ABOUT US
ABOUT US
| TRACK LENGTH | 1.366 miles |
|---|---|
| TRACK TYPE | Oval |
| SURFACE | Asphalt |
| BANKING | 23-25 degrees on turns |
| CAUTION SPEED | 45 MPH |
OUR HISTORY
Darlington Raceway is one of the sport’s oldest and most challenging tracks on the circuit. Before the development of larger tracks, it was NASCAR’s first true superspeedway. The track is home to the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR in the spring and the iconic Southern 500 on Labor Day Weekend.
RECORDS:
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Most Wins: David Pearson - 10 Wins
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Most Poles: David Pearson - 12 Poles
- The second closest finish in NASCAR History happened at Darlington Raceway in March 2003 when Ricky Craven took the checkered flag ahead of Kurt Busch by 0.002 seconds.
THE BEGINNING
Harold Brasington (far left) completes construction on Darlington Raceway. The track is built on land that was formally used to grow peanuts and cotton. Land owner Sherman Ramsey’s wish that his minnow pond be undisturbed during construction leads to the track’s unique egg-shape.
The first Southern 500 is contested. Indy Car driver Johnny Mantz
The first Southern 500 is contested. Indy Car driver Johnny Mantz, who showed up as a spectator, had a car bought for him — then being used to run business errands. He won after being the slowest qualifier. He ran the full 500 miles on the same set of tires, as witnessed by Firestone’s Bill McCrary. The night before the race, Mantz attended a party in Myrtle Beach and almost didn’t make it back in time for the race. He popped two aspirins and buckled up. Jack Smith, who finished 29th, said preparing his own car meant placing masking tape over the headlights, securing the doors with dog collars, and using rope as a seat belt.
Johnnie Parsons wins the AAA open-wheel race
Johnnie Parsons wins the AAA open-wheel race in a Russo-Nichels Special. The Russo-Nichels Special was actually built in the basement of the Hammond, Indiana home of its driver, Paul Russo by Russo and his chief mechanic, Ray Nichels. It had to be partially dismantled in order to be removed, earning the nickname, "Basement Bessie." By the time of the final AAA Championship race of the year, at the brand-new Darlington Raceway, Russo was trying to make a comeback after being sidelined with an arm injury. In the meantime, 1950 Indianapolis winner Johnnie Parsons, delayed by travel woes, arrived to discover that another driver was in his car. Russo and Nichels decided to turn "Basement Bessie" over to Parsons and the unlikely combination won the Darlington race.
HAROLD BRASINGTON
Harold Brasington sells his stake in Darlington Raceway and legendary promoter Bob Colvin is installed as President and General Manager.
DARLINGTON RACEWAY IS AWARDED A SECOND RACE DATE
Darlington Raceway is awarded a second race date – a convertible race - in the spring to accompany the Southern 500. Fireball Roberts wins the Inaugural convertible event. Speedy Thompson wins the Southern 500, averaging 100.094 mph, surpassing the 100-mph barrier for the first time in a race.
South Carolina native David Pearson talks about the track’s infamous “bear grease” sealant
South Carolina native David Pearson talks about the track’s infamous “bear grease” sealant: “I never had seen a race here until I came to run. And, the first time I came across the track, they’d just put down that old ‘bear grease,’ and it was slick and shiny. I said, ‘Lord, have mercy!’ I couldn’t hardly walk on it, much less race on it.”
Joe Weatherly's Superstition in this race
Joe Weatherly’s superstition in this race — the 13th annual – causes track president Bob Colvin to name the event the 12th Renewal. Nelson Stacy’s 13th qualifying position is tabulated as position 12a. Stacy wins the final race for NASCAR’s discontinued Convertible Division at Darlington.
FIREBALL ROBERTS
Fireball Roberts wins the only caution-free Southern 500
JOE WEATHERLY STOCK CAR MUSEUM
Groundbreaking is held for the Joe Weatherly Stock Car Museum. Curtis Turner turns the first shovel of dirt on the east side of the speedway. After a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Weatherly had suggested that Bob Colvin build a museum at Darlington. Following Weatherly’s death at Riverside, California, plans are put in motion for the attraction.
NED JARRETT WINS THE SOUTHERN 500
Ned Jarrett wins the Southern 500 by 14 laps, the largest margin of victory in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.
RICHARD PETTY
Richard Petty records his 55th career victory at Darlington, pushing him past his father Lee on the all-time wins list.
RICHARD PETTY FLIPS
Richard Petty flips four times on the frontstretch and suffers a broken shoulder. Petty’s wreck leads to the use of the driver’s safety net.
DAVID PEARSON WINS
David Pearson wins Southern 500 and the Triple Crown - winning three of NASCAR's most prestigious races. His 1973 Mercury goes into Joe Weatherly Museum.
DARRELL WALTRIP
Darrell Waltrip wins his first Superspeedway race beating Bobby Allison, Richard Petty and David Pearson in dramatic fashion.
David Pearson wins his 10th and final Cup race at Darlington Raceway
David Pearson wins his 10th and final Cup race at Darlington Raceway in his first start for car owner Hoss Ellington. It was Pearson’s 105th and final career victory.
Dale Earnhardt breaks streak.
Dale Earnhardt breaks his 39 race winless streak and wins the Rebel 500. It was Earnhardt’s first of nine Darlington Cup wins.
Cale Yarborough becomes the first driver to win five Southern 500 races.
Cale Yarborough becomes the first driver to win five Southern 500 races. He won in four different makes of automobile: Mercury, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Buick.
Bill Elliott wins the Winston Million
Bill Elliott wins the Winston Million at Darlington for capturing three of four crown jewel races during the season. His Ford bears an upside down No. 9 on the roof, creating urban-myth fodder. An account from his brother, Dan Elliott, indicates that their painter inadvertently put the numeral mask on wrong, creating the oddball look. However, according to Darlington Raceway Vice President Mac Josey, the real reason was to make it look like a lowercase “e” for Elliott.
DAYS OF THUNDER
Filming for the movie “Days of Thunder” begins at Darlington. The movie features Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid and Robert Duvall. Cruise’s character, NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, wins his first race at Darlington Raceway.
JEFF GORDON WINS
Jeff Gordon wins his first race at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500. Gordon would go on to tie Cale Yarborough’s record of five Southern 500 victories.
THE TRACK IS FLIPPED
The track is flipped: the frontstretch becomes the backstretch and vice-versa. Jeff Gordon becomes the second driver to win the Winston Million.
JEFF BURTON WINS FOR THE FIRST TIME
Jeff Burton wins for the first time at Darlington in the TranSouth Financial 400. The race ended in dramitic style with a wreck out of turn four. Burton who was leading, went to avoid spinning cars in front of him, and slammed hard into the outside retaining wall, but beat the rest of the field to the cuation flag. Moments later, rain began to fall. For the next two laps later, Burton manhandled his beaten machine (with most of the right side crunched inward) around the track, barely able to turn it left in the corners. As the rain continued, the race was red-flagged, and that’s the way it ended.
RICKY CRAVEN AND KURT BUSCH
In the 100th Sprint Cup Series race held at Darlington Raceway Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch engage in an epic battle that leads to a victory for Craven and disappointment for Busch. Craven was declared the winner of the race by only .002 second – the second closest margin of victory in NASCAR history.
JOHNSON UNDER THE LIGHTS
Lights are installed at Darlington Raceway and Jimmie Johnson sweeps both races at Darlington in 2004.
BIFFLE WINS SECOND STRAIGHT
Greg Biffle wins his second straight race at the track "Too Tough to Tame."
RENOVATION
Darlington receives the largest renovation in the track’s 58-year history with $10 million in funding for capital projects, including repaving of the racing surface and aprons, the addition of concrete pit stalls and a new infield access tunnel large enough to accommodate race car haulers and motor coaches.
KYLE BUSCH WINS FIRST
Kyle Busch scores his first victory at Darlington Raceway following the re-pave of the track. The inaugural Darlington Historic Racing Festival is held celebrating the history of oval-track racing.
MARK MARTIN RECORDS HIS SECOND WIN AT DARLINGTON
Darlington celebrates 60 seasons of Racing. The Southern 500 race name returns to the track's May race date. A retro paint scheme is added to the walls when they are painted in a red and white block scheme reminiscent of the late 1980's. Over 20 former Darlington winners are on hand for pre-race ceremonies. Cale Yarborough serves as an honorary race official and paces the field to start the race. Mark Martin drives to victory recording his second win at Darlington Raceway.
REGAN SMITH VICTORY
Regan Smith won the 2011 Southern 500 for his first and only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory to date. Smith, on old tires, held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards in a dramatic green-white checkered finish to claim the upset victory. “This is the Southern 500—we’re not supposed to win this thing,” an incredulous Smith radioed to his crew after the race.
200 WINS FOR HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
Jimmie Johnson gave Hendrick Motorsports its 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win when he took the checkered flag for Bojangles’ Southern 500. Johnson led six times for 134 laps, including the final 44, en route to his third triumph at the historic track and the milestone win for owner Rick Hendrick. The win was the 56th of Johnson's career at the time. Since the first win on April 29, 1984 when Geoff Bodine went to Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway, 15 drivers combined to give Hendrick the milestone victory. Jeff Gordon is the all-time leading winner for Hendrick Motorsports.
HARVICK WINS FIRST
Kevin Harvick won his first Bojangles’ Southern 500 on April 12, 2014. It was also the first win at Darlington for his team Stewart-Haas Racing. He led 238 of a possible 367 laps in a dominant performance.