Our second annual pilgrimage to Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500 didn’t disappoint from no matter which angle it was looked upon by us. Throwback weekend at one of NASCAR’s most historic tracks has grown to become a favorite of not just by us, but the nation. Getting to see the nostalgic paint schemes of yester-year is an absolute treat, no matter the era they are from. Even though I didn’t get to see the first 3 years of throwbacks in person, being able to see them live these past 2 years has been outstanding. The schemes this year were the best in my opinion. Two schemes imparticular had special meaning behind them, and they rightfully were 1-2 in the best in show vote: Bubba Wallace’s trubute to the late Adam Petty, and Landon Cassill’s tribute to Sterling Marlin and his Coors Light Silver Bullet scheme. Many knew the reasoning behind Bubba’s scheme, but many don’t on Landon’s. The 00 car had formed a partnership with The Fox Foundation, which is a charity to donate to Parkinson’s Disease research. With Michael J. Fox suffering from the disease, and Sterling Marlin suffering from it as well, Coors Light donated money for every lap completed by the 00 car to Michael’s Foundation. Ended up being almost $15,000.
The Friday and Saturday schedule went off without a bobble. We had easy, quick days just doing our jobs in the booth. But Mother Nature wasn’t going to let us off that easy on the day of the big show. FOUR hours later after scheduled start time, it was game on. Then at 2 am EST, with ourselves and 98% of Darlington’s staff half asleep it seemed, we had a completed race when we thought we’d be racing on Monday Evening. I am sure I speak for Steve as well when I say that was hands down the most exhausting day ever at a racetrack for us, since I’ve been around, but we absolutely would NOT trade it for one single thing. Kerry Tharp, Dennis Worden, and everyone at Darlington Raceway have made Steve as well as myself feel more than at home. We now look at it as our Eastern NASCAR home each September.
The Lady In Black didn’t let us down. She kept her word and delivered what we and 50.000 other people wanted to see and be a part of: a PHENOMENAL RACE WEEKEND. When you’re living your dreams out in real life, and get to be a part of something you dearly adore, you have no reason to voice a complaint, no matter how exhausting it can be.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW I SURE WONT……