Southern 500 Week Declared Darlington Raceway Week In South CarolinaA

COLUMBIA, S.C. March 26, 2009: The week of the Southern 500® will take on an even more important meaning in 2009. Today the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed a Concurrent Resolution declaring race week Darlington Raceway Week in South Carolina, a week “Too Tough to Tame.”

Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning was in Columbia today and took part in the announcement at the State House. In addition to the announcement of the Concurrent Resolution, Darlington Raceway officials also unveiled the findings of a recently completed economic impact study conducted by Washington Economics Group, Inc.

“Having the week of the Southern 500 declared Darlington Raceway Week is very special for everyone in the state of South Carolina,” said Browning. “Darlington Raceway Week brings even more significance to our 60th Season of Racing in 2009. We appreciate the efforts of the Darlington Delegation to introduce this resolution in the State Senate and State House of Representatives.”

“South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway has played a huge role in NASCAR becoming the largest spectator sport in America,” said Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell. “The track that is ‘Too Tough to Tame’ and the great South Carolinians that keep it running at full throttle deserve this recognition and honor as we continue to see this industry and fan base grow around the Raceway that helped start it all.”

“I join the entire General Assembly today in the celebration of 60 years of racing on the most popular tracks in the NASCAR Racing World,” said Senator Gerald Malloy. “I have always been a proud supporter of Darlington Raceway and the announcement of the annual economic impact to the local economy reflects the success of the hardworking people of Darlington County and the hardworking staff at the Darlington Raceway. This announcement is just another nationally recognized example of Darlington County’s commitment to sports destination tourism and stimulus to the economy.”

Darlington Raceway or the track “Too Tough to Tame” as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Victory Lane. In 2009 a NASCAR tradition, the Southern 500®, will return as Darlington Raceway celebrates 60 Seasons of Racing.

Be a part of history when Darlington Raceway celebrates 60 years of racing in 2009. Tickets to the 2009 Southern 500®, as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 are on-sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.