Here we are ready for another weekend of exciting racing at one of Nascar's most infamous tracks, "The Lady In Black," Darlington Raceway. No matter if you're headed there to see one of the races in person or plan on reserving your seat on the couch with favorite beverage at your side, here's a few things you can expect from the "Track Too Tough To Tame."
If a car is tight, look for the cars left side tires to go to the bottom line at the apron, or even just below it to loosen it up some. Once the cars hit the apron, they'll shoot up the track to inches or even centimeters off the retaining wall. Some cars can get a run under a guy in the turns and make the pass. If that lower line car gets in the turn too hard, they'll complete the pass, but the other car can swing low off the turn and make the pass down the backstretch.
With the new pavement, lap times won't drop the usual two to three seconds like they have in the past. They'll only drop a few tenths of a second, so tire wear won't be that big of a problem this race as in the past. Both races will see their share of yellow flags but they also are prone to long green flag runs.
Here's some helpful hints for those of you (especially you first timers) who are lucky enough to be attending in person. If you're headed to the track from the west or northwest (Columbia, SC or Charlotte, NC area), you may be coming down highway 34 & 151 (Harry Byrd Highway). You'll see the turns 3 & 4 when you get close. Get in the right lane and look for the parking lot just off turn 3. They'll be plenty of flaggers in the parking lot directing you to a spot. Hopefully you'll get a close spot to the track. Don't worry if you don't. Just remember what row you're in and look for a landmark for where you parked your car. A large truck, certain tailgaters, portable lighting system or even a certain race flag. All the race souvinier rigs are parked behind the front stretch along with the Speed Channel Speed Stage and several on track displays. Take your time and pick up as many freebies as you can. One of my personal favorites. Across Highway 34/151, will be several race souvinier vendors. Make sure you get officially licensed stuff and not off brand or pirated stuff.
Here's a couple of helpful hints in your exit strategy after the race. If you do park in that lot off turns 3 & 4, your wait could take an hour to two hours to get out. This holds true more so after the Sprint Cup Race rather than the Nationwide Series. From personal experience, you can actually cut that time down if you try to head to one of the lines closest to the access road by the hospitality village or by the fence furthest away from the track. Everyone seems to think that if you get in the most direct line to the exit, you'll get out faster. Not so my weery race friends. The furthest lines actually move quicker. Once you get to the exit, the South Carolina Highway Patrol will be directing traffic. You can turn either left or right. Just make sure you are in the correct lane you want to go in. I would suggest that especially after the Sprint Cup race that you consider tailgating for an hour or so, hit those souvinier rigs again or just mill around to avoid the longest lines.
Very Important Tip -- If you are taking highway 34/151 and heading back toward Bishopville to take I-20 west toward Columbia or even back to Georgia, beware of a potential sobriety/DL checkpoint in Bishopville. The best way to avoid getting a DUI is not to drive drunk. Get that designated driver. South Carolina has an open conainer law. No open containers of beer or alcohol are allowed anywhere by anyone in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. This is a jailable offense, so be forewarned.
Enjoy the races fans!!
Here's the track lineup for this weekend:
| Thursday, May 08 | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Grandstand Gates Open |
| 3:00 p.m. | NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice |
| 4:00 p.m. | **HOT PASS IN EFFECT** (Pit road will be cleared.) |
| 4:30 p.m. | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice |
| 5:40 p.m. | NASCAR Nationwide Series Practice |
| 6:30 p.m. | **HOT PASS IN EFFECT** (Pit road will be cleared.) |
| 7:00 p.m. | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice |
| 8:10 p.m. | NASCAR Nationwide Series Final Practice |
| Friday, May 09 | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Grandstand Gates Open |
| 12:00 p.m. | **HOT PASS IN EFFECT** (Pit road will be cleared.) |
| 12:00 p.m. | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice |
| 2:00 p.m. | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice |
| 3:10 p.m. | NASCAR Nationwide Series Qualifying (Two Laps) |
| 4:45 p.m. | **HOT PASS IN EFFECT** (Pit road will be cleared.) |
| 5:15 p.m. | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (Two Laps) |
| 7:00 p.m. | Driver Introductions for Diamond Hill Plywood 200 |
| 7:30 p.m. | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series Race (147 Laps, 200.8 Miles) |
| Saturday, May 10 | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Grandstand Gates Open |
| 6:20 p.m. | **HOT PASS IN EFFECT** (Pit road will be cleared.) |
| 6:50 p.m. | Driver Introductions for Dodge Challenger 500 |
| 7:20 p.m. | Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race (367 Laps, 501.3 Miles) |
| *All times are tentative and subject to change. | |
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Comments (11)
Oh RZ, where were your driving tips when DC was headed to RIR?? LMAO!!!!!
FLETCH346 | 05/07/08, 09:04 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhat does DC mean? Direct current, District of Columbia, Dweeb Commander
Depends Companion. When I leave the track I will obey the Police that are working hard direcring traffic.
Seymore Whowho | 05/07/08, 09:25 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood blog.
#11 dyhard is Jackie Robinson | 05/07/08, 10:03 PM
Report Offensive CommentI don't normally say to much on Blogs ,,,but this one by
Red Zone is very well written and very much to the point.
We on the RNF Group are very fortunate to have him as
a member.Keep up the good work fella
SLY 1 | 05/07/08, 10:21 PM
Report Offensive CommentHey, that's a whole lotta good info in here. This is my first time going to Darlington, and I don't think I knew a bit of that.
nin_man | 05/08/08, 08:44 AM
Report Offensive Commentnin_man...that's one of the reasons I posted the kind of info I did, for the first timer going to Darlington. I know from past experience that the first time you go to a new track, you may not know the ins and outs of different things associated with that track. Hopefully that will help. Next week after the race, let me know how all that info actually transpired into your race experience.
Red Zone | 05/08/08, 07:25 PM
Report Offensive CommentRain in the Darlington area this morning. The forecast calls for it to clear out mid to late morning and then clear off. We should be ok for on track activities this afternoon and the Nationwide looks to be ok. Keep your fingers crossed.
Red Zone | 05/09/08, 06:37 AM
Report Offensive CommentDespite the fact there is a severe weather threat for the southern half of South Carolina tonight, we should be in good shape to get the Cup race in with no problems. Here's hoping for a safe and exciting race tonight.
Red Zone | 05/10/08, 03:37 PM
Report Offensive CommentHere it is Saturday afternoon and there is a possibility of severe weather in the southern half of South Carolina. We should be all right for the race tonight despite that fact. Chris Browning, Pres. of Darlington Raceway, reported Friday night that tonight's race is a sell out. Here's hoping for a safe and exciting race tonight.
Red Zone | 05/10/08, 03:39 PM
Report Offensive Commentgood blog,I will use thjese tips the next time I go to a race
Nyfan!-100 blogs! | 05/11/08, 08:47 AM
Report Offensive CommentI read all that and...I didn't do most of it. Still did alright, though.
I didn't know why I'd be coming down 34 to get there when there's a perfectly good I-20 that I could take instead. I didn't get to leave as early as I thought I would, so the traffic was a little uglier than I would have liked but it still only took two hours' driving to get parked at the track and it should have taken an hour so no harm done. I ended up parking in the southeastern lot behind the frontstretch, grilled up a crapload of food, drank a bunch of beer and had myself a pretty solid drunk on when we got up to go tour the merchandise trucks. I might have molested one of the new Challengers they had on display (did you know the Viper gets better has mileage than the Challenger?) and got enough free stuff to keep me happy. Never did make it back to the museum, though.
After the race was over, rather than get in line right away I grilled a little more, drank a little more, read some, and took a good half-hour nap. By the time I woke up, it was 2:30 and the traffic getting out had thinned considerably, and we (okay, my wife, who hadn't drank since before the race) made it home in an hour without getting caught in traffic at all. So your advice definitely paid off there. I got some shopping done and the lines weren't near as bad at the merchandise trailers as before the race.
Getting out of Darlington is a danged sight easier than getting out of Talladega, I'll say that much. Seemed a lot better organized, and there's more than one way out for half as many people.
nin_man | 05/11/08, 12:10 PM
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