Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway is a 1.366 mi (2.198 km) egg-shaped oval track in Darlington, South Carolina, United States. The track has hosted racing events since its inaugural season in 1950, primarily races sanctioned by NASCAR. The venue has a capacity of 47,000 as of 2021. Darlington Raceway is owned by NASCAR and led by track president Josh Harris. Darlington Raceway opened in 1950 under Darlington native Harold Brasington, who sought to replicate the success of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 in his hometown. Brasington quickly cut all ties with the facility, with Bob Colvin taking over control of the venue as president of the track. Colvin expanded and improved the speedway, but this work ended unfinished when he died in 1967, and the track's lack of amenities were criticized. The International Speedway Corporation (ISC) bought the facility in 1982 and expanded it in the 1990s. The track has remained a staple of the NASCAR Cup Series since its beginning years despite Darlington's small market and NASCAR's national expansion; the Southern 500 is considered among the schedule's most prestigious races.