Located just west of Florence, SC, in what used to be an old peanut field , the Darlington Raceway was the brainchild of Harold Brazington, who had visions of building an oval raceway to model the Indianapolis 500. As Brazington, a local businessman, toiled for a year building the 1 ΒΌ mile racetrack the townspeople called this project "Harold's Folly."
The Darlington Raceway opened on Labor Day in 1950. The stands were filled to overflowing. There were over 25,000 race fans there that day, at the first Southern 500. The winner of the race, Johnny Mantz started at the 75th position, which is last place in the lineup, and finished first.
Famous race car drivers, such as Darrel Waltrip, David Pearson, Petty, the late Dale Earnhardt, Yarborough and many others have ridden this track, often called the track that is too touch to tame. The Darlington Raceway is still one of the
NASCAR super speedways. The Darlington Raceway hasn't lost any of its charm over the years; the fans come to watch the drivers battle each other for the win.
If you have been to other race tracks like Daytona, you will find that impressive, but you will find Darlington even more impressive. The drivers at Darlington have to negotiate turns that were built especially narrow to save destroying an existing pond on the property.
The Darlington Historic Racing Festival is being held August 30-31, 2008.
NASCAR legends from the 1950s to the 1970s, race in their legendary stock cars. For tickets to the Darlington Raceway you may purchase them online at http://darlingtonraceway.com/buy%5Ftickets/list%5Fof%5Fevents/ or call 866-459-7223.
