NASCAR Sprint Cup cars rev ahead under the lights at South Carolina's Darlington. (Emily Horos, AP)
Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide | 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
Overview
Baseball fans have Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field. Football fans have the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. NASCAR fans? They have Darlington Raceway.
Tucked in the northeast corner of South Carolina, it was the home of the Southern 500 for years. The reputations of racers like Pearson, Petty and Allison were forged here. There is one NASCAR race at Darlington now, and it is once again the Southern 500, the 11th race of the year, on Saturday.
Old-school fans that used to come to both races here now scramble to find a ticket for the annual event on the egg-shaped 1.366-mile oval.
Because of its many idiosyncrasies, this track provides perhaps the ultimate litmus test on the circuit for the left-turn-only crowd.
Drivers must constantly work to save not only their tires, but their paint jobs, as well. Not too many escape a race here without the famous Darlington Stripe on the right side of their vehicles.
Address
1301 Harry Byrd Highway
Darlington, S.C. 29532
darlingtonraceway.com
More track news is available through jayski.com.
Notable Events:
NASCAR Weekend
Friday
• Diamond Hill Plywood 200, 7:30 p.m.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Practice and qualifying
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at 9 a.m.
Saturday
• Southern 500, 7:30 p.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Gates open at 2 p.m.
Tickets
Ticket office: 866-459-7223
(Frontstretch ticket office is located at Gate 16, behind the Tyler
Tower grandstand; main ticket office is located on the backstretch,
on Highway 151, near the Museum/NMPA Hall of Fame.)
Online: Buy tickets.
Pit passes: Not available.
Fan hospitality: Call the track ticket office for further information.
Special packages: Call the track ticket office for further information.
Track Specs
Track length: 1.366 miles
Banking on straights: 2 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,229 feet
Backstretch: 1,229 feet
Race length: 500 miles
Grandstand seating capacity: 63,000
Opened: 1950
Carry-In Items:
Coolers: Allowed (one soft-sided bag — limit of 6x6x12 inches; one clear,
plastic bag — limit of 18x18x4; plastic bags may not contain ice).
Glass containers: Not allowed.
Alcoholic beverages: Allowed.
Cameras/binoculars: Allowed, must be worn separately.
Souvenirs and Displays
Merchandise: Driver and NASCAR merchandise haulers on-site.
Scanners: Scanners available for rent on-site.
Gift shop: Located at the speedway.
Autographs
Check local newspapers and television, or darlingtonraceway.com
Drivers rarely available on race day.
Pit Area Guidelines
Pit passes not available.
Camping
Reserved: Available; for more information or reserved tent
or motor home spaces, contact the ticket office at 866-459-7223.
Getting There
Track is on Highway 151-34, 2 miles west of Darlington.
• From I-95, take Highway 52 to Darlington.
• From I-20, take 401 East to Darlington.
Parking
Free parking: Available.
Handicapped parking: Available; authorized, state-issued vehicle license
or windshield tag is required.
Motorcyle parking: Available.
• Complete ESPN SportsTravel NASCAR Guide
• 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule
