Darlington Raceway
Darlington, SC, USA
← All Tracks 
130
Total Races
77
Years Active
1.366 mi
Track Length
Track Information Intermediate asphalt
First Race
1950
Last Race
2026
Total Races
130
Years Active
77
Length
1.366 mi
Type
intermediate
Surface
asphalt
Seating
63,000
Track History
They call it The Lady in Black, and she is unforgiving. Darlington Raceway is a 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval in the South Carolina Lowcountry, a track so asymmetric and so demanding that it has been humbling the best drivers in the world since 1950. The uneven turns — Turn 1 is wider and more sweeping, Turn 3 tighter and more treacherous — create a driving challenge that no simulator can fully replicate. The Darlington Stripe, that telltale scrape along the right side of any car that gets too intimate with the outside wall, is a badge of honor worn by nearly every driver who has ever circled this place. Harold Brasington built the track around a minnow pond that an adjacent landowner refused to sell, which gave the oval its distinctive egg shape and guaranteed its place in NASCAR lore. The Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend is one of the Crown Jewel races, a grueling test of endurance and respect for a surface that punishes the careless. Darlington does not care about your reputation — it will humble you all the same.
Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference
Cup Upcoming Races at Darlington Raceway
| Date | Race | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 6 | Cook Out Southern 500 | USA |
Top Drivers at Darlington Raceway
Dale Earnhardt leads all drivers at Darlington Raceway with 12 wins across 66 starts.
All-time stats across Cup, O'Reilly & Trucks (min 3 starts)
| Driver | Races | Wins | Avg Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Earnhardt | 66 | 12 | 13.5 |
| Denny Hamlin | 41 | 10 | 7.6 |
| David Pearson | 48 | 10 | 11.8 |
| Mark Martin | 76 | 10 | 13.4 |
| Harry Gant | 48 | 8 | 13 |
Race Winners (1950-2026)
Darlington Raceway has crowned 85 different Cup Series winners since 1950.
| Year | Race | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Goodyear 400 | Tyler Reddick |
| 2026 | Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 | Justin Allgaier |
| 2026 | Buckle Up South Carolina 200 | Corey Heim |
| 2025 | Goodyear 400 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2025 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Chase Briscoe |
| 2025 | NASCAR Truck Series at Darlington | Corey Heim |
| 2025 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Brandon Jones |
| 2024 | Goodyear 400 | Brad Keselowski |
| 2024 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Chase Briscoe |
| 2024 | NASCAR Truck Series at Darlington | Ross Chastain |
| 2024 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Christopher Bell |
| 2024 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Justin Allgaier |
| 2023 | Goodyear 400 | William Byron |
| 2023 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Denny Hamlin |
| 2023 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Kyle Larson |
| 2023 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Kyle Larson |
| 2023 | NASCAR Truck Series at Darlington | Christian Eckes |
| 2022 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Erik Jones |
| 2022 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Justin Allgaier |
| 2022 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Noah Gragson |
| 2022 | NASCAR Truck Series at Darlington | John Hunter Nemechek |
| 2022 | Goodyear 400 | Joey Logano |
| 2021 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2021 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Justin Allgaier |
| 2021 | NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington | Noah Gragson |
| 2021 | Goodyear 400 | Martin Truex, Jr. |
| 2021 | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Darlington | Sheldon Creed |
| 2021 | NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Darlington | Sheldon Creed |
| 2020 | Toyota 500 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2020 | The Real Heroes 400 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2020 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2020 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Brandon Jones |
| 2020 | NASCAR GANDER RV & OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Ben Rhodes |
| 2019 | Bojangles' Southern 500 | Erik Jones |
| 2019 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Cole Custer |
| 2018 | Bojangles' Southern 500 | Brad Keselowski |
| 2018 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Brad Keselowski |
| 2017 | Bojangles' Southern 500 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2017 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Denny Hamlin |
| 2016 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Martin Truex, Jr. |
| 2016 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Elliott Sadler |
| 2015 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Denny Hamlin |
| 2015 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AT DARLINGTON | Carl Edwards |
| 2014 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Darlington | Chase Elliott |
| 2014 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Kevin Harvick |
| 2013 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Darlington | Kyle Busch |
| 2013 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Matt Kenseth |
| 2012 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Darlington | Joey Logano |
| 2012 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2011 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Regan Smith |
| 2011 | Too Tough To Tame 200 | Kasey Kahne |
| 2010 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Denny Hamlin |
| 2010 | Too Tough to Tame 200 | Todd Bodine |
| 2009 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Matt Kenseth |
| 2009 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Mark Martin |
| 2008 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Darlington | Kyle Busch |
| 2008 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Tony Stewart |
| 2007 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2007 | NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at Darlington | Jeff Gordon |
| 2006 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Denny Hamlin |
| 2006 | Dodge Charger 500 | Greg Biffle |
| 2005 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Matt Kenseth |
| 2005 | Dodge Charger 500 | Greg Biffle |
| 2004 | Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2004 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2004 | Bi-Lo 200 | Jamie McMurray |
| 2004 | Darlington 200 | Kasey Kahne |
| 2004 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Greg Biffle |
| 2003 | Winn-Dixie 200 Presented by PepsiCo | Brian Vickers |
| 2003 | darlingtonraceway.com 200 | Todd Bodine |
| 2003 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Terry Labonte |
| 2003 | Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 | Ricky Craven |
| 2003 | Craftsman 200 | Bobby Hamilton |
| 2002 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Jeff Gordon |
| 2002 | darlingtonraceway.com 200 | Jeff Burton |
| 2002 | Gatorade 200 | Jeff Burton |
| 2002 | Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 | Sterling Marlin |
| 2002 | Craftsman Anniversary 200 | Ted Musgrave |
| 2001 | South Carolina 200 | Jeff Burton |
| 2001 | Suncom 200 | Jeff Green |
| 2001 | Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 | Dale Jarrett |
| 2001 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Ward Burton |
| 2001 | Darlington 200 | Bobby Hamilton |
| 2000 | Suncom 200 | Mark Martin |
| 2000 | Dura Lube / All Pro Bumper to Bumper 200 | Mark Martin |
| 2000 | Pepsi Southern 500 | Bobby Labonte |
| 2000 | Mall.com 400 | Ward Burton |
| 1999 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Matt Kenseth |
| 1999 | Transouth Financial 400 | Jeff Burton |
| 1999 | Pepsi Southern 500 | Jeff Burton |
| 1999 | Dura Lube 200 Presented by Trak Auto | Mark Martin |
| 1998 | Pepsi Southern 500 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1998 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Bobby Labonte |
| 1998 | Transouth Financial 400 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1998 | Dura-Lube 200 Presented by Bi-Lo | Dick Trickle |
| 1997 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1997 | Dura Lube 200 Presented by Trak Auto | Jeff Burton |
| 1997 | Transouth Financial 400 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1997 | Diamond Hill Plywood 200 | Randy LaJoie |
| 1996 | Transouth Financial 400 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1996 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1996 | Dura Lube 200 | Mark Martin |
| 1996 | Dura Lube 200 | Terry Labonte |
| 1995 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Jeff Gordon |
| 1995 | Gatorade 200 | Mark Martin |
| 1995 | Transouth Financial 400 | Sterling Marlin |
| 1995 | Mark III Vans 200 | Larry Pearson |
| 1994 | Mark III Vans 200 | Mark Martin |
| 1994 | Gatorade 200 | Mark Martin |
| 1994 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Bill Elliott |
| 1994 | TranSouth 400 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1993 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Mark Martin |
| 1993 | Gatorade 200 | Mark Martin |
| 1993 | Mark III Vans 200 | Robert Pressley |
| 1993 | TranSouth 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1992 | Gatorade 200 | Michael Waltrip |
| 1992 | TranSouth 500 | Bill Elliott |
| 1992 | Mark III Vans 200 | Robert Pressley |
| 1992 | Mountain Dew Southern 500 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1991 | TranSouth 500 | Ricky Rudd |
| 1991 | Pontiac Pacesetters 200 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1991 | Gatorade 200 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1991 | Heinz Southern 500 | Harry Gant |
| 1990 | Gatorade 200 | Dale Jarrett |
| 1990 | TranSouth 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1990 | Heinz Southern 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1990 | Pontiac 200 | Harry Gant |
| 1989 | Heinz Southern 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1989 | TranSouth 500 | Harry Gant |
| 1989 | Gatorade 200 | Harry Gant |
| 1989 | Country Squire 200 | Geoff Bodine |
| 1988 | Southern 500 | Bill Elliott |
| 1988 | TranSouth 500 | Lake Speed |
| 1988 | Gatorade 200 | Harry Gant |
| 1988 | Country Squire 200 | Geoff Bodine |
| 1987 | TranSouth 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1987 | Southern 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1987 | Country Squire 200 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1987 | Gatorade 200 | Harry Gant |
| 1986 | TranSouth 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1986 | Gatorade 200 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1986 | Dixie Cup 200 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1986 | Southern 500 | Tim Richmond |
| 1985 | Transouth 500 | Bill Elliott |
| 1985 | Southern 500 | Bill Elliott |
| 1985 | Pontiac Winner's Circle 200 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1985 | Dixie Cup 200 | Jack Ingram |
| 1984 | Transouth 500 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1984 | Southern 500 | Harry Gant |
| 1984 | Dixie Cup 200 | Ron Bouchard |
| 1984 | Darlington 200 | Ron Bouchard |
| 1983 | Transouth 500 | Harry Gant |
| 1983 | Darlington 250 | Neil Bonnett |
| 1983 | Southern 500 | Bobby Allison |
| 1982 | CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 | Dale Earnhardt |
| 1982 | Southern 500 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1982 | TranSouth 200 | Geoff Bodine |
| 1981 | CRC Chemical Rebel 500 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1981 | Southern 500 | Neil Bonnett |
| 1980 | Southern 500 | Terry Labonte |
| 1980 | CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 | David Pearson |
| 1979 | CRC Chemicals Rebel 500 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1979 | Southern 500 | David Pearson |
| 1978 | Rebel 500 | Benny Parsons |
| 1978 | Southern 500 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1977 | Rebel 500 | Darrell Waltrip |
| 1977 | Southern 500 | David Pearson |
| 1976 | Rebel 500 | David Pearson |
| 1976 | Southern 500 | David Pearson |
| 1975 | Rebel 500 | Bobby Allison |
| 1975 | Southern 500 | Bobby Allison |
| 1974 | Southern 500 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1974 | Rebel 500 | David Pearson |
| 1973 | Southern 500 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1973 | Rebel 500 | David Pearson |
| 1972 | Southern 500 | Bobby Allison |
| 1972 | Rebel 500 | David Pearson |
| 1971 | Rebel 500 | Buddy Baker |
| 1971 | Southern 500 | Bobby Allison |
| 1970 | Southern 500 | Buddy Baker |
| 1970 | Rebel 400 | David Pearson |
| 1969 | Rebel 400 | LeeRoy Yarbrough |
| 1969 | Southern 500 | LeeRoy Yarbrough |
| 1968 | Southern 500 | Cale Yarborough |
| 1968 | Rebel 400 | David Pearson |
| 1967 | Rebel 400 | Richard Petty |
| 1967 | Southern 500 | Richard Petty |
| 1966 | Rebel 500 | Richard Petty |
| 1966 | Southern 500 | Darel Dieringer |
| 1965 | Southern 500 | Ned Jarrett |
| 1965 | Rebel 300 | Junior Johnson |
| 1964 | Southern 500 | Buck Baker |
| 1964 | Rebel 300 | Fred Lorenzen |
| 1963 | Southern 500 | Fireball Roberts |
| 1963 | Rebel 300 | Joe Weatherly |
| 1962 | Southern 500 | Larry Frank |
| 1962 | Rebel 300 | Nelson Stacy |
| 1961 | Rebel 300 | Fred Lorenzen |
| 1961 | Southern 500 | Nelson Stacy |
| 1960 | Southern 500 | Buck Baker |
| 1960 | Rebel 300 | Joe Weatherly |
| 1959 | Southern 500 | Jim Reed |
| 1958 | Southern 500 | Fireball Roberts |
| 1957 | Southern 500 | Speedy Thompson |
| 1956 | Southern 500 | Curtis Turner |
| 1955 | Southern 500 | Herb Thomas |
| 1954 | Southern 500 | Herb Thomas |
| 1953 | Southern 500 | Buck Baker |
| 1952 | Southern 500 | Fonty Flock |
| 1952 | 100 Miles at Darlington Raceway | Dick Rathman |
| 1951 | Southern 500 | Herb Thomas |
| 1950 | Southern 500 | Johnny Mantz |
Race Dynamics
Intermediate
Intermediate tracks reward balanced setups and consistent speed over long runs. Track position and pit strategy are crucial. Drivers with strong average running positions at similar 1.5-mile tracks tend to be the most consistent performers.
Top Rated Drivers at Darlington Raceway
Top-rated drivers at Darlington Raceway based on the NR-Rating Elo system, measuring historical performance at this specific track.
NR-Rating Elo rankings based on track-specific performance
| Rank | Driver | Elo Rating | Races |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denny Hamlin | 1624 | 732 |
| 2 | Chase Elliott | 1617 | 369 |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 1597 | 229 |
| 4 | Chris Buescher | 1591 | 376 |
| 5 | Chase Briscoe | 1579 | 191 |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | 1570 | 604 |
| 7 | William Byron | 1561 | 299 |
| 8 | Ryan Preece | 1544 | 234 |
| 9 | Bubba Wallace | 1543 | 302 |
| 10 | Christopher Bell | 1539 | 227 |
Similar Tracks
Tracks with correlated driver performance based on NR-Rating analysis
Correlation
85.7%
Shared Drivers
90
kentucky-v1
Correlation
79.6%
Shared Drivers
61
Correlation
77.5%
Shared Drivers
116
Correlation
77.5%
Shared Drivers
198
Correlation
77.4%
Shared Drivers
139
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Darlington Raceway?
Darlington Raceway is a 1.366-mile intermediate with a asphalt surface.
How many NASCAR races have been held at Darlington Raceway?
Darlington Raceway has hosted 130 NASCAR Cup Series races from 1950 to 2026.
When was the first NASCAR race at Darlington Raceway?
The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway was held in 1950.
Who has the most wins at Darlington Raceway?
Dale Earnhardt has the most wins at Darlington Raceway with 12 victories since 1950. Last win: 1994.
Is Darlington Raceway on the 2026 NASCAR schedule?
Yes. Darlington Raceway will host the Cook Out Southern 500 on September 6, 2026.
What type of track is Darlington Raceway?
Darlington Raceway is a intermediate. Intermediate tracks are 1-2 miles long and represent the most common type on the NASCAR schedule.