RACING VENUES (DARLINGTON, SC.) - DARLINGTON RACEWAY: A FAVORITE AMONG NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES DRIVERS

With the 2008 Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway only a few months away, the track “Too Tough to Tame” was a hot topic of conversation among some of the top drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this week during Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

While drivers and crew chiefs were busy perfecting their setups for the 50th running of the Daytona 500 one thing was clear: Darlington Raceway remains a favorite among Sprint Cup Series drivers. “I like Darlington the most,” said Carl Edwards when asked to name his favorite track on the Sprint Cup Series circuit. “It’s my favorite track because you are always sliding sideways up by the wall, it’s a blast.”

Edwards was not the only driver to single out Darlington Raceway as his favorite track, two-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson also lists the track “Too Tough to Tame” as one of his favorite stops on the Sprint Cup Series schedule. “Darlington has been one of my favorite tracks forever regardless of where I finish,” said Johnson. “It is one of the coolest tracks we run on.”

Although Casey Mears admits that he also enjoys racing on mile and a half tracks, Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate relishes the uniqueness of Darlington Raceway. “It's hard to narrow it down to just one. I've always enjoyed the mile and a half tracks because you're running 200 mph but you still have to get your car to handle through the corners, I just like that sensation of speed. At the same time I agree with both Jimmie and Carl about Darlington because it is one of the most unique tracks we drive all year long and it's just something different thrown in the mix,” said Mears. “It’s a lot of fun."

Reed Sorenson is no stranger to the occasional “Darlington Stripe,” but his run-ins with the notorious wall at Darlington Raceway have not soured his relationship with the “Lady in Black.”

"I really enjoy running at Darlington because it is really fast and at the same time you can hit the wall three or four times during the race and keep on going,” said Sorenson. “I enjoy running there, it is pretty fun. I'd like to see another track that has speed like that, you treat it like a short track but we go 170 mph, it is pretty cool."

Don’t miss your chance to see the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as they take on the track “Too Tough to Tame” in the Dodge Challenger 500 on May 10, 2008. The racing action kicks off with the USAC Silver Crown Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on May 8th and 9th, respectively. Order your tickets now by calling 1-866-459-RACE or logging onto http://www.racetickets.com.