NASCAR again plans two races at Darlington Raceway in 2022
As part of NASCAR’s announcement of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Darlington Raceway will again host two scheduled Cup races May 8 and Sept. 4, 2022. This will be the second consecutive year Darlington will host two Cup Series race weekends. “Darlington Raceway has showcased the impact it has on the sport on and off the track over the last two years, so we are grateful to once again host two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends in 2022,” said Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp. “This season’s on-track competition grew in intensity at the track Too Tough To Tame as each race held more meaning for drivers and race teams in their march to a championship. We are already counting the days until we can celebrate Mother’s Day and Labor Day weekend with the most loyal fans in motorsports once again.” In 2021, Darlington Raceway hosted two of the most competitive Cup Series races on the schedule with Martin Truex Jr. (Goodyear 400) and Denny Hamlin (Cook Out Southern 500) of Joe Gibbs Racing barely holding off 2021 Cup Regular Season Champion Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports. Darlington will host the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR featuring a spring Cup Series race on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2022. The track’s acclaimed throwback platform will enter its eighth year and promises to provide fans with a one-of-a-kind tribute to the sport’s past, present and future. Darlington will start the Cup Series Playoffs with the crown jewel Southern 500 over Labor Day weekend on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022. The race will be the first race in the Round of 16 of the Cup Series Playoffs for the third consecutive season. Darlington first hosted the Southern 500 Cup race 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. From 2005-2013, Darlington hosted a Cup Series race in May. In 2015, the Southern 500 returned to its traditional date on Labor Day weekend where it has stayed ever since. The track hosted three Cup Series races as part of NASCAR’s realigned schedule on account of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2021, Darlington Raceway returned to its traditional home for two scheduled Cup Series race weekends since 2004. The Tradition will continue in 2022.
