“Darlington is probably going to be your winner,” Joey Logano said last year. Indeed, the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion’s words are justifiable. Dubbed as the track “Too Tough To Tame”, Darlington Raceway demonstrated the level of challenge it throws to its drivers. It took a miraculous caution by Kyle Larson and a lightning-fast 8.3-second pit stop for Denny Hamlin to win the Goodyear 500. Otherwise, the trophy would have either gone to William Byron or to Ryan Blaney.
What is even more notable is that this tradition of difficulty goes a long way back. Darlington Raceway is currently the second-oldest racetrack on the NASCAR Cup Series’ active schedule. The rich legacy of memorable moments gets a highlight this year, which marks the track’s 75th anniversary.
Reminiscing about the Memories of Darlington
Every magnificent phenomenon has a grand origin story. The ‘Lady in Black’ had one of her own back in 1933. That year, the Indianapolis 500 race stirred feelings of inspiration in Darlington native Harold Brasington. He went on to unveil a racetrack in his hometown in 1950 – Darlington Raceway. Being the first paved NASCAR track that was more than 1 mile in length, its first race on September 4, 1950, drew a record field of 75 cars and paid a total purse of $25,325. This first event paved the path for over seven decades of phenomenal racing. From drivers getting ‘Darlington stripes’ on their right sides to iconic rivalries playing out on the track, there is a lot to remember this year.
It has been 75 years of high-octane racing and unrelenting left turns by legends like Dale Earnhardt and Cale Yarborough. Some memorable moments at the iconic track involve some jaw-dropping moments. In 1955, Herb Thomas lapped the entire 69-car field to win his third Southern 500. Then in 1965, Ned Jarrett’s margin of victory was a whopping 14 laps ahead of second-place finisher, Buck Baker. Then, of course, are the legends who occupy the highest achievements at Darlington Raceway. David Pearson tops the list with 10 Darlington victories, and Dale Earnhardt Sr follows close behind with 9.
Darlington Raceway turns 75: From Earnhardt to Yarborough, small town S.C. has burned a lot of rubber – @PostAndCourier
– “[Donnie Allison] said, ‘Every time they come back to Darlington, that’s where they are going to eat.’ That’s a big deal for me.” https://t.co/bcWD02MqHl
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 16, 2025
To honor the racetrack’s 75-year-old history, the NASCAR Hall of Fame unveiled an anniversary exhibit last month. It had four cases, 24 artifacts with photos, and 25 standalone timeline photos. A total of 28 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees are named in the exhibit script. Some of those artifacts included the original sanctioning agreement between the track and NASCAR to stage the first Southern 500. Then the plaque, which Richard Petty received for surpassing his father’s 54-win mark with a 55th victory at Darlington, is also there.
The primary factor that stood out among all the drivers must have been the highly abrasive walls. “I left a lot of blue paint on that wall,” King Richard Petty reminisced recently. Despite renovations done in 1969 on the track, drivers continued to get fenderprints from rubbing the walls. As speeds increased, so did the drivers’ tendency to get the ‘Darlington Stripes’. Petty said in a 1971 interview, “You ask me how I drive Darlington? Well, I’ll tell you,” Richard Petty told The Charlotte News in 1971. “I drive into the first turn and then I hit the wall, and I go down the backstretch and I get through the third turn and then I go into the fourth turn and I hit the wall twice.”
The ‘Lady in Black’ has always made an impact on drivers. However, she has made a profound impact on residents of Darlington, North Carolina.
Being part of a strong heritage
While commemorating the 1.366-mile oval track’s anniversary, officials also took note of its impact on local people. Race fans have enjoyed the races of Darlington since 1950. At the same time, they have put money in the pockets of Darlington merchants as well as restaurants and hotels in the Florence and Myrtle Beach areas. Restaurant owner Levon Rambo said NASCAR legend Donnie Allison once ate dinner at one of his restaurants. “He said, ‘Every time they come back to Darlington, that’s where they are going to eat.’ That’s a big deal for me,” Rambo said. From checking into hotels and restaurants to shopping at grocery stores, Darlington fans help keep the economy up and running.
Hunter Thomas, the city’s public and community affairs director, said the fans are received with open arms. “The city, as well as local businesses and organizations, welcome fans from across the nation and the world to the ‘Pearl of the Pee Dee.’” Besides availing the basic amenities, people pay $25 to take their cars out on the track for three laps. The proceeds from this event go to charity, which the raceway partners with local or regional charitable organizations to help. Darlington Shares, the racetrack’s charitable arm, helps sponsor events in the Darlington area. “It’s an important part of our fabric to host a couple of events a year, but give back to the community that supports us on a year-round basis,” Darlington Raceway president Josh Harris said.
Clearly, the ‘Lady in Black’ is a golden part of both drivers’ and fans’ lives. Celebrating the racetrack’s 75th anniversary is therefore a milestone to remember.
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