New Darlington surface yields fewer wrecks than many anticipated

Driver Elliott Sadler (19) hits the wall as Tony Stewart (20) hits him from the rear during the NASCAR Dodge Challenger 500 Sprint Cup series auto race at the Darlington International Raceway, in Darlington Saturday.

By: Lou Bezjak | SCNOW
Published: May 12, 2008

DARLINGTON — The fears of many of the Sprint Cup drivers never materialized during Saturday’s Dodge Challenger 500.

Most drivers thought Darlington Raceway’s new surface would produce a crash-filled race with a lot of cautions, and it would be hard to pass going around the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval.

But there were only eight caution flags for 31 laps, with only one involving multiple cars. That happened on lap two when Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler got tangled going into Turn 1. Passing also wasn’t as much of a problem as there were a track-record 35 lead changes among 15 drivers.

“I thought Thursday it was going to be a disaster,” said Carl Edwards, who finished second in Saturday’s race. “But there was a lot of give and take, which was cool.”

The drivers weren’t the only ones fearing the worst, as Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning expected more carnage during the race.

“I thought it was going to be a long night,” Browning said Sunday. “Everything I had heard from the drivers was the tires would take a few laps to come in, and there would be a fine line with the ultra grip.

“But cars there were able to get side-by-side, and that’s pretty good for the first time in a new surface.”

There also was no issue with the tire Goodyear brought to the track, unlike earlier this year at Atlanta. Tony Stewart, who has been a harsh critic of the tire manufacturer, actually praised the company following his win in Friday’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200.

Jeff Gordon agreed with Stewart following his third-place run Saturday.

“It was pretty good,” Gordon said. “You know for the first time, new surface, new tire not to have problems was pretty good. You were able to get up and go on new tires.”

And unlike in a typical Darlington race, drivers didn’t have to worry about getting new tires on every pit stop. Some drivers went 60 to 70 laps without changing tires.

That will change, though, for future races at the track. Aging and weather, along with on-track events, such as the Darlington Historic Festival on Aug. 30-31, will get the track back to what the drivers are used to — an abrasive surface that chews up tires.

“I’m looking forward to next year’s race,” Browning said. “It will be about perfect for racing.”