Darlington Raceway facts for kids
| The Lady in Black The Track Too Tough To Tame |
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Oval (1953–present)
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| Location | 1301 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington, South Carolina, 29532 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (UTC−4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 34°17′44.23″N 79°54′21.46″W / 34.2956194°N 79.9059611°W |
| Capacity | 47,000 |
| Owner | NASCAR (2019–present) |
| Broke ground | Disputed; December 12, 1949, or January 13, 1950 |
| Opened | August 19, 1950 |
| Major events | Current: NASCAR Cup Series Southern 500 (1950–present) Goodyear 400 (1952, 1957–2004, 2020–present) NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (1983–present) Shriners Children’s 200 (1982, 1984–2004, 2020–present) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Buckle Up South Carolina 200 (2001–2004, 2010–2011, 2020–present) Former: AAA/USAC Champ Car Racing (1950–1951, 1954, 1956) International Race of Champions (1993–1995) |
| Oval (1953–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 1.366 mi (2.198 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Turns 1 and 2: 25° Turns 3 and 4: 23° Frontstretch and Backstretch: 6° |
| Race lap record | 0:28.332 ( Denny Hamlin, Toyota Camry, 2018, NASCAR Cup) |
Darlington Raceway is a famous race track in Darlington, South Carolina. It is shaped like an egg and is about 1.366 mi (2.198 km) long. Since it opened in 1950, the track has hosted many exciting races. Most of these races are organized by NASCAR.
The track can hold 47,000 fans. NASCAR owns Darlington Raceway, and Josh Harris is the current president.
Darlington Raceway was opened in 1950 by Harold Brasington, who was from Darlington. He wanted to create a race track like the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After a few years, Bob Colvin took over as president. Under his leadership, the track grew a lot.
Later, in 1982, the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) bought the track. This led to more improvements in the 1990s. Darlington Raceway has always been a key part of the NASCAR Cup Series. The Southern 500 race held here is one of the most important races in NASCAR.
Contents
About Darlington Raceway
Track Shape and Features
Darlington Raceway is 1.366 miles (2.198 km) long. It has four turns and two straight sections. Turns 1 and 2 are banked at 25 degrees. Turns 3 and 4 are banked at 23 degrees. The straight parts of the track are banked at 6 degrees.
The track is famous for its unusual, asymmetrical shape. This means the turns are not all the same. Turns 1 and 2 are wider than turns 3 and 4. This unique design, along with the rough track surface, makes Darlington one of the toughest tracks for NASCAR drivers. Drivers often say they have to choose between being fast in one set of turns or the other.
Visitor Information
Darlington Raceway is located in Darlington, South Carolina. You can get there using U.S. Route 52 and other state highways. As of 2021, the track can hold 47,000 people.
History of the Track
How the Track Was Built
Harold Brasington, a local resident, was inspired after watching a race in Indianapolis in 1933. He wanted to build a stock car track in the Southeast. He found a good spot in his hometown, Darlington, because the land was cheaper.
Brasington bought a 105-acre (42 ha) piece of land from a friend. There is some debate about when construction started. Some reports say January 13, 1950, while others say December 12, 1949. Many people in the area doubted the project. They even called it "Harold's Folly."
During construction, the landowner worried about the track affecting his fishing pond. So, Brasington made turns 1 and 2 tighter than turns 3 and 4. This is why the track has its unique, asymmetrical shape today. The track was finished by August 1950. It could seat about 10,000 people.
Early Years and Changes
Darlington International Raceway officially opened on August 19, 1950. The first big race, the 1950 Southern 500, happened on September 4. Johnny Mantz won this historic event.
In 1951, Bob Colvin became the track president. Under his leadership, the track grew a lot. In 1953, the banking in the "south turn" was made steeper. More grandstand seats were added in 1954 and 1956, increasing the seating capacity. In 1963, another grandstand was built. The track was completely repaved for the first time in 1965.
During these early years, there were several serious accidents at the track. Sadly, some racers and pit crew members lost their lives. Safety measures in racing have improved greatly since then.
Challenging Times and Changes
Early track president Bob Colvin had policies that were unfair to Black people. He did not allow Black spectators in the main grandstands. He also tried to stop Black drivers, like Wendell Scott, from racing. These policies were wrong and showed discrimination. Today, such unfair practices are not allowed.
Leadership Changes and Upgrades
After Bob Colvin passed away in 1967, Barney Wallace became president. He was slower to make upgrades to the track. In 1969, turns three and four were changed to be wider and steeper. A new concrete wall was also added. More improvements were made in the 1970s, including a new garage area and another full repave in 1978. In 1982, the main grandstand was named the Colvin Grandstand.
New Ownership and Modernization
In 1982, the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) bought Darlington Raceway. This helped the track get much-needed updates. Barney Wallace remained president for a short time before Walter "Red" Tyler took over.
Major renovations began in 1990. A new garage area was built. In 1993, Jim Hunter became the new president. In 1994, the new 8,000-seat Tyler Tower was built. The track was repaved again in 1995, and 5,000 more seats were added.
In 1997, a big change happened: the start-finish line was moved. This meant turns 1 and 2 became turns 3 and 4, and vice versa. More grandstands and a new media center were also built. By 1999, the track had only one pit road, making it more efficient.
Race Schedule Changes
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In 2003, Darlington Raceway added permanent lights. This allowed for exciting night races. In 2004, new safety barriers called SAFER barriers were installed.
Also in 2004, Darlington Raceway lost its traditional fall Southern 500 race date. This was due to NASCAR's plans to expand nationally and a lawsuit. The Southern 500 was moved to the spring and held on Mother's Day weekend.
Recent Years and Capacity Changes
In 2006, an old grandstand was replaced with a new one, adding more seats. In 2007, a $10 million project began to repave the track and add an infield tunnel. These improvements were ready for the 2008 race season.
Over time, the track's seating capacity was adjusted. By 2018, it was 58,000. Chip Wile became president in 2013, followed by Kerry Tharp in 2016.
A big moment happened in 2015 when the Southern 500 returned to its traditional Labor Day weekend date. In 2018, a $7 million renovation updated the grandstands, reducing the capacity to 47,000. In 2019, NASCAR took over ownership of the track. In 2023, Josh Harris became the new track president.
Major Races at Darlington
NASCAR Races
Darlington Raceway hosts two main NASCAR weekends each year. These include the Southern 500 and the Goodyear 400.
The Southern 500 started in 1950 and is a "Crown Jewel" race. It was traditionally held on Labor Day. In 1957, a second Cup Series race, the Goodyear 400, was added. Darlington hosted two Cup Series races annually until 2004. The Goodyear 400 was brought back to the Cup Series schedule in 2021.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series began racing at Darlington in 1982. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also started racing here in 2001.
Other Racing Events
- From 1950 to 1956, Darlington Raceway hosted races for the AAA and USAC Championship Car Series.
- From 1993 to 1995, the track held annual International Race of Champions (IROC) events.
Fastest Lap Records
As of May 2021, here are some of the fastest official race lap records at Darlington Raceway:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
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| Oval: 2.198 km (1953–present) | ||||
| NASCAR Cup | 0:28.332 | Denny Hamlin | Toyota Camry | 2018 Bojangles' Southern 500 |
| NASCAR Xfinity | 0:29.196 | Ryan Blaney | Ford Mustang | 2019 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 |
| NASCAR Truck | 0:29.392 | John Hunter Nemechek | Toyota Tundra | 2021 LiftKits4Less.com 200 |
| Original Oval: 2.012 km (1950–1952) | ||||
See also
In Spanish: Darlington Raceway para niños
