2016 Race Winner: #78-Martin Truex, Jr., 126.437mph, started 8th

Track Race Record: Matt Kenseth, May 2013, 141.383mph

Slowest Race Record: Fonty Flock, Sept 1952, 74.512mph

Oldest Race Winner: Harry Gant, 51 years, 7 months, 22 days, 9/01/1991)

Youngest Race Winner: Kyle Busch, 23 years, 0 months, 8 days, 5/10/2008

2016 Pole Winner: #4-Kevin Harvick, qualifying canceled because of rain, finished 2nd

Track Qualifying Record: Aric Almirola, April 2014, 184.145mph (set during 2nd round of qualifying)

Oldest Pole Winner: David Pearson, 47 years, 8 months, 15 days, 9/06/1982

Youngest Pole Winner: Kurt Busch, 23 years, 0 months, 29 days, 9/02/2001

Most Races - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 35; Dale Earnhardt Jr., 21

Most Races - All Time: Richard Petty, 65

Most Wins - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 7; Jimmie Johnson, 3

Most Wins - All Time: David Pearson, 10

Most Poles - Active Driver: Kasey Kahne, 4

Most Poles - All Time: David Pearson, 12

Most Wins - Owner: Rick Hendrick, 13

Most Top 5s - All-time: Richard Petty, 25

Most Top 5s - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 19; Jimmie Johnson, 9

Most Top 10s - All-time: Bill Elliott, 35

Most Top 10s - Active Driver: Jeff Gordon, 23; Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, 12

Most Leaders: 20, 9/4/1994

Fewest Leaders: 2, 9/4/1950

Most Lead Changes: 41, 9/6/1982

Fewest Lead Changes: 4, 9/4/1950

Most Laps Led [500 miles]: Johnny Mantz, Sept 1950, 351 laps [of 367]

Most Laps Led [400 miles]: Richard Petty, April 1966, 281 laps [of 293]

Most Cautions: 18, September 2015

Most Caution Laps: 101, Sept 1974

Fewest Cautions: 0, Sept 1963

Fewest Caution Laps: 0, Sept 1963

Most Finishers on the Lead Lap: 28, September 2015

Fewest Finishers on the Lead Lap: 1 - 24 times, most recently 9/3/1979

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Johnny Mantz, Sept 1950, started 43rd [75 started, 3 abreast]

Most Wins by current Manufacturers: Chevy, 41; Ford, 28; Toyota, 5

Most Wins by former Manufacturers: Mercury, 10; Oldsmobile, 6; Dodge, 5; Pontiac, 5; Buick, 4; Plymouth, 4; Hudson, 3; AMC, 2

47 drivers have won poles at Darlington

A total of 49 drivers have won Sprint Cup races at Darlington

Races won from the Pole: 20 of 113

Races won from the top 5: 69 of 113

Races won from the Top 10: 97 of 113

Races won from the Top 15: 107 of 113

Races won from outside the Top 10: 16 of 113

What is a "Darlington stripe"? Slang term for the black marks resulting from scrapes with the wall at the 1.366-mile track where the high lane is the fastest. Might be called the "SAFER stripe" this weekend after the addition of the energy-absorbing barriers

Darlington Double: three drivers have completed the Darlington sweep of the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races on the same weekend:
1987 - Dale Earnhardt
1993 - Mark Martin
2010 - Denny Hamlin.

Sport Clips, VFW renew sponsorship of Darlington XFINITY race: Longtime partners, Sport Clips Haircuts and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) will once again return to sponsor the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Darlington Raceway, extending their entitlement sponsorship through the 2020 race season. The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 is slated for Saturday, Sept. 2 at the track Too Tough To Tame, as part of Darlington Raceway's award-winning throwback weekend. Sport Clips and the VFW are proud supporters of Darlington's throwback campaign, having run special paint schemes in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series races since the program began in 2015. Last year's MENCS scheme on Denny Hamlin's #11 Sport Clips Toyota car for Joe Gibbs Racing featured a tribute to NASCAR Hall of Fame member Darrell Waltrip. The 2017 Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 race will also feature special retro-style designed tickets for the first time. Similar to the special Bojangles' Southern 500 tickets produced the past two years, the XFINITY Series ticket will tie the past and present of the sport together by recognizing 1987 race winner Dale Earnhardt Sr., along with last year's victor Elliott Sadler. Sport Clips and the VFW will continue to use their NASCAR entitlement partnership to raise awareness about the struggles many military families are facing and the VFW's mission to support active-duty military, veterans and their families.(Darlington Raceway)(2-15-2017)

Darlington Raceway to host Watch Party for Daytona 500: Darlington Raceway will celebrate Daytona Day and the start of the 2017 NASCAR season by hosting its sixth annual Daytona 500 Community Watch Party on Feb. 26. The event will start at 1:30pm and continue until the conclusion of the Daytona 500. The party will be hosted at Mellow Mushroom, 120 Dunbarton Dr., in Florence, S.C. Proud partners Crown Beverages and Coca-Cola will also be supporting the event with a variety of activities and giveaways. Media partners include iHeart Media (Eagle 92.9 FM) and WMBF News (NBC). The Community Watch Party will feature a food and drink special courtesy of Mellow Mushroom. Fans who attend will have the chance to win tickets, pit passes and pre-race ceremony wristbands, along with other prizes and giveaways to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend.(Darlington Raceway)(2-5-2017)

Darlington to celebrate late 80s with throwback weekend: Another historic celebration of the sport is in store for Darlington Raceway. The track is pleased to announce "Year 3" of its award-winning throwback campaign for the Bojangles' Southern 500 race weekend on Sept. 1-3, 2017. The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR will be celebrating the 1985-89 era of the sport in 2017, which like the 1975-84 period it celebrated in 2016, was a time of exceptional growth and exposure for NASCAR.
"The track will be celebrating the 1985-89 time period of the sport during our throwback weekend in 2017," Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. "As we enter the third year of our throwback campaign, we'll be focusing on drivers, personalities and moments that were compelling in that timeframe, such as the emergence of Dale Earnhardt Sr., Bill Elliott winning the first Winston Million, and the growth of the NASCAR XFINITY Series (formerly the Busch Grand National Series). It will be an exciting era for the track and industry to celebrate."
As the sport moved into the late 1980's, NASCAR champions such as Dale Earnhardt Sr., Darrell Waltrip, Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace, among others, made a tremendous impact on the sport and will be celebrated during the Labor Day weekend festivities. This year is also the 50th anniversary of Richard Petty's one and only Southern 500 victory (1967).
For the third straight year, Darlington Raceway is also excited to announce it will once again highlight its rich history with a commemorative ticket design for the Bojangles' Southern 500 linking the past, present and future. The retro design will link 1987 Southern 500 champion Dale Earnhardt Sr., who ranks second all-time with nine NASCAR Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway, and 2016 Bojangles' Southern 500 winner Martin Truex Jr. These special tickets will be used for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500.(Darlington Raceway)(1-19-2017)

Darlington now hosts "The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR": It's now official! Darlington Raceway and its Labor Day race weekend are now being recognized as "The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR." The designation ensures that the official historical celebration of the sport will continue to take place at the famed 1.366-mile superspeedway in Darlington, South Carolina.
"We have worked closely with NASCAR to ensure that Darlington Raceway now has the exclusive rights to the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR for promotions and advertising of our event," said Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway President. "Our return to Labor Day weekend, coupled with the Throwback theme has elevated our event across the entire sport and this move only solidifies that among our fans, race teams, sponsors, broadcast partners and media, among others."
The track's award-winning throwback campaign has earned rave reviews throughout the industry since its inception in 2015. The campaign has aligned all key stakeholders in the sport and provided a historical celebration that has earned much praise from fans and corporate partners. It was because of this collaboration over the past two seasons that NASCAR recognized the importance of the track's throwback weekend and in turn will now celebrate The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR at the sport's original paved superspeedway, which opened and began hosting NASCAR events in 1950.
The track's 2016 throwback campaign last season featured a celebration of 1975-84 including the following highlights:
" Over 36 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race teams competed with throwback paint schemes for the Bojangles' Southern 500, the most in any single NASCAR event in the sport's history.
" Over 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series teams competed with throwback paint schemes.
" Use of NASCAR's famed "NASCAR International" logo for the second consecutive year.
" For the second straight year, Goodyear put the original white lettering on its race tires specifically for the Bojangles' Southern 500.
" NBC did another throwback broadcast of the race featuring old station logos and graphics. NASCAR legends Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and Dale Jarrett did a special throwback broadcast during the race for the second straight year.
" Honored 14 NASCAR Hall of Fame members at the Bojangles' Legends Breakfast.
" 2017 NHOF inductees Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress and Mark Martin served as the Bojangles' Southern 500 grand marshals.
" Unique food offerings from the 1975-84 time period, including the pimento cheese sandwich.
" Pre-race concert by rock legends KANSAS and national anthem performance by Barry Williams (of The Brady Bunch fame).
The Tradition Continues on Labor Day weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500® is set for Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. You can keep up with all of the latest news from Darlington Raceway and get tickets at DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway)(1-12-2017)

Adcock named vice president of track operations at Darlington: Darlington Raceway has promoted Dennis Adcock to vice president of track operations. Adcock, the track's director of operations since 2013, will continue to oversee all facility and maintenance operations for the famed superspeedway. Prior to Darlington Raceway, Adcock served for 14 years as a NASCAR official, primarily as garage supervisor for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In that role, he was responsible for the overall operation of the garage and worked closely with the teams, tracks and other stakeholders. He was also involved on the race team side of the business, having co-owned LAR Motorsports out of Nashville, Tenn. with drivers Casey Atwood and Jeff Purvis in 1995. He was also part of Steve Grissom's 1993 NASCAR Busch Series championship team and served as a crew member for Jeff Gordon's 1991 and 1992 campaigns for Bill Davis Racing.(Darlington Raceway)(11-26-2016)

Darlington offering Black Friday deal: Beginning on Wednesday, November 23, Darlington Raceway is offering race fans the opportunity to purchase a special Black Friday ticket package at renewal pricing for its Labor Day weekend events on Sept. 2-3, 2017. The special package includes a ticket to both the NASCAR Premier Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 and NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at the famed South Carolina track. The Black Friday ticket package is available to all non-renewal customers. Non-renewal guests will receive renewal pricing, which is the lowest priced tickets the track offers throughout the year. The offer is valid from midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 23 through midnight on Nov. 30, while supplies last. To take advantage of the Black Friday offer fans can visit www.DarlingtonRaceway.com or by calling 866-459-7223.(Darlington Raceway)(11-23-2016)

Truex, Jr. wins at Darlington: #78-Martin Truex, Jr. won the Bojangles' Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway for his 2nd win of the season, 1st win at Darlington and 5th career win. Truex led 28 of the 367 laps.
Pole sitter #4-Harvick finished 2nd followed by #42-Larson, #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, #20-Kenseth, #5-Kahne, #31-Newman, #2-Keselowski, and #24-Elliott.
Harvick dominated much of the race, leading 214 laps on the night, but an airgun broke on a late pit stop and dropped him to 12th place. He was never able to regain the lead.
#34-Chris Buescher remains 30th in points, 11 points ahead of 31st. He must be 30th in points after next week's race to secure a spot in the Chase.
#24-Elliott, #3-Dillon, and #1-McMurray remain in position to get into the Chase on points. #31-Newman is the first driver out, 7 points behind McMurray.
There were 14 lead changes among 8 drivers and 10 cautions for 52 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 126.437 mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more [NOTE: money/winnings are no longer reported] at:
Unofficial Race Results page (pdf)
Lap Summary Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Pit Stop Times (pdf)
Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf) (9-4-2016)

Cale Yarborough to serve as Southern 500 honorary pace car driver: Cale Yarborough once again will be driving on the legendary high banks of Darlington Raceway. On Sunday, Sept. 4, Yarborough, a South Carolina native and NASCAR Hall of Famer, will pace the field as the honorary pace car driver for the 67th running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500. "This is quite an honor and I'm really looking forward to being the honorary pace car driver for the Bojangles' Southern 500," Yarborough said. "The Southern 500 is the reason I got into racing. When I saw my first one, I knew that's what I wanted to do. Darlington is a tough, ol' race track that can give you fits. When I was racing, I wanted to win the Southern 500 more than any other race. I still get goose bumps when I drive by the race track. I just may have to run a few laps and show those young folks how it's done." Yarborough has five career wins at his hometown track, all coming in the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend (1968, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1982). Yarborough also will be honored by Darlington Raceway with a special ceremony during the Bojangles' Southern 500 race weekend for his contributions to the sport. Details on the ceremony will be announced at a later date. Additionally, he will participate in the Bojangles' Legends Breakfast Sunday morning (Sept. 4), along with other NASCAR Hall of Fame members. He was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2012. The Tradition Continues on Labor Day weekend as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 is set for Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016. The NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. Tickets are still available.(Darlington Raceway)(8-18-2016)

Childress, Hendrick, Martin named Darlington Grand Marshals: Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick and Mark Martin, all of whom will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017, will serve as Grand Marshals for the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 4. Accompanied by Bojangles' CEO Clifton Rutledge, the three legends will give the command to start the engines for the iconic race - one that will again feature "throwback" paint schemes honoring NASCAR's storied history and heritage. Childress and Hendrick are two of the most successful owners in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history, and their combined seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars will each feature special paint schemes for the race. In a 31-year career, Martin won 40 career NASCAR premier series races, including the 1993 and 2009 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. He also won eight NASCAR XFINITY Series races at Darlington, which is still the most in series history.(Darlington Raceway)(8-11-2016)

Barry Williams to sing National Anthem at Darlington: Barry Williams, the 1970's television star who most famously played Greg Brady in the hit series The Brady Bunch, will join Darlington Raceway's throwback celebration on Labor Day weekend. Williams, who currently stars in the 70s Music Celebration! in Branson, MO., will perform the National Anthem live on NBC for the Bojangles' Southern 500 on Sept. 4. Williams has had an extensive career, starring in hundreds of productions in television, movies, and Broadway. He made appearances in several Television shows including Dragnet, Adam-12, It Takes a Thief, The Invaders, That Girl, Mission: Impossible, The Mod Squad and Here Comes the Brides before landing his role as Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch. For his role as Greg Brady, he won the Young Artist Foundation Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1989. The 70s Music Celebration! is an award-winning variety show that is one of Branson's most popular in 2016. Williams' anthem performance adds yet another element to already exciting pre-race festivities celebrating the 1975-84 era of the sport. He will join legendary rock band KANSAS, who will be performing the pre-race concert for the 67th running of the Bojangles' Southern 500.(Darlington Raceway)(8-2-2016)

Kerry Tharp named president of Darlington: Darlington Raceway announced that it has named Kerry Tharp as President of the track Too Tough To Tame, effective July 18. Tharp accepts the role from his most recent position as Senior Director of Racing Communications for NASCAR. Tharp replaces current Darlington Raceway President Chip Wile, who accepted the position of President of Daytona International Speedway back in April.
"These are exciting times for Darlington Raceway and Kerry Tharp is the perfect person to lead one of the most historic tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit," International Speedway Corp. Executive Vice President and COO Joie Chitwood said. "His appreciation of our sport, knowledge of the industry and passion for South Carolina are unmatched. Kerry will do a great job leading the Darlington Raceway team and continuing to build upon their celebrated throwback marketing campaign."
Tharp, a Louisville, Ky. native, joined NASCAR in April of 2005 after a successful 20-year career as Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations for the University of South Carolina (1985-2005) in Columbia. He worked for 26 total years in intercollegiate athletics prior to joining NASCAR. He also served two years at the University of Tennessee and four years at the University of Oklahoma, prior to the University of South Carolina. Since 2005, Tharp has played an integral role in the communications efforts for NASCAR, having forged strong relationships for the sanctioning body with the drivers, race teams and tracks.
"I am deeply humbled and honored to have this opportunity," Tharp said. "I love the state of South Carolina and its people. I know how special Darlington Raceway is to this state and to the sport of NASCAR. The track's rich tradition, history, and popularity resonate with the competitors, partners, media and most importantly the fans. I look forward to working with our team to help keep Darlington as one of our sport's crown jewels."
Tharp holds a Bachelor's Degree in public relations from Western Kentucky University and a Master's Degree in communications from the University of Tennessee. He has been a resident of South Carolina for over 31 years. He has been married to his wife, Debbie, for 33 years and they have two children (J.B. and Will) and two grandsons.(Darlington Raceway)(6-29-2016)

Kansas to perform at Darlington before Bojangles' Southern 500: Fitting into its throwback weekend plans of celebrating the 1975-84 era of the sport, Darlington Raceway will have classic rock legends KANSAS perform the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 pre-race concert presented by GEICO on Sunday, Sept. 4. KANSAS, known for its hits Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind, is one of the top-selling bands of the late 1970's and early 1980's. The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums (Leftoverture, Point of Know Return, Best of KANSAS), one platinum live album (Two for the Show) and two one million-selling gold singles (Carry on Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind). Fans of KANSAS have the exclusive opportunity to watch the concert from the front of the pre-race stage. In addition to the purchase of a Bojangles' Southern 500 grandstand ticket, a pre-race access pass may be purchased for an additional $45. This pass will not only give fans stage front access for the concert, but will also include an up close view of the Sprint Cup Series stars as they are introduced to the crowd. Supplies are limited. Coinciding with the celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2013, KANSAS was inducted into both the Kansas Hall of Fame and Georgia Music Hall of Fame as recognition for their achievements from both their native state and adopted home state.(Darlington Raceway)(6-24-2016)

State of South Carolina declares "Darlington Raceway Week": The week of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500, August 29-September 4, 2016, has been named "Darlington Raceway Week, a Week Too Tough To Tame" after the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed a concurrent Resolution. The famed track's 67-year history is a major reason the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed the concurrent Resolution, led by state Senator Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville. The Resolution outlines the historical significance of Darlington Raceway's award-winning throwback weekend and addresses the role the track plays in building the foundation of what has become one of the largest spectator sports in the country. The 2016 Bojangles' Southern 500 will mark the second year of the track's popular throwback campaign, which celebrates the history and heritage of the sport. The 2015 edition of the marketing platform brought a renewed level of excitement to the track on its traditional Labor Day weekend date.(Darlington Raceway)(6-3-2016)

Darlington to offer Southern food options: Darlington Raceway and its food and beverage provider, Americrown Service Corp., are partnering for the second consecutive year to offer fans signature southern food items from the 1975-1984 era as part of the track's award winning throwback celebration. All the items will be sold at or below five dollars. The food items featured will be Brasington Bites, a Darlington Dog and Southern 500 Egg Roll. The track will also bring back the pimento cheese sandwich, which was popular with fans during the 2015 Bojangles' Southern 500 race weekend.
Pimento Cheese Sandwich - $3.00 - Made with scratch-made Palmetto-style pimento cheese spread served on fresh white bread
Brasington Bites - $4.00 - Ground beef, diced onion, smoked gouda and Yancey's Fancy buffalo cheddar cheese rolled, breaded and deep fried
Southern 500 Egg Roll - $4.00 - Smoked pulled pork, blend of cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheeses, black eyed peas and collard greens wrapped in a tortilla and deep fried to a golden brown
Darlington Dog - $5.00 - All beef hot dog topped with BBQ chili, bread & butter pickle relish, Darlington white slaw, bacon bits and fried onions
All will be featured in concession stands across the track property for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 event weekend, scheduled for Sept. 2-4, 2016.(Darlington Raceway)(5-1-2016)

Chitwood named Chief Operating Officer of ISC; Wile moves from Darlington to Daytona: International Speedway Corporation announced that Joie Chitwood III, Executive Vice President, ISC and President of Daytona International Speedway, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of ISC. Concurrently, the Company announced that Chip Wile, President of Darlington Raceway, has been promoted to President of Daytona International Speedway. "Joie has played a tremendous role in the success of our flagship racetrack at Daytona International Speedway since 2010," stated ISC CEO Lesa France Kennedy. "Most recently, his leadership of the DAYTONA Rising project, while simultaneously operating the facility, has demonstrated his operational acumen." Chitwood moves into the newly-formed role of COO following oversight of the Company's largest development to-date - the $400 million transformation of Daytona International Speedway into the world's first motorsports stadium, along with the 2010 repave of the Speedway. In his new position, Chitwood will oversee ISC enterprise facility operations, along with strengthening key industry initiatives.
Wile, promoter of one of NASCAR's most successful events of the 2015 season - the Bojangles' Southern 500, will transition from leadership of Darlington Raceway to President of Daytona International Speedway. In just two years as President of Darlington Raceway, Wile transformed the facility's identity and impact on and off the track. He spearheaded a five-year strategy to reinvent Darlington Raceway with an inaugural Throwback Campaign during NASCAR's return to Darlington on Labor Day weekend, in addition to re-engaging the local community hosting nearly 15 annual events. In his new role, Wile will oversee promotion and operation of the new motorsports stadium beginning with its first major event, the Country 500 over Memorial Day weekend, followed by the Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola.(ISC)(4-25-2016)

Darlington Raceway names new "Lady in Black": Darlington Raceway announced South Carolina native Amanda Bishop has been selected as the Lady in Black for 2016. As the Lady in Black, Bishop will serve as a key ambassador for Darlington Raceway throughout the year. She will represent the track at various community and media events as well as the 67th annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend Bishop was selected from over 50 candidates that submitted an online application for the position. Bishop, a native of Greer, S.C., is a 2014 graduate of the University of South Carolina. She is currently enrolled in the Master's of Arts elementary education program at USC. She competed in the Miss South Carolina pageant twice, regularly traveling across the state to promote the Miss America Organization and Children's Miracle Network.(Darlington Raceway)(4-5-2016)

Darlington Raceway's Turn 3 Theater returns: Darlington Raceway is bringing back its family fun Turn 3 Theater Presented by Raceway Ford Chevrolet. This year's free movie lineup will feature Disney's Aladdin on April 8 and Frozen on May 13. The events will once again be FREE and take place in the track's hospitality village. For more information, visit DarlingtonRaceway.com. Pace car rides for a $10 per person donation and concessions will be available with all proceeds benefiting the track's 501(c)3 non-profit arm Darlington Shares. For the showing of Frozen on May 13, the track is encouraging moviegoers to dress up as their favorite Frozen character. Prior to the start of the movie, the Darlington Raceway staff will select the best costume, with the winner receiving tickets to the Sept. 3 NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200.(Darlington Raceway)(3-22-2016)(3-16-2016)

Sports Business Journal Awards have several NASCAR nominations: NASCAR has been nominated in multiple categories in the Sports Business Journal's ninth annual Sports Business Awards. The sanctioning body has been nominated for "Sports League of the Year" with the American Athletic Conference, MLB, MLS, NBA and PGA Tour.
NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France has been nominated for "Sports Executive of the Year." The other nominees are Stan Kroenke from Kroenke Sports and Entertainment; Joe Lacob, owner of the Golden State Warriors; Rob Manfred, commissioner of Major League Baseball and Mark Parker, CEO of Nike.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., the 13-time most popular driver, is a nominee for "Best in Sports Social Media." Last May, Earnhardt became the second NASCAR driver after Danica Patrick to reach 1 million followers on Twitter. They have both since been passed by Jimmie Johnson.
Daytona International Speedway is nominated for "Sport Facility of the Year" along with Avaya Stadium, Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Kyle Field and Petco Park. Daytona unveiled its completed $400 million "Daytona Rising" renovations in February in time for the 58th running of the Daytona 500.
Both Toyota and Xfinity from Comcast were nominated for the "Sports Sponsor of the Year." The awards will be presented May 18 in New York City.(NBC Sports)
AND: Darlington Raceway's successful 2015 Bojangles' Southern 500 Tradition Returns throwback event is among the final nominees for "Sports Event of the Year." The throwback campaign was a collaborative industry-wide effort to celebrate the history and heritage of the sport and featured a celebration of the early 1970's (1970-74). The nominees were announced by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, one of the most respected business publications in sports. Winners will be announced LIVE at the Sports Business Awards on May 18 in New York City. Other nominees for "Sports Event of the Year" are the 2015 Belmont Stakes, 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, and Super Bowl 50. Launched in 2008, the Awards were established by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily to celebrate and recognize the leaders, visionaries and day-to-day practitioners who personify excellence in the business of sports.(Darlington Raceway)(3-15-2016)

Darlington Raceway receives 'Community Pride' award: On Thursday evening, Darlington Raceway was named the recipient of the 2016 'Community Pride' Award at the annual Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet, held at the Darlington Country Club. The award was given to the track by local business leaders for its tremendous involvement and impact in the greater Darlington community. Since 2013, Darlington Raceway has increased its community events exponentially. The track annually hosts the following events for the community:
- Turn 3 Theater Movie Nights Presented by Raceway Ford & Chevrolet featuring family-fun movies such as Cars and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Movie nights occur in the spring.
- Speed & Feed BBQ Cook-Off and Car Show Presented by Sam Carbis Solutions Group. Held on the second weekend in November each year. The event features over 40 of the region's top cook teams competing for a $2,500 cash prize. Over 400 classic cars are on display for enthusiasts.
- In the spring, the track hosts a one-day running event, featuring a half marathon, 5K and 1.366-mile fun run.
- Darlington Raceway partners with the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce to host Freedom Fest. Freedom Fest is a July 4 community festival and fireworks show. Over 15,000 people attend the event annually.
- Country concert supporting the Darlington County Education Foundation (DCEF). Held in May of 2015.
- Touch-A-Truck event held in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage with proceeds benefiting the Junior League of Florence.
- The track has hosted a Walk with the Docs event, which raises funds for the free medical clinic in Darlington County.
Additionally, the track has made contributions to support local area charitable organizations, including The Lord Cares and Harvest Hope Food Banks, the YMCA of Darlington and the Darlington County School District. (Darlington Raceway)(2-7-2016)

Commemorative Ticket Design Returns for Darlington: When fans received their Darlington Raceway tickets in the mail last season, the throwback look commemorating its 1974 ticket was enough to bring back nostalgic memories even before they got to the track. Now in the second year of its throwback campaign, Darlington Raceway is excited to announce it will once again commemorate the sport's rich history with a retro-style ticket that will be issued for its events on September 2-4, 2016. The retro design will mimic the look of the ticket from the 1978 Southern 500. It features South Carolina native and Darlington Raceway legend David Pearson, who is the track's all-time leader in NASCAR's Premier Cup Series with 10 wins. Similar to last season, the ticket will also link eras by honoring last year's Bojangles' Southern 500 winner, Carl Edwards, in a similar fashion.
"The retro-style ticket was one of many touchpoints fans enjoyed during last season's throwback festivities," track President Chip Wile said. "We felt that it was important to continue to honor our rich history with a tremendous champion like David Pearson, while also celebrating last year's winner Carl Edwards, on the ticket." These special tickets will be used for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 and NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 races. Tickets are expected to be mailed to customers starting in mid-June.           Ticket renewals have been mailed reminding fans to renew their seats for the 2016 Labor Day race weekend. Renewing tickets early guarantees seats at the track's best prices prior to the opening of all remaining seats to the general public on February 17. Guests may renew their tickets and campsites by calling 866-459-RACE (7223) or visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com/renewals. The renewal deadline is Friday, Feb. 5.(Darlington Raceway)(1-29-2016)

Throwback Weekend Returns to Darlington in 2016: Darlington Raceway announced the return of its award-winning throwback campaign for the Bojangles' Southern 500 race weekend on Sept. 2-4, 2016. As the Tradition Continues in 2016, the track will be celebrating the 1975-84 era of the sport, which was a time of exceptional growth and exposure for NASCAR. "The track will be celebrating the 1975-84 time period of the sport during our throwback weekend in 2016," Darlington Raceway President Chip Wile said. "We had tremendous response from the industry last season, which included the race teams, NASCAR, NBC, Goodyear and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, to name a few. This is a fun and unique way to honor the history and heritage of NASCAR racing at one of the sport's most iconic tracks on Labor Day weekend." As the sport moved into the modern era, champions such as Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip, among others, made a tremendous impact on NASCAR and will be celebrated during the Labor Day weekend festivities. The honoring of champions from 1975-84 is just one part of the track's overall strategy to celebrate its history, which enters its second year. Darlington Raceway's throwback campaign focuses on specific eras plus the historic moments and drivers that made impacts at the track Too Tough to Tame. A number of exciting announcements about the pageantry surrounding one of the "crown jewel" events on the NASCAR schedule will be made over the next several months in regards to the 2016 campaign.
The track's 2015 throwback campaign last season featured a celebration of the early 1970's (1970-74) including the following highlights:
· 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race teams competed with throwback paint schemes for the Bojangles' Southern 500, the most in any single NSCS event in the sport's history.
· Kyle Larson won the fan vote for most popular paint scheme with his retro #42 Mello Yello car originally made popular from the movie Days of Thunder.
· Use of NASCAR's famed "NASCAR International" logo.
· Goodyear putting the original white lettering on its race tires specifically for the Bojangles' Southern 500.
· Honored 14 NASCAR Hall of Fame members at the Bojangles' Legends Breakfast, including Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Rex White, Dale Jarrett and Ned Jarrett, among others.
· 2016 NHOF inductee Terry Labonte served as the Bojangles' Southern 500 grand marshal.
· Unique food offerings from the early 1970's - pimento cheese sandwiches, sausage perlo and fried green tomatoes.
· Pre-race concert by rock legends Grand Funk Railroad and National Anthem performance by Nashville recording artist Tanya Tucker.
· Return of the Southern 500 parade, which took place on Saturday night from downtown Darlington to the track.
Ticket renewals will be mailed in January so fans should check their mailboxes in the coming weeks to renew their tickets and/or camping for 2016. More info about the weekend and tickets, go to DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway)(12-17-2015)

Darlington Raceway selected 2015 Myers Brothers Award recipient: Darlington Raceway moved forward by going back in 2015. NASCAR's first paved superspeedway paid homage to stock car racing's past when it launched a "throwback" campaign for this year's Bojangles' Southern 500, and the move proved to be one of the most talked about, most popular events of the year. So much so that the program has earned the track the National Motorsports Press Association's 2015 Myers Brothers Award. The award was presented Thursday during the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers 2015 Awards Luncheon at the Wynn Las Vegas. Given annually by the NMPA, the Myers Brothers Award is named in honor of former NASCAR competitors Billy and Bobby Myers. Its' purpose is to recognize individuals and/or groups who have provided outstanding contributions to the sport of stock car racing. Others receiving votes for this year's award were four-time series champion Jeff Gordon and 2015 Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch.
Darlington Raceway has hosted one or more NASCAR premier series events since 1950. The Southern 500, which returned to its long-held Labor Day weekend date this past season, is considered one of the series' "crown jewel" events. More than 30 cars in this year's 43-car field featured throwback schemes, honoring everything from long-time sponsors to drivers and popular paint schemes from the early 1970s. Several teams got in the act by wearing crew uniforms similar to those worn at the time; concession stand fare included items that were offered at the time and tickets in some sections were even priced similar to that specific time period. Even television partner NBC got in the act, bringing back former announcers Ken Squier and two-time champion Ned Jarrett to call a portion of the race from the broadcast booth. Jarrett's son, Dale - a former series champion as well - joined his father in the booth, marking the first time the two had called a race together. Track President Chip Wile said at the time that the throwback program is "a five-year platform; this isn't a one-year deal. "We felt like if we could get eight or 10 teams on board to really showcase what we're trying to accomplish, we felt like in 2016 we could get more, in 2017 we would get more and so on," he said. "But the response that we've gotten from everyone in the industry has been incredible. It was a fully integrated plan that made our event something special for the fans."(NMPA)(12-4-2015)

Carl Edwards wins at Darlington: #19-Carl Edwards won the Bojangles' Southern 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway for his 2nd win of the season, 1st win at Darlington and 25th career win. Edwards led just 15 of the 367 laps, but took the lead on the final pit stop of the night and held off the rest of the field. Early in the race he stayed out under caution and, on old tires, fell back through the field and lost a lap. He got his lap back on the 11th caution and worked his way back through the field.
#2-Keselowski finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, #22-Logano, #4-Harvick, #41-Busch, #18-Busch, #88-Earnhardt, Jr., #78-Truex, Jr., and #42-Larson.
Pole sitter, #2-Keselowski, led the most laps - 196, but could not get around Edwards at the end.
By finishing 7th, #18-Busch moves to 27th in the points standings. He is now 83 points ahead of 31st and has locked himself into the Chase.
#4-Harvick continues to be the points leader, now 42 points over #22-Logano.
There were 24 lead changes among 11 drivers. There were a record 18 cautions for 89 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 111.993 mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Penalty Report (pdf) and Lap Summary Report (pdf).
See the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf).(9-6-2015)

Darlington Raceway Rascals Launches: Darlington Raceway is offering a fun and exciting membership club for its young fans - Darlington Raceway Rascals presented by Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan. A free club for kids 12 and under, Darlington Raceway Rascals presented by Future Scholar offers fun race related gifts and benefits for signing up. "We're always looking for ways to engage with the next generation of fans. The Darlington Raceway Rascals presented by Future Scholar will be a great way to educate our young audience about NASCAR racing and Darlington Raceway," track President Chip Wile said. "The program provides a cool gift bag and fun opportunities for kids who are members. We appreciate the support of Future Scholar for this program."
South Carolina's Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan provides a tax-advantaged investment strategy for families seeking to afford a child's future college tuition. The Wall Street Journal recognized Future Scholar as having the top state tax deduction program in the country, and Money Magazine identified South Carolina's plan as "a leader in low fees." No public funds are used in the sponsorship of the Darlington Raceway Rascals.
"Raceway Rascals is an opportunity for families to have fun at Darlington Raceway and learn more about the smart decision to save for college with Future Scholar," said State Treasurer Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. "Future Scholar and the Office of State Treasurer that administers the Future Scholar Plan are happy to support the Darlington Raceway Rascals and the children who sign up for this great program." Parents must visit DarlingtonRacewayRascals.com to sign up their child. An e-mail will be sent to the parent's email account, which will need to be replied to for confirmation.
Membership benefits include the following:
· Official Raceway Rascals Bag
· Decal
· Temporary Tattoo
· Crayons
· Coloring Book
· Complimentary NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 ticket
· Quarterly E-mail Newsletter
· Opportunity to participate in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series autograph session (supplies limited) on race weekend.
To receive membership benefits, kids and their parent(s) must either visit the Darlington Raceway Rascals presented by Future Scholar tent in the display area Kids Zone on race weekend, Sept. 4-6, 2015, or by stopping by the track's administration offices during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Details on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series autograph session, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5 at the track, will be sent out in future membership communications. For more information, visit DarlingtonRacewayRascals.com or call 843-395-8823.(Darlington Raceway)(7-6-2015)

Darlington and Bojangles' extend Southern 500 race entitlement: Darlington Raceway and Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits announced a five-year extension of their NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 race entitlement partnership. The partnership, which began in 2012, will continue to bring two iconic southern brands together through the 2019 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. "This extension says a great deal about the strong year-round partnership Darlington Raceway and Bojangles' have enjoyed since 2012," said track President Chip Wile. "Both Darlington Raceway and Bojangles' continue to see tremendous value through this partnership. We are honored to extend our working relationship with them through the 2019 season."
"Bojangles' is thrilled to continue our partnership with Darlington Raceway for the next five years," said Bojangles' President and CEO Clifton Rutledge. "Like Darlington, Bojangles' has deep roots in the South and pride ourselves on a tradition of bringing people together, especially over Labor Day Weekend. We look forward to helping create an unforgettable Bojangles' Southern 500 experience for years to come, an experience where the taste of Bojangles' traditional Southern recipes serves as the perfect complement to the sights and sounds of the legendary 'Lady in Black'. We thank Darlington Raceway, ISC and NASCAR for making this possible."
The extension of the partnership between Darlington Raceway and Bojangles' comes at a time when the Bojangles' Southern 500 is returning to its traditional Labor Day weekend in 2015. "Our Labor Day weekend race was a cornerstone of the NASCAR schedule for 53 years. With our event returning to our historic weekend in 2015, we have some really exciting things in store that celebrate our past while continuing to look towards the future," Wile said. "Bojangles' and Darlington Raceway are true iconic Southern brands and we are proud of what we have built and will continue to accomplish together."
Since the original agreement in 2012, Bojangles' has opened more than 100 company and franchise-operated restaurants throughout the Southeast, now boasting more than 600 locations. The chicken n' biscuits brand serves traditional Southern recipes with its own unique flavors, a simple concept that has cultivated a loyal customer base and now drives its increasing popularity and steady expansion throughout the Southeast, including nontraditional locations and sports venues.
This partnership gives Bojangles' the opportunity to serve its famous Chicken Supremes, Cajun Filet Sandwich, Seasoned Fries and Legendary Iced Tea at Darlington Raceway. These menu items will also be served at three other tracks owned and operated by International Speedway Corp.: Daytona, Talladega and Richmond.
Darlington Raceway and Bojangles' have enjoyed a year-round partnership, which has touched a variety of annual community initiatives both entities support including the following:
· Bojangles' is the official sponsor of the Darlington Marathon, held on Sept. 26-27.
· Bojangles' is a partner for the track's Speed & Feed BBQ Cook-off and Car Show, held annually in November.
· Bojangles' has donated items for the track's local drives benefiting Darlington area food banks.
· Darlington Raceway annually supports the Bojangles' Golf Outing benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
Both parties unveiled a new Bojangles' Southern 500 event logo at Richmond International Raceway on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 is scheduled for September 6, 2015 on NBC.(Darlington Raceway)(9-5-2014)

The Tradition returns: Bojangles' Southern 500 : Darlington Raceway and NASCAR officials announced that stock car racing will return to the track Too Tough To Tame on Labor Day weekend in 2015. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 will compete on Sunday, Sept. 6. The NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 5 (official start times TBA). Both races are scheduled to be broadcast on NBC. The move back to Labor Day is a direct result of the tireless efforts by officials from Darlington Raceway, International Speedway Corporation (ISC - the track's parent company) and NASCAR to return the track Too Tough To Tame to its traditional and historic weekend. The sport was built on its rich history with Darlington's Labor Day weekend serving as a pillar of that foundation from 1950-2003. "This is a true example of Darlington Raceway, ISC and NASCAR all working together to give fans what they have wanted for many years ­ the tradition of stock car racing on Labor Day weekend at the Lady in Black," said track President Chip Wile. "We can't thank our leaders at ISC and NASCAR enough for working with us to bring back such a historic date on the 2015 NASCAR calendar. "We raced the Bojangles' Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend for 53 years. Returning to a date in 2015 that is filled with so much tradition and history is a historic moment for our fans and local community," continued Wile. Guests who purchased tickets or camping in 2014 will receive a renewal notice for 2015. Renewing customers will be guaranteed their seats and/or campsites for the Bojangles' Southern 500 Labor Day weekend. New fans who wish to purchase tickets now may do so, but only in non-renewing areas by calling 866-459-7223 or visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com.(Darlington Raceway)(8-26-2014)