Quotes about Darlington Raceway
compiled by Jo Ann Hlavac /laidbackracing.com
"Here's what I know. On Labor Day weekend the Cup cars are supposed to compete in the Southern 500 at Darlington. They won't be. As such I will not watch or write about the blasphemous abomination of a race that will take place next weekend. If you're a fan of stock car racing rather than the NASCAR sanctioning body, I urge you to vote with your remote and boycott next weekend's race as well. As far as I am concerned Cup racing starts again at Richmond in two weeks." Matt McLaughlin, writer frontstretch.com
"I tell you what, Labor Day weekend will never be the same again." Cale Yarborough
“How tough is Darlington? Well, Richard Petty won one Southern 500. That should tell you something.” Kyle Petty
“You really have to muscle your way around Darlington. You’re just not going to finesse your way around there. Darlington is not a ‘finesse’ type of track.” Jeff Green
“I hate to see it leave Labor Day weekend. Darlington’s not the nicest (track). It’s not the prettiest. But, gosh, it’s tough to see it go. Tradition means different things to different people. To me, the Southern 500 on Labor Day, that's special here. It's always been a special place to me.” Terry Labonte.
“You never forget your first love, whether it’s a high school sweetheart, a faithful old hunting dog or a fickle race track in South Carolina with a contrary disposition. And if you happen to be a racecar driver, there’s no victory so sweet, so memorable, as whipping Darlington Raceway.”
Dale Earnhardt
“I love racing in my home state, there’s no doubt about it. But I’m kind of torn, because Darlington is one of my favorite racetracks and a place that I have a lot of success at and I love the history of it. So it’s a tough balance to come home, and then lose the Southern 500 at the same time. So I have kind of mixed emotions.” Jimmie Johnson
“There was so much history, so much tradition behind that race, such a cool racetrack. It’s one of those places that isn’t the nicest place you go, and it’s not the most fun, but the atmosphere is there. It’s awesome.” Clint Bowyer on the Southern 500
“Some people call that ‘character,’ others call it frustrating, but make no mistake about it, Darlington is unique. There will never be another track like it because I believe they broke the mold, and a lot of drivers breathed a sigh of relief. Kenny Schrader
“There isn’t any place like Darlington. I think Darlington is important to NASCAR because it is so unique. It stands for so much in the sport too. It’s steep in tradition and it’s a huge part of where this sport started. I can’t imagine a schedule without Darlington on it." Jeff Green
“You’re not there because it’s the largest market in the country. I don’t know of a single person yet who has confused Darlington with Los Angeles or New York. But you go because of what it is, and the tradition that is there. You can’t overlook the history of the place. You can’t overlook the greatest names in stock car racing who have won there, and some of the greatest races ever run have been there.” Jay Robinson, car owner
“Darlington is nothing if not tradition. Everything about the place says tradition & heritage...Legends are built on legendary things. Names like David Pearson, Richard Petty, Joe Weatherly, Herb Thomas, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison...those are legendary names. But they did a lot of legendary things at Darlington, which has become a legendary place. " Kyle Petty
“Darlington has a pretty brutal reputation, but then again - it deserves it. It’s a brutal track. It’s oddly shaped, the surface is rough, and it’s nicknamed ‘The Track Too Tough to Tame’ for a reason. It’s (Darlington) never been a track you go expecting a joy ride on a Saturday afternoon.”
Steve Grissom
"Darlington tests your skills each and every lap. By far, it's one of the tracks that I enjoy the l least but you can't help getting caught up in the history of it all. You come through what used to be the backstretch tunnel and look around and it's almost overwhelming." Clint Bowyer
“It’s probably the most challenging race track for a number of reasons. So many variables change in the entire equation as far as driving that it’s the most challenging. For that reason, I like it.”
Ryan Newman
“The day that they take Darlington completely off the schedule is the day I’m going to be really sick. I don’t care if nobody comes. There’s a part of this sport that has to have respect for history and heritage.’’ Jeff Burton
"It gave me chills to go out there and run on that race track after hearing the things that happened there. You hear about the great race car drivers that have struggled there and the guys that had glory there and the races that happened. I still feel that way when I go back. I still feel like, 'man, it's so cool to get to drive on this race track." Carl Edwards
"When it comes to personality, design and degree of difficulty, Darlington stands alone. There is nothing like it -- it's a classic racetrack that demands 110 percent attention on every lap and every corner." Joe Nemechek
"I am a big fan of Darlington. It is so engrained in the history of our sport...I don't want to be part of the sport with no Darlington date on the schedule. One race certainly isn't as good as two but one race is a heck of a lot better than none." Jeff Burton
“When you talk about the history of NASCAR, you’ve got to talk about Darlington.”
Bobby Labonte
"I love coming here. I hope there will always be a Darlington on the schedule." Kurt Busch
"The second you let your guard down here, this place will bite you...The tires wear out quick, so
it requires a lot more finesse and patience than we use at most tracks we go to...It's all about
staying out of the wall. I always look forward to Darlington races. It's one of my favorite tracks,
and probably always will be." Jeff Gordon
“This is a great racetrack. It’s one of the most fun racetracks we ever come to.” Matt Kenseth
“If you were going to be anybody with the fans, then you had better be good at Darlington. A guy could win 50 races and nobody cared unless he had a Southern 500 or two to go with them.” Kyle Petty
"You have to get excited about going to Darlington. The tradition, of course, but Darlington is a racer’s racetrack. There isn’t another track on the circuit that challenges drivers the way that Darlington does. On top of that, if you do make the slightest mistake the wall has a way of jumping out and slapping you. But, you have to love Darlington.” Kenny Schrader
"NASCAR is absolutely as concerned about keeping its roots intact as it is about growing the sport. We're as proud of our heritage in 1948 as we are today. At the same time, we're working to broaden the opportunities of the sport to anybody that wants to be a part of it and also broaden the exposure of the sport internationally. We've said all along that tradition is important, but we still have to be conscious and responsible in growing the sport." NASCAR president Mike Helton.
some above quotes courtesy of www.catchfence.com
compiled by Jo Ann Hlavac /laidbackracing.com
"Here's what I know. On Labor Day weekend the Cup cars are supposed to compete in the Southern 500 at Darlington. They won't be. As such I will not watch or write about the blasphemous abomination of a race that will take place next weekend. If you're a fan of stock car racing rather than the NASCAR sanctioning body, I urge you to vote with your remote and boycott next weekend's race as well. As far as I am concerned Cup racing starts again at Richmond in two weeks." Matt McLaughlin, writer frontstretch.com
"I tell you what, Labor Day weekend will never be the same again." Cale Yarborough
“How tough is Darlington? Well, Richard Petty won one Southern 500. That should tell you something.” Kyle Petty
“You really have to muscle your way around Darlington. You’re just not going to finesse your way around there. Darlington is not a ‘finesse’ type of track.” Jeff Green
“I hate to see it leave Labor Day weekend. Darlington’s not the nicest (track). It’s not the prettiest. But, gosh, it’s tough to see it go. Tradition means different things to different people. To me, the Southern 500 on Labor Day, that's special here. It's always been a special place to me.” Terry Labonte.
“You never forget your first love, whether it’s a high school sweetheart, a faithful old hunting dog or a fickle race track in South Carolina with a contrary disposition. And if you happen to be a racecar driver, there’s no victory so sweet, so memorable, as whipping Darlington Raceway.”
Dale Earnhardt
“I love racing in my home state, there’s no doubt about it. But I’m kind of torn, because Darlington is one of my favorite racetracks and a place that I have a lot of success at and I love the history of it. So it’s a tough balance to come home, and then lose the Southern 500 at the same time. So I have kind of mixed emotions.” Jimmie Johnson
“There was so much history, so much tradition behind that race, such a cool racetrack. It’s one of those places that isn’t the nicest place you go, and it’s not the most fun, but the atmosphere is there. It’s awesome.” Clint Bowyer on the Southern 500
“Some people call that ‘character,’ others call it frustrating, but make no mistake about it, Darlington is unique. There will never be another track like it because I believe they broke the mold, and a lot of drivers breathed a sigh of relief. Kenny Schrader
“There isn’t any place like Darlington. I think Darlington is important to NASCAR because it is so unique. It stands for so much in the sport too. It’s steep in tradition and it’s a huge part of where this sport started. I can’t imagine a schedule without Darlington on it." Jeff Green
“You’re not there because it’s the largest market in the country. I don’t know of a single person yet who has confused Darlington with Los Angeles or New York. But you go because of what it is, and the tradition that is there. You can’t overlook the history of the place. You can’t overlook the greatest names in stock car racing who have won there, and some of the greatest races ever run have been there.” Jay Robinson, car owner
“Darlington is nothing if not tradition. Everything about the place says tradition & heritage...Legends are built on legendary things. Names like David Pearson, Richard Petty, Joe Weatherly, Herb Thomas, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison...those are legendary names. But they did a lot of legendary things at Darlington, which has become a legendary place. " Kyle Petty
“Darlington has a pretty brutal reputation, but then again - it deserves it. It’s a brutal track. It’s oddly shaped, the surface is rough, and it’s nicknamed ‘The Track Too Tough to Tame’ for a reason. It’s (Darlington) never been a track you go expecting a joy ride on a Saturday afternoon.”
Steve Grissom
"Darlington tests your skills each and every lap. By far, it's one of the tracks that I enjoy the l least but you can't help getting caught up in the history of it all. You come through what used to be the backstretch tunnel and look around and it's almost overwhelming." Clint Bowyer
“It’s probably the most challenging race track for a number of reasons. So many variables change in the entire equation as far as driving that it’s the most challenging. For that reason, I like it.”
Ryan Newman
“The day that they take Darlington completely off the schedule is the day I’m going to be really sick. I don’t care if nobody comes. There’s a part of this sport that has to have respect for history and heritage.’’ Jeff Burton
"It gave me chills to go out there and run on that race track after hearing the things that happened there. You hear about the great race car drivers that have struggled there and the guys that had glory there and the races that happened. I still feel that way when I go back. I still feel like, 'man, it's so cool to get to drive on this race track." Carl Edwards
"When it comes to personality, design and degree of difficulty, Darlington stands alone. There is nothing like it -- it's a classic racetrack that demands 110 percent attention on every lap and every corner." Joe Nemechek
"I am a big fan of Darlington. It is so engrained in the history of our sport...I don't want to be part of the sport with no Darlington date on the schedule. One race certainly isn't as good as two but one race is a heck of a lot better than none." Jeff Burton
“When you talk about the history of NASCAR, you’ve got to talk about Darlington.”
Bobby Labonte
"I love coming here. I hope there will always be a Darlington on the schedule." Kurt Busch
"The second you let your guard down here, this place will bite you...The tires wear out quick, so
it requires a lot more finesse and patience than we use at most tracks we go to...It's all about
staying out of the wall. I always look forward to Darlington races. It's one of my favorite tracks,
and probably always will be." Jeff Gordon
“This is a great racetrack. It’s one of the most fun racetracks we ever come to.” Matt Kenseth
“If you were going to be anybody with the fans, then you had better be good at Darlington. A guy could win 50 races and nobody cared unless he had a Southern 500 or two to go with them.” Kyle Petty
"You have to get excited about going to Darlington. The tradition, of course, but Darlington is a racer’s racetrack. There isn’t another track on the circuit that challenges drivers the way that Darlington does. On top of that, if you do make the slightest mistake the wall has a way of jumping out and slapping you. But, you have to love Darlington.” Kenny Schrader
"NASCAR is absolutely as concerned about keeping its roots intact as it is about growing the sport. We're as proud of our heritage in 1948 as we are today. At the same time, we're working to broaden the opportunities of the sport to anybody that wants to be a part of it and also broaden the exposure of the sport internationally. We've said all along that tradition is important, but we still have to be conscious and responsible in growing the sport." NASCAR president Mike Helton.
some above quotes courtesy of www.catchfence.com