
Historical marker for Darlington International Raceway
TODAY IN DARLINGTON COUNTY HISTORY: On September 4, 1950, Johnny Mantz of Long Beach, California, won the first Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C. He drove a 1950 Plymouth Coupe, and his First Place Prize was $11,500. The track had been built under the leadership of Harold Brasington.
We here at DCHC are dedicated to promoting the rich and varied history of Darlington County. So if you enjoy our posts, please Like us on Facebook by clicking here. And, by all means, follow our blog as well.
Don’t miss the chance to participate in some really fun and educational events.
One response
The Darlington Southern 500 is and always has been my favorite race and track. I just had the pleasure of watching last night’s “500” where Denny Hamlin overcame an improbable mistake (missing pit road) to somehow recover and win the race. The most exciting finish (in my opinion) in NASCAR history happened a few years ago at the Southern 500 when Kurt Busch and Ricky Craven did the side-by-side “bump and grind” the last two laps with Craven winning in a photo-finish. Great stuff!
–Mike