Darlington race tickets good for Christmas gift

Folks still searching for that perfect Christmas gift for that special someone or even for themselves might want to take a look at what Darlington Raceway has to offer.

On Mother’s Day weekend, May 8-9, the storied speedway will celebrate 60 years of racing with the NASCAR Nationwide Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on Friday and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Southern 500 on Saturday.

The Southern 500 name returns to Darlington for the first time since the speedway lost its fall race in 2005. And for the first time, the Southern 500 will be run under lights.

Tickets for the Southern 500 range in price from $45-$95. It’s one of the most affordable tickets on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit and a good value in the landscape of major-league sports.

Fans who purchase tickets now will receive a limited edition Darlington Raceway 60th anniversary commemorative poster. The poster features all 43 drivers who have won at Darlington as well as a written history of the track “Too Tough to Tame.”

Fans seeking the ultimate Darlington Raceway experience might want to add the Darlington Stripe Zone experience to their ticket at an additional cost. Each Stripe Zone package includes appearances by NASCAR drivers and legends, pre-race food and beverage, pre-race pit pass, raceway souvenir, official program, giveaways and live entertainment.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at (866) 459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com.
Beyond the fact that a ticket to Darlington Raceway makes a good Christmas gift, purchasing tickets will help ensure top flight NASCAR racing remains in the Pee Dee.

When NASCAR’s schedule was undergoing realignment a few years ago, there was great concern that Darlington Raceway would not only lose its fall race, but it also could lose its spring race.

Fans of Darlington Raceway have responded in a big way, though, by selling out every race at the track since 2005.

NASCAR and speedway operators have taken notice of the demand and have responded with major improvements at Darlington Raceway to make the track even more attractive for fans, race teams and media.

Lights were added to the track in 2004. In 2005, a new Brasington Tower with fan-friendly amenities was constructed overlooking Turn 1. In 2007, the track received $10 million in funding for renovations that have included repaving of the track surface, the addition of concrete pit stalls and a new infield access tunnel that can accommodate car haulers and motorcoaches.

The continued interest in the track from both a corporate standpoint and a fan standpoint is crucial to the Pee Dee’s economy. The more events Darlington Raceway hosts and the more fans who attend those events, the more benefit there is to Pee Dee businesses such as hotels, restaurants, convenience stores and retail outlets. And the more revenue that flows into those businesses, the more tax dollars flow into city and county coffers.

With that in mind, a ticket to a race a Darlington Raceway is not only a great Christmas present, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.