Darlington Raceway is a driver's track in its purest form. The Darlington Raceway, located in South Carolina was the first superspeedway built with NASCAR racingin mind. Darlington Raceway, nicknamed the track "Too Tough to Tame" by NASCAR fans and drivers alike, has a very unique design. The original plan for the Darlington Raceway was a 1.25 mile oval track, however plans changed when the original landowner refused to relocate a fishing hole that was located where turns 3 and 4 were to be located.
In the end, turns 3 and 4 were narrowed, giving the Darlington Raceway it's unique egg shape. The result was a track with difering degrees of banking in each turn, which posed a problem for drivers and crew chiefs setting up their race cars. The rest is history, and to this day, the Darlington Raceway still challenges drivers and crew chiefs as they work to set up their race cars to handle in a way that will be effective at both ends of the track.
The first race at this track was scheduled for Labor Day 1950, and when the day finally came the stands overflowed with a shocking crowd of over 25,000 fans. Fans practically stood on top of each other and they scaled the fence just for a glimpse of the action.
Today the Darlington Racway is remembered as the original superspeedway and as one of the pillars of the NASCAR establishment.
Take exit number 164. Turn right onto Highway 52. Follow the Highway 52 bypass all the way to the Highway 151 exit, about five miles. After turning right onto the exit ramp, turn left at the light onto Highway 151. Darlington Raceway will be ½ mile on the left.
From I-20 (east or west)
Take Exit 131. Turn left onto Highway 401. At the first stoplight (about 13 miles), turn left. Go past the school and turn right onto Racetrack Road. Darlington Raceway will be 1/4 mile on the left.
