DARLINGTON, SC - 1971: View of action at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)
ISC Archives via Getty Images
Driving a Plymouth, Johnny Mantz won the inaugural Southern 500 for his only NASCAR victory in 12 starts. That day in 1950, 75 cars would start the race. Now the fields of Sprint Cup races are filled by a modest total of 43 cars.
The track has hosted 111 Sprint Cup races since 1950, with two being held each year from 1960 to 2004. Of the 13 tracks that were visited in the 1950 season for 19 races, Darlington is one of two NASCAR still visits, with the other being Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. The series still raced on the beaches of Daytona and at a track that predated Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Here’s a snapshot of Darlington and the sport it plays host to.
An aerial shot of Darlington from its early days. (Courtesy of Darlington Historical Commission)
DARLINGTON, SC - 1971: View of action at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)
ISC Archives via Getty Images
Crewmembers work on the No. 66 of Dick Brooks in the garage area. (Courtesy of Darlington Historical Commission)
Richard Petty flies by the scoring table just inside a turn in Darliingtons infield in 1970. Courtesy: Courtesy of Darlington Historical Commission
The No. 98 spins out during one of the 1973 races at Darlington. (Courtesy of Darlington Historical Commission)
Bobby Allison finishes a qualifying run for the 1972 Rebel 400. Allison, a five-time winner at Darlington, qualified second. (Courtesy of Darlington Historical Commission)
