There are three reasons why fans needn't be too disappointed by the fact that grandstand seats are sold out for the Dodge Avenger 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway on Saturday evening, May 12. One, infield admission tickets are still available; and two, more than half the names on the entry list for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on Friday evening, May 11, belong to full-time Cup Series drivers.
NEXTEL Cup Series drivers who will attempt to qualify for the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 include:
- JJ Yeley
- Clint Bowyer
- Regan Smith
- Mark Martin
- David Ragan
- Elliott Sadler
- Dave Blaney
- Ryan Newman
- Matt Kenseth
- Denny Hamlin
- Kevin Harvick
- Casey Mears
- David Gilliland
- Ward Burton
- Jeff Burton
- Tony Stewart
- Greg Biffle
- Reed Sorenson
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- Carl Edwards
- Bobby Labonte
- David Reutimann
- Morgan Shepherd
The superstars of the NEXTEL Cup Series have certainly seen their share of success in Busch Series races at the track "Too Tough To Tame." Mark Martin, who will be racing the No. 5 Rick Hendrick-owned Chevy on Friday night, is the track's all-time Busch Series winner. Ryan Newman holds the qualifying record, and Denny Hamlin is the defending race champion.
"About my favorite thing I do all year on the track is run the Busch race at Darlington. There's no stress, no pressure; it's just fun," said Greg Biffle, winner of the NEXTEL Cup Series races at Darlington in 2005 and 2006. "This is racing the way it was originally intended to be, and the way it should be. Man and machine, going for the win against the toughest opponent anywhere."
And the third reason? There's always next year. The Raceway ticket office is accepting seat requests for the 2008 Carolina Dodge Dealers 500, when the NEXTEL Cup Series drivers will face off for the first time on Darlington's new asphalt. The storied track will undergo a repaving and tunnel construction project
The 2007 Dodge Avenger 500 weekend at Darlington Raceway includes practice for the USAC Silver Crown Series and the NASCAR Busch Series on Thursday, May 10, followed by USAC qualifying and the "Silver Crown Showdown at Darlington" under the lights. Tickets are priced at only $10 each; kids 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.
Friday, May 11, will include NASCAR NEXTEL Cup practice, and NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series qualifying, followed by the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 NASCAR Busch Series race under the lights that evening.
On Saturday, May 12, Darlington will host Cup Series racing for the 58th consecutive season as Greg Biffle attempts to join the short list of drivers to win three events in a row at NASCAR's most historic venue. Grandstand tickets for the 2007 Dodge Avenger 500 are sold out, but infield admissions are still available.
Tickets are on sale now. For more information, call the Raceway ticket hotline toll-free at 866.459.RACE, or visit www.racetickets.com.
Contact: Darlington Raceway public relations 843.395.8892
