This week, the South Carolina General Assembly passed a Senate and House resolution congratulating NASCAR and Darlington Raceway on the addition of a second NASCAR Cup Series race weekend on May 7-9. The resolution was passed yesterday in the Senate floor and today in the House.
“The Darlington Raceway represents a rich legacy at NASCAR and remains a highly anticipated location on our schedule,” said Lesa Kennedy, executive vice president of NASCAR. “We appreciate the continued support of the State of South Carolina, Governor McMaster, the General Assembly of South Carolina and the entire PeeDee region, as NASCAR proudly hosts two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends on the Darlington Raceway this year.”
“Thanks to the South Carolina General Assembly for sharing this resolution to congratulate the return of our second NASCAR Cup Series race weekend at Darlington Raceway,” said Darlington President Kerry Tharp. “We are also indebted to the Governor of South Carolina, Henry McMaster, and his administration for their leadership and support for the track. As Darlington Raceway becomes a mass vaccination site this weekend, rest assured that we will continue to support our community every day. “
The adopted S 0632 Simultaneous Resolution states the following:
TO CONGRATULATE DARLINGTON RACEWAY FOR ANNOUNCING A SECOND NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE, DUPLICATING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE STATE OF SOUTHERN CAROLINA AND HIGHLIGHTING THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS CUP SERIES ATTRACTION, SOILING THE STUPIDITY OF THE HYDROCONIC UNION THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS ATTRACTION OF THIS SERIES TESTED IN THE STATE AND RECOGNIZING THE PART OF RECOGNITION IN THE PART OF RECOGNITION. AND ITS ECONOMY, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE WEEKS FROM MAY 2 TO MAY 9, 2021 AND FROM AUGUST 29 TO SEPTEMBER 5, 2021, AS “DARLINGTON RACEWAY WEEK” IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, the Darlington Raceway opened on September 4, 1950, with the inaugural race of the Southern 500, the first stock car race on an asphalt track; and
Whereas, since 1950, the Darlington Raceway has served as a cornerstone in the development of stock car racing, one of the most popular and fastest growing spectator sports in the country; and
Whereas, the Darlington Raceway is celebrating its seventy-second racing season; and
Whereas, in addition to hosting its annual NASCAR Cup Series race during the week of August 29, 2021, Darlington Raceway announced a second NASCAR Cup Series race to be held during the week of May 2, 2021; and
Since South Carolina claims many of NASCAR’s racing legends, including Rex White, David Pearson, Bud Moore, James Hylton, Tiny Lund and Cale Yarborough; and
Since the state of South Carolina is rich in historical references to the sport of stock car racing, as evidenced by The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway, plus dirt tracks across the state of South Carolina which served as a home for the nascent NASCAR racing sport in the 1950s; and
Whereas, each year, NASCAR events at Darlington Raceway focus our nation’s attention and the world’s attention on our great state as a sport and tourism destination; and
Considering that, with a race weekend, the annual economic impact of NASCAR races in South Carolina is over $ 64 million, and with the announcement of a second race weekend, that economic impact will double, as NASCAR fans from around the country and around the world visit the state to participate in race and vacation events in communities across the state; and
While, Darlington Raceway participates as a good corporate citizen at the local, regional and state levels and is an active contributor, through various community and charitable efforts, to improvements that benefit people and the state of South Carolina. Now, therefore,
Be resolved by the Senate, with the agreement of the House of Representatives:
What General Assembly members, through this resolution, congratulate the Darlington Raceway for announcing a second NASCAR Cup Series race, thus doubling the economic impact for the state of South Carolina and highlighting the rich history of this precious attraction in the state, recognize the NASCAR races as an integral and vital part of the state and its economy, and to recognize the weeks from May 2 to May 9, 2021 and from August 29 to September 5, 2021 as “Darlington Raceway Week” in South Carolina.
It is further resolved that a copy of this resolution be routed to NASCAR and Darlington Raceway.
The Darlington Raceway first hosted the Southern 500® Cup race on Labor Day weekend on September 4, 1950. The track added the NASCAR Convertible Series to its spring schedule in 1957-59; the series eventually became part of the Cup Series. From 1960 to 2004, Darlington hosted two Cup Series race weekends each year – one in the spring and one on the Labor Day weekend. In 2015, the Southern 500® returned to its traditional date on the Labor Day weekend.
Last year, the track hosted three Cup Series races as part of NASCAR’s revised schedule due to the pandemic COVID-19. As part of this year’s NASCAR schedule, the Too Tough To Tame track returns to its traditional home for two Cup Series race weekends.
Darlington Raceway PR