Thank God, Darlington is still on the circuit though limited to just one night a year. This race is the real deal, a link to the earliest days of NASCAR as the first super speedway. It’s right in the heart of Dixie, northern South Carolina, NASCAR country. In the new millennium things changed. NASCAR intent on being a national sport fled Rockingham just up the road in North Carolina, and cut Darlington to one date. The Southern 500 was long a Labor Day tradition, but got packed up and shipped to Los Angeles in 2005 where the date failed miserably to return to Dixie in Atlanta for 2009. Thankfully, the name, Southern 500, lives on with the May race at the historic track. For those who love the historic track in rural South Carolina, it remains “the track too tough too tame.”
Few tracks afford better racing than the venerable odd 1.366 egg-shaped oval shaped track. With the new emphasis on competition, the modified car configuration, and much to sort out in the standings, this weekend’s race should be a good old Darlington blast. Jaime McMurray leads the pack from the pole, setting a qualifying record, and also shows the best practice time with a familiar qualifying them for 2010, Fords are qualifying poorly. Only four cars in the top twenty are Fords ranging from Kasey Kahne, 10th; A.J. Allmendinger, 12th; Greg Biffle, 17th, the top Roush/Fenway entry, and Paul Menard, 20th. The balance of the Roush racers qualified with David Regan, 21st; Matt Kenseth, 29th; and Carl Edwards set by owner points in 41st.
Qualifying gave points leader Kevin Harvick no favor starting in 35th position, while Jimmy Johnson starts 22nd.
Top 10 Qualifiers:
1. Jaime McMurray, Chevy
2. Jeff Gordon, Chevy
3. Brian Vickers, Toyota
4. David Reutimann, Toyota
5. Mark Martin, Chevy
6. Ryan Newman, Chevy
7. Marcos Ambrose, Toyota
8. Denny Hamlin, Toyota
9. Brad Keselowski, Dodge
10. Kasey Kahne, Ford
Since the Darlington race became the single May, Mother’s Day weekend, night race, Mark Martin is last year’s winner; Kyle Busch in 2008; Jeff Gordon, 2007, and Greg Biffle, 2006, 2005. Jimmie Johnson won the last two races on the old schedule, spring and Labor Day weekend, 2004. Jeff Burton is the only other active driver with victories at the track.
Though Darlington’s survival looked bleak just a few years ago, with fresh pavement, lights for night racing, and other improvements, the May event is selling out and it looks like the Dixie heritage will live on with only Charlotte as the other track still in operation in the Carolinas.
Few tracks afford better racing than the venerable odd 1.366 egg-shaped oval shaped track. With the new emphasis on competition, the modified car configuration, and much to sort out in the standings, this weekend’s race should be a good old Darlington blast. Jaime McMurray leads the pack from the pole, setting a qualifying record, and also shows the best practice time with a familiar qualifying them for 2010, Fords are qualifying poorly. Only four cars in the top twenty are Fords ranging from Kasey Kahne, 10th; A.J. Allmendinger, 12th; Greg Biffle, 17th, the top Roush/Fenway entry, and Paul Menard, 20th. The balance of the Roush racers qualified with David Regan, 21st; Matt Kenseth, 29th; and Carl Edwards set by owner points in 41st.
Qualifying gave points leader Kevin Harvick no favor starting in 35th position, while Jimmy Johnson starts 22nd.
Top 10 Qualifiers:
1. Jaime McMurray, Chevy
2. Jeff Gordon, Chevy
3. Brian Vickers, Toyota
4. David Reutimann, Toyota
5. Mark Martin, Chevy
6. Ryan Newman, Chevy
7. Marcos Ambrose, Toyota
8. Denny Hamlin, Toyota
9. Brad Keselowski, Dodge
10. Kasey Kahne, Ford
Since the Darlington race became the single May, Mother’s Day weekend, night race, Mark Martin is last year’s winner; Kyle Busch in 2008; Jeff Gordon, 2007, and Greg Biffle, 2006, 2005. Jimmie Johnson won the last two races on the old schedule, spring and Labor Day weekend, 2004. Jeff Burton is the only other active driver with victories at the track.
Though Darlington’s survival looked bleak just a few years ago, with fresh pavement, lights for night racing, and other improvements, the May event is selling out and it looks like the Dixie heritage will live on with only Charlotte as the other track still in operation in the Carolinas.
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