwback style racer.
Speaking of throwback racers, the Darlington Historic Racing Festival presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts is finally here! Cars will begin rolling into town on Friday for two-days of historic racing. We are expecting over 100 vintage race cars to be at Darlington this weekend as well as some of racings true legends.
All of the cars will be on display in the garage area and many will also go onto the track to run exhibition laps. There will be six classes of cars, including: two stock car classes, Indy roadsters, midgets, modifieds and historics. Fans will also have the opportunity to get up close with these cars in the garage area since each ticket includes admission into the garage area.
In addition to the historic cars many racing legends will also be in attendance. South Carolina natives David Pearson and Cale Yarborough will be participating in question and answer sessions with fans as well as an autograph session. Other legends include: open-wheel legend Johnny Rutherford, Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Marvin Panch, Ray Fox, Ned Jarrett, Rex White and many more.
We sure are looking forward to this weekend’s event and hope to see you at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” Be sure to check out http://www.darlingtonraceway.com for more information on everything going on at Darlington or to purchase tickets to any of our events!
September 14, 2009
Last week was a great week for everyone at Darlington Raceway. On Friday, September 11 we hosted the fourth annual NASCAR Foundation Blood Drive and saw record participation from the community! The Red Cross was able to collect over 200 units of blood making the Blood Drive at Darlington the largest one-day collection in the Pee Dee Region of South Carolina.
Each year the NASCAR Foundation Blood Drive at Darlington has grown and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who came out and participated in this year’s drive. We look forward to making next year’s drive the biggest and best yet.
The NASCAR Foundation Blood Drive was a great kickoff to an awesome weekend of racing at Richmond International Raceway. Heading into the weekend only four drivers were locked into the Chase for the Sprint Cup so everyone was looking forward to an exciting night on Saturday.
Saturday’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400 was full of excitement and great story lines. The racing was close up front with Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin battling for the lead for much of the night. Hamlin finally edged Gordon and Busch to get his first Cup Series victory at his home track.
Everyone also had their eyes on Kyle Busch and Brian Vickers throughout the evening. Busch and Vickers were vying for the 12th and final spot in the Chase and Kyle needed to finish well ahead of Vickers to race his way into the Chase. When the checkered flag flew it was Busch in fifth and Vickers in seventh giving Vickers the final spot in the Chase by only eight points – the slimmest margin in Chase history!
With the Chase field set everyone has their eyes on New Hampshire and getting off to a fast start. If Saturday’s race in Richmond is any indication, we are all in for one great race to the finish!
September 9, 2009
Welcome to the new and improved DarlingtonRaceway.com! As you can see our new site has a totally different look and feel and includes many more interactive features including photo and video galleries as well as an interactive timeline featuring historic photos and videos from some of the moments that helped shaped the history of Darlington Raceway.
You can still count on DarlingtonRaceway.com to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” Additionally, news feeds from ESPN have been added throughout the site to bring you the latest in NASCAR news.
Beginning on Monday, September 14 we will be unveiling our 2010 Southern 500 logo on our new site. Be sure to check the site each day to see the new logo as it is unveiled and also enter to win a 2010 Southern 500 ticket package.
Our staff has worked long and hard to make our new site innovative, exciting and fan-friendly. We would love for you to let us know what you think about the new site; please feel free to drop us a note at tickets@darlingtonraceway.com.
Lastly, thank you for your continued support of Darlington Raceway. We have the greatest fans in all of racing and look forward to seeing you here for the 2010 Southern 500.
August 17, 2009
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