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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
SPENCER: Returning To Our Roots
Darlington is one of the most hallowed and historic tracks in the country, and that heritage takes center stage Saturday night...
Jimmy Spencer  |  Posted May 06, 2009   Charlotte, NC
Jimmy Spencer calls it like he sees it on SPEED. (Photo: SPEED)
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Darlington is back.

It technically never left, but the Southern 500 moniker and traditional red-and-white-painted walls return to the track “Too Tough to Tame” this weekend for the first time in years, giving it an “old school” feel reminiscent of the days when the legends duked it out on the legendary speedway.

Darlington is one of the most hallowed and historic tracks in the country, and that heritage takes center stage Saturday night with the homecoming of the time-honored Southern 500 and everything it represents to NASCAR.

The Southern 500, first run Labor Day weekend in 1950, is a cornerstone of NASCAR that is unparalleled in this sport. A little bit of the track’s tradition was forsaken when Darlington lost its Labor Day weekend race and accompanying Southern 500 name a few years ago, but it’s refreshing to see the sport returning to its roots a bit.

When you set foot on the speedway property, you can’t help but recall the greats who battled there – Lee Petty, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Buck Baker and Dale Earnhardt. It’s like walking into Fenway Park in Boston or Wrigley Field in Chicago because Darlington is so steeped in history and beloved by the fans. Sure, NASCAR visits facilities that are fresher and flashier than Darlington, but all the glitz and glamour in the world can’t top tradition.

Losing the Labor Day weekend race wasn’t what we wanted to see because with it we bid farewell to some of the sport’s history. But I understood the motivation in realigning the NASCAR schedule. The South had become a bit too saturated with NASCAR races and it was time to branch out into larger markets to ensure the sport continued to grow.

Surprisingly, I think hosting a single annual date at Darlington has made the race more of an event because it places more of a demand on the venue. It’s like the Kentucky Derby or the Indianapolis 500 – there’s only one race at “The Lady in Black” and there’s nothing like it. There are quite a few advantages to going to a track only once a year and Darlington is proof of that.


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