75TH ANNIVERSARY TIMELINE | DARLINGTON RACEWAY

WHO WON THE FIRST SOUTHERN 500?

Sept. 4, 2 1950: Running of the first Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR's original superspeedway race, the first for "stock cars." 75 cars entered the event while some 25,000 fans watched from the grandstand and infield. Race was won by Californian Johnny Mantz, the slowest qualifier in the field. He blitzed the field by using a hard-compound truck tire while others kept blowing tires throughout the race.

WHY WAS THE 1960 RACE RAN ON TWO SEPERATE DAYS?

Inclement weather forced a two-part spring 300-miler. First 74 laps run on May 7, but was completed a week later on the 14^th later because of rain. Joe Weatherly wins.

WHEN WAS THE TRACK REPAVED FIRST?

Local favorite Cale Yarborough, from Timmonsville, wins the first of a record five Southern 500s. He categorized it as his greatest win of his career as it come on the “old” track layout. After Southern 500 race, old turns three and four reworked. $175,000 dollars spent to rebank the venue. Track completely asphalted. Banking now at 25 degrees in old turns three and four.

WHEN WAS THE FIRST XFINITY SERIES RACE?

April, 1980: First late model sportsman race (subsequently called the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series, and today’s NASCAR Xfinity Series). David Pearson edges out Neil Bonnett and Dave Marcis as the trio are three-wide at the line. Held the day before 500 in the spring.

HAS THERE EVER BEEN A MOVIE OR TV SHOW FILMED AT DARLINGTON RACEWAY?

Yes! 1990 Movie “Days of Thunder,” starring Tom Cruise, filmed at Darlington in spring (three weeks).

WHAT YEAR WAS THE TRACK FLIPPED AROUND?

1997. Darlington gears up for its most important weekend since the track opened in 1950. Because the track owns property on the "back" side of the track, it is decided to "switch" the start/finish line to the opposite side, thus making the old turn three the new turn one, the old turn four the new turn two. The old turn one becomes the new turn three, and the old turn two is now the new turn four. While the start/finish line was moved, the actual track surface was not disturbed. The asphalt and walls still the same.

WHO HAS THE MOST VICTORIES IN-A-ROW AT DARLINGTON RACEWAY?

Jeff Gordon becomes the first driver in history to capture four consecutive Southern 500 triumphs. In addition, it’s the second straight year that Gordon wins a $1 million bonus, this time the Winston “No Bull 5.”

WHAT IS THE CLOSEST FINISH IN TRACK HISTORY?

March, 2003: The second closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history is set March 16 in the spring 400-miler when Ricky Craven beats Kurt Busch by .002 seconds. It was one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of NASCAR with the duo trading paint over the last several laps.

WHAT YEAR WERE LIGHTS ADDED TO DARLINGTON RACEWAY?

2004. Lights are installed at the venue to provide night racing for Labor Day weekend. Jimmie Johnson wins both Cup Series races at Darlington, including the Southern 500, the next-to-last-race of the season, which was the first event held under the lights.

WHAT YEAR DID THROWBACK WEEKEND START?

Sept, 2015: NASCAR’s original superspeedway introduces its first “Throwback Weekend,” to honor drivers and teams from NASCAR’s past. Teams encouraged to run alternate throwback paint schemes from racers in the past, plus the entire industry got involved with throwback uniforms, and broadcast partners bringing back legendary broadcasters.

2020 EVENTS

Track Celebrates 70 years of existence.
After a 15-year absence, Darlington gains its second NASCAR weekend back, adding a race date on Mother’s Day weekend in addition to Labor Day weekend.
May: During COVID, Darlington hosts the first and second live sporting events in the country since the pandemic shut down all sports around the world. While some states wouldn’t allow sporting events, South Carolina did, and NASCAR conducted races at the 1.366-mile track, just two hours from many of the team shops in the Charlotte area. The races were televised but with no fans in the stands.
May: Kevin Harvick wins the first race back, and a few days later, Denny Hamlin wins the second. Chase Briscoe captured the NASCAR Xfinity Series event.
Sept: Kevin Harvick wins the Cook Out Southern 500, the first Southern 500 sponsored by the popular restaurant chain.

TRACK PRESIDENTS

Harold Brasington (1950 - 1952)
Bob Colvin (1952 - 1967)
Barney Wallace (1967 - 1983)
Walter D. "Red" Tyler (1983 - 1989)
Woody McKay (1989 - 1993)
Jim Hunter (1993 - 2001)
Andrew Gurtis (2001 - 2004)
Chris Browning (2004 - 2013)
Chip Wile (2013 - 2016)
Kerry Tharp (2016 - 2024)
Josh Harris (2024 - Current)

1940's

The Beginning of Darlington Raceway

Darlington native and visionary, Harold Brasington, begins construction of Darlington Raceway (Finding investors, getting equipment together, and getting location). He got the idea to build a big-time track for stock cars in South Carolina after seeing the 1933 Indianapolis 500.

Dec. 13, 1949: Brasington breaks ground on the new venue, which sat on 70 acres of land.

1950's

TRACK COMPLETION

1950: Track was completed, 1.25 miles in length; 25-foot bank with 10,000 seats. Cost approximately $250,000. Concrete bleachers were built.

Sept. 4, 1950: Running of the first Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, NASCAR's original superspeedway race, the first for "stock cars." 75 cars entered the event while some 25,000 fans watched from the grandstand and infield. Race was won by Californian Johnny Mantz, the slowest qualifier in the field. He blitzed the field by using a hard-compound truck tire while others kept blowing tires throughout the race.

Harold Brasington turns over control of Darlington Raceway to Bob Colvin prior to 1952 Southern 500. Brasington now General Manager, Colvin President.

After Southern 500, track is extended to 1.375 miles in length. Old turns 1 & 2 (south end) were completely rebuilt and banked 26 feet, increase from 14-foot embankment of previous years. The turns were raised 5 and ½ feet in elevation. Was done to increase speeds. Degree of banking is now 23 degrees.

1950's

RACE WINNERS