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Darlington’s race date is safe for 2011. Track president Chris Browning said on SportsTalk last night says there will be no change on the calendar for the Lady in Black’s one Sprint Cup event. Browning said Showtime will be back next year as sponsor of the Southern 500. Here’s what Chris had to say last night as he broke the good news that his track has signed the deal to keep its date for next season.
Chris Browning reveals Darlington’s race date on SportsTalk
Once again, NASCAR has decided to put Darlington in its crosshairs. The sport that has made the huge mistake of over expanding at the expense of historic tracks like Darlington and Rockingham wants to tweak its schedule again. Apparently places like Las Vegas and Kansas want to add Sprint Cup race dates and that could affect Darlington.
Darlington president Chris Browning insists this situation isn’t as dire as it was several years ago when it appeared Darlington was going to come off the NASCAR schedule. The Lady in Black didn’t come out of that unscathed though, she lost one of her two dates as they took away the historic Southern 500 Labor Day race and moved the track’s lone race to Mother’s Day weekend.
Browning doesn’t think the track will lose its lone race next season. Others aren’t so sure.
Darlington president Chris Browning on potential of new race date
Browning and his people have done an amazing job of taking the Mother’s Day race and turning it into a great event. Browning and his staff worked nonstop to promote and upgradeDarlington Raceway and that hard work enabled the track to get off the NASCAR chopping block.
Or so we thought.
Browning and his people made Mothers Day weekend at Darlington the new NASCAR tradition and as a reward it looks like NASCAR may make him do it all over again. As of July 13th, we still don’t know if Darlington will be racing on Mother’s Day or any day in 2011.
Browning is confident they WILL be racing, he’s just not sure when. It’s doubtful the track will get Labor Day weekend back (that date was snatched for a half empty track in California and is now in Atlanta) and there really is no telling what date the track will get.
If Darlington does get a new date I have no doubt Browning and his staff will do a great job embracing it and making it a wonderful race and experience for the fans. Maybe after this ends the powers that bewithin NASCAR and the various track owners will stop treating Darlington like the red headed stepchild.
I doubt it though, and that is a shame.
Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning joined us on SportsTalk last night and he informed us that the “Track to Tough to Tame” is close securing a title sponsor for this year’s Mother’s Day weekend race. Browning said the contract is in hand and all that is left to do is cross the t’s and dot the I’s .
Browning did not reveal the name of the sponsor because the contract has not been signed, but he said it is a group that everyone will recognize. His only hint was the sponsor is in the entertainment business. Browning also said it will be a multi-year deal.
Darlington President Chris Browning talk about new sponsor for May race
This is great news for the track that just a few years ago was in danger of losing its race date. Big kudos to Chris Browning and his staff at Darlington Raceway for working hard to spruce up the “Lady in Black” and draw huge crowds to the race their each year. Browning is as good of a promoter as you will find in the sport.
To me, there isn’t a more special track than Darlington. It is the Wrigley Field or Fenway Park of NASCAR and its rich history and tradition is what makes it my favorite place to go watch a race. If you have never been to a race I encourage you to check it out. It will give you a chance to experience just how incredible the sport is and to see firsthand one of the most unique tracks in NASCAR. Last, but not least, you will be supporting a true gem that we are lucky to have in our state.
Even better, it won’t cost you much to go! NASCAR hasn’t lost touch with its fans and Darlington offers great prices for its race weekend. And remember, you can bring your own food and drink in to races so you save there too. The bottom line is, there isn’t a better bargain in pro sports than a NASCAR event. If you’ve been, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t been, you need to add it to your sports bucket list.
The race is Saturday, May 8th.
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