DARLINGTON, S.C. — Another Darlington Raceway tradition will return in 2021, as the historic facility expands its schedule to host two NASCAR Cup Series races.
NASCAR’s top division will visit The Track Too Tough to Tame on May 9 and Sept. 5 next year.
It marks the first time Darlington has featured twin weekend on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule since 2004, the year before a calendar realignment shifted one of its annual dates to Texas Motor Speedway.
“We are grateful for NASCAR’s trust in the track Too Tough To Tame to continue to deliver one of the most competitive race experiences and loyal fan bases in the sport,” said Darlington President Kerry Tharp. “Thanks to Governor Henry McMaster and the state of South Carolina for their continued support as NASCAR was the first to bring live team sports back at Darlington in 2020. We look forward to hearing the roar of the engines twice as part of our traditional Mother’s Day and Labor Day weekends.”
Darlington first hosted the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend on Sept. 4, 1950. The track added the NASCAR Convertible Series to its spring schedule in 1957-59; the series eventually became a part of the Cup Series.
From 1960 to 2004, Darlington annually hosted two Cup Series race weekends — one in the spring and one on Labor Day weekend. In 2015, the Southern 500 returned to its traditional date on Labor Day weekend.
This year the track hosted three Cup Series races as part of NASCAR’s revised schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the 2021 NASCAR schedule, The Track Too Tough To Tame returns to its traditional status with two Cup Series race weekends.
“The announcement of a second race at Darlington Raceway proves what we have known all along – The Lady in Black is one of the finest in the country,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “NASCAR’s commitment to South Carolina has made Labor Day weekend synonymous with Darlington Raceway in our state, and we look forward to bringing this same passion to the Mother’s Day weekend race.”
Darlington will host its spring Cup Series race weekend on Sunday, May 9, 2021. The Lady in Black will join generations of race fans in celebrating on Mother’s Day for a day of racing to remember. The track first hosted races in May from 2005-2013 and again in 2020.