DARLINGTON, S.C. (July 16, 2024) – Darlington Raceway announced today that the NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Showcase and Parade will return for a second straight year ahead of the 75th Annual Cook Out Southern 500 Race Weekend.
On Friday, Aug. 30, beginning at 4 p.m., fans are invited to nearby Florence-Darlington Technical College, where they can take photos by their favorite, colorful haulers from all the 36 NASCAR Cup Series teams. It will be a festive atmosphere with not only the mammoth big rigs to see up close, but also lots of family fun. It includes games, musical entertainment, kids activities, various refreshment vendors, the Darlington Raceway Chevrolet pace car and the iconic 1950 No. 87 Oldsmobile “Rocket 88,” which was the first entry into the inaugural Southern 500 in 1950. The car was driven by NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker and owned by Florence native Bobby Griffin.
The haulers will depart Florence-Darlington Technical College at 6 p.m. and parade their way through downtown Darlington and onto the historic Darlington Raceway where they will load into the NASCAR Cup Series Garage.
New to the parade this year is “Haulerfest,” hosted by the city of Darlington and the Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association. The festival, held on the public square of downtown Darlington, will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the Hauler Showcase and Parade return for 2024,” said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. “Our fans were so appreciative when we reintroduced the tradition last year, so it’s amazing we’re able to continue to show gratitude for their support by bringing it back with an all-new Haulerfest in downtown Darlington.”
Last year’s parade was the first since 2020 and was met with overwhelming praise from fans.
Darlington’s Labor Day Race Weekend begins at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sports Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200. Then at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, the NASCAR Cup Series stars will battle to secure their spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with the Cook Out Southern 500, one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events and the final race of the regular season.
NASCAR fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets while supplies last at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com.
About Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway, nicknamed The Lady in Black and the Track Too Tough To Tame, is home to the award-winning Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR and annually hosts two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and/or NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Opening in 1950, Darlington Raceway is “A NASCAR Tradition” and NASCAR’s original superspeedway with its famed 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval, challenging the sports best in one of the most iconic NASCAR races, the Southern 500®. For more information about Darlington Raceway, visit darlingtonraceway.com. Stay connected to Darlington Raceway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the NASCAR Tracks App.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
