If there is one track on the NASCAR circuit that embodies the roots of NASCAR, it is without a doubt Darlington Raceway, site of this Saturday night’s Cup race. The first race was run at Darlington on Labor Day weekend, 1950 and it was called the Southern 500. That race was run on the same weekend for the next 54 years until coming to a close in 2004.
The move irritated many traditionalists, not just because of losing the date, but because of the wound it made, how symbolic it was, and the lack of success that Labor Day weekend date has now on the track it calls home. Just like the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants after the 1957 baseball season, Darlington’s Southern 500 was moved to California. It gave the loyalists another reason to dislike this expansion age of NASCAR and long for the days when they could see a Cup nearly every few week within 600 of where they lived. Unlike the Dodgers and Giants, who turned out to be one of the most profitable teams in baseball and in the Dodgers case, one of the winningest, California’s NASCAR dates have been a flop.
The California dates do not sell out despite the facility having one of the smallest seating capacities on tour with 90,000. Was it worth it? The objective for NASCAR was to take charge of the number two market and turn them all into rabid fans, just like ones that attended twice a year at Darlington. The France family must have figured that if they hit the top markets enough with their races that TV ratings will go up in those areas during the 34 weeks they aren’t running there. If the ratings are up, then they can charge more for their next Network contract.
Southern California people are a much different breed than those on the South and North Carolina borders and they surely are not going to have the reverence put into each race there as those in the Southeast. In Southern Cal, they really don’t care about the races, whether it stays or goes, whereas, “The Lady in Black” at Darlington was always treated with dignity, respect, and as a part of everyone’s family.
This week the teams will get a real treat on the Day before Mother’s Day. The Gritty shell filled sandpaper asphalt that had become a staple of the tracks’ features has now been replaced by a brand new smooth, modern age asphalt. Tires should last much longer which changes the whole complexion of how the race will be driven.
I always liked Darlington because the track became an equalizer and was just as important to know how to run as it was to have a great set-up and good driver. Certain drivers got it, and others didn’t. Dale Earnhardt Jr, never seemed to get it at Darlington. He may not have ever had the best car there, but he surely wasn’t patient enough from the beginning of a run with fresh tires. Again, these are just my own observations from watching lap times over the years there. I have never actually ever heard anyone criticize him for that. Junior would be ultra fast from the beginning and then tail off miserably for the last half of the run because he wore his tires out too quickly. Rusty Wallace started 43 races at Darlington with great cars and never won because he couldn’t hold back early on for the sake of being better late in the runs.
None of that “saving tire stuff” matters anymore because the surface is much different and those strategies that some of the best Darlington drivers like Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, and Jeff Gordon used will not be as valuable.
So what should be the key component in identifying who will do the best this week? They used the Car of Tomorrow at this race last year with Jeff Gordon winning for the 7th time in his career there. Denny Hamlin led the most laps and finished 2nd while Jimmie Johnson, a two time winner there, led the most laps for the last 100 miles. It’s more likely that the top finishers this week will resemble what we have seen for the entire season of races, excluding the plate races, which means that Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch will be at the forefront once again.
Dale Earnhardt Jr fits the current criteria and will have a great shot at besting his Darlington best of 4th because of the new surface.
I'll go with a 1-2-3 of No. 99, No. 11, and No. 88, with a strong look at Mark Martin in the No. 8 going for his first win there since 1993.
Good write up Fireball. The Southern 500 is greatly missed here in SC. It was always a great tradition here and now it's just another also ran in a place called California. Moving this race was one of the biggest mistakes nascar has ever made. It is beyond me as to why they have not brought it back here and left Cali. with one race which is one more than they deserve. If nascar really wants some of it's core fans back they need to put this race back in it's rightful place. Moving this race is about the same as moving the statue of liberty to San Francisco bay, it just ain't the same.
Lets not forget the race at Darlington May 10th. This race is a celebration of Confederate Memorial Day. This was observed before our now traditional Memorial Day as a day when people all over the South would honor those who died in a bitter war. Not only are the Southern soldiers honored but also those who died from the North and buried in the South. No matter your beliefs on this at least take time to honor those who fought and died.
I agree that The Southern 500 should be back in Darlington. Nascar wants the fans back, but they forget how they got them in the first place. Running at a place like Darlington, not in California. Nascar has changed so many things over the last few years, some good, some not so good. Lets remember where the true roots of Nascar came from.
Good stuff, FB. I believe Cal should only have one race since they can't sell the place out and TV ratings blow. Darlington's been selling out its Mother's Day (Eve) race the past few seasons. What happened when hockey moved away from its core fan base and expanded to every corner of the Western World? The sport's never been in worse shape; hope NASCAR's paying attention....
Sry Fire, but Jeff Gordon will be right there in this one...
1 - he did win this race last season regardless of the surface and 2 - he did the Goodyear tire test there earlier this year and has that "edge" on the competition as to how the car will react.
Do NOT count him out of at least a top 3 finish.
I got Hamlin - Gordon - Johnson - Jr - Stewart as the top 5.
Great points all regarding Darlington.
blu, I will have a moment of recognition myself for the fallen soldiers. Bottom line, they were all American brothers. Very sad stuff!
Jeff, of course you can never count Jeff out. The guy has a ton of wins there and a great point about the testing.
If I go 5 deep, it definitely has the 24 & 48. The only reason i try and shy away from ever picking those two, even when I bet, is that the odds are always so low on them.
sorry ####!! I am a huge nascar fan and I recognize Darlingtons rich history but mark my words " Cali will not lose its second race". Wanna know why? Nascar is a business. Darlington im sure is nice but its a hick town. Cali's a goldmine but nascar doesnt know how to tap it. They(nascar or the speedway) does not advertise the races the way they should. A billboard here, a billboard there. A crappy commercial 2 weeks before the race. ZZ top concert before the race c'mon!! SoCal is like 75% mexican and that includes both legal and illegal(the other 25% is celebrities). thats were theyll make the money and get the people in the stands!! Have Smoke visit a few SoCal Home Depots and give some tickets away. Once they figure it out, they'll sell out both dates. Cali's other problem is the location. Fontana is an OK city but the track should of been put where you can see it from the freeway(like Irwindale). Right know its about a mile north of the 10 hidden between steel mills and huge warehouses with a dealership style sign on the freeway(away fron the track). Putting a bigger and flashier sign there would fix that. GO CARL 99 IM OUT!
