Darlington Raceway's 75th anniversary exhibit opens at NASCAR Hall of Fame

Yesterday at 06:00 PM

Darlington Raceway‘s 75^th Anniversary Exhibit at the NASCAR Hall of Fame officially opened Tuesday with the help of two of the greatest drivers ever to race the Track Too Tough to Tame.

NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty (Class of 2010) and Mark Martin (Class of 2017) joined NASCAR and Darlington Raceway dignitaries to cut the ribbon on the exhibit paying tribute to the greatest races, competitors and milestones in the track‘s storied history.

"This was a fitting way to unveil this incredible exhibit and begin Darlington Raceway‘s 75^th Anniversary celebration," said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. "The NASCAR Hall of Fame does a first-class job honoring the rich legacy of our sport, and we look forward to all of the fans enjoying an exhibit that highlights everything that has made Darlington Raceway Too Tough to Tame throughout the past 75 years."

Opened in 1950, Darlington Raceway was the first paved NASCAR track more than one mile in length. The inaugural Southern 500 on Sept. 4, 1950, drew a record field of 75 cars and paid a total purse of $23,325. It was the largest purse in NASCAR history and more than four times larger than any other race that season. Today, Darlington Raceway continues to produce dramatic racing, close finishes and breathtaking moments.

To honor that history, the NASCAR Hall of Fame curated and developed an exhibit with four cases, 24 artifacts with photos and 25 standalone timeline photos. A total of 28 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees are named in the exhibit‘s script.

Some notable artifacts include:

• Darlington Raceway‘s original sanctioning agreement signed by NASCAR Founder William H.G. France and Darlington Raceway founder Harold Brasington
• Buck Baker‘s NASCAR Roadster Division championship jacket from 1952
• The plaque presented to Richard Petty after surpassing his father Lee Petty with a record of 55 NASCAR Cup Series wins in 1966

""We are proud of the NASCAR Hall of Fame being the recognized home for honoring NASCAR‘s evolving history, celebrated heritage and family-oriented traditions," said NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley. "We are also thrilled to join in the celebration of Darlington Raceway‘s 75^th Anniversary. Darlington Raceway was NASCAR‘s first superspeedway that became a catalyst for future growth and racetrack development in our sport.

"Aptly nicknamed the 'Track Too Tough to Tame,‘ Darlington is a track on which every driver wants to win as drivers respectfully refer to Darlington as 'a driver‘s track‘ because of that toughness. Understandably, many of our Hall of Famers have experienced tremendous successes, memorable victories and career highlights at Darlington as the elite drivers tend to dominate winning there. We are excited to partner with Darlington Raceway and share their rich history with our guests."

Petty and Martin‘s inclusion in Tuesday‘s ceremony was more than fitting. During the 1966 and 1967 seasons, Petty won three of the four NASCAR Cup Series races contested at Darlington Raceway. That included his monumental 55^th win which vaulted him past his father, Lee Petty, for the most wins in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Martin, meanwhile, is tied with the late Dale Earnhardt for most Darlington wins all-time. He won 12 Darlington races overall, including twice in the NASCAR Cup Series, twice in the International Race of Champions (IROC) and a stunning eight times in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Darlington Raceway‘s 75^th Anniversary season races into high gear April 5-6 with The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR. Drivers and teams will pay tribute to the rich heritage of NASCAR with throwback paint schemes and uniforms that will invoke Too Tough to Tame memories of days gone by.

Action begins Saturday, April 5, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series‘ Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200. It concludes Sunday, April 6, with the NASCAR Cup Series‘ Goodyear 400. NASCAR fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets while supplies last at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com.

— Darlington Raceway —