Darlington Raceway: A visual throwback of a NASCAR icon

Darlington Raceway is one of NASCAR’s iconic tracks.

Built by Harold Brasington and opened in 1950, the 1.366-mile egg-shaped track has long been known for colorful nicknames - “The Lady In Black” and the “Track Too Tough To Tame” - for the difficulty drivers have had in racing and winning there.

A driver doesn’t become a true member of the Darlington fraternity until they earn a “Darlington stripe” for sideswiping the track’s outside retaining wall.

Now, after an absence of more than a decade, Darlington’s trademark race, the Southern 500, returns to its former Labor Day weekend tradition, one that ran from the track’s first race on Sept. 4, 1950, until August 31, 2003. (There was a Southern 500 in 2004, but it was on Nov. 14.)

Sunday’s race will be the 112th Sprint Cup event held at Darlington. One of the most noteworthy decades in track and Southern 500 history was the 1970s, which we flash back to with the following photos:

1970: Buddy Baker won the Southern 500 at Darlington in 1970, a much sought-after event for him since his father won it three times. Buddy’s car owner, Cotton Owens, had been inducted into the Hall of Fame just two night earlier. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 7, 1970: Buddy Baker (R) pilots his Cotton Owens-prepared winged Dodge Daytona to the Southern 500 victory in 1970, the same race his father Buck won three times. The Bakers are the first father-son to win there. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SC - 1972: Bobby AllisonÕs pit crew go to work on his NASCAR Cup Chevrolet during a race at Darlington Raceway wearing their unique Coca-Cola uniforms. After finishing seventh in the Rebel 300, Allison came back to win the Southern 500 at Darlington in September. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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1975: Cale Yarborough sits atop his Junior Johnson-owned Holly Farms Poultry Chevrolet before a NASCAR Cup race. Yarborough finished ninth in Cup points in 1975, taking three victories. (Photo by ISC Images and Archives via Getty Images)

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An unknown driver walks down the track. Photo courtesy of Darlington Historical Commission.

DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 5, 1976: David Pearson after winning the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, one of his 10 NASCAR Cup wins during the year. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SC - APRIL 3, 1977: Darrell Waltrip recorded his first superspeedway win by capturing the Rebel 500 at Darlington in 1977. (Photo by ISC Archives via Getty Images)

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One of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, Hall of Famer David Pearson, won a record 10 times at Darlington, including three Southern 500s. (Photo courtesy ISC Images via Getty Pictures)

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