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It’s time to turn back the clock and celebrate Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR legends of today and yesteryear will come together this weekend to pay homage to the sport’s past, and in the process run the 13th race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Goodyear 400 (Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Many of the drivers and teams will be paying tribute to the past this weekend with special paint schemes on their cars. For a full detailed list of the paint schemes and cars/trucks participating, select this link and visit NASCAR.com’s 2024 Throwback Weekend Gallery.

Historic Darlington Raceway is a perfect stage for Throwback Weekend

The industry and fans alike all agree Darlington Raceway is the perfect stage for Throwback Weekend.

The historic 1.366-mile egg-shaped paved oval, known as Darlington Raceway, has hosted 125 NASCAR Cup Series races dating back to 1950. The raceway was originally built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-1950 and hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history, and the first on asphalt on September 4, 1950. A total of 75 cars competed in the inaugural event and Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 mph. The race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 mph), and it took 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds to complete.

Since then, Darlington Raceway has undergone some changes through the years. In 1953, the track was re-measured to 1.375 miles. Then in 1970, the track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race of that season. The track was repaved in 1995 and then again prior to the 2008 season. Over the years the historic facility has become known amongst its competitors as ‘the track too tough to tame.’ 

In total, the 125 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have produced 54 different pole winners and 54 different race winners.

Ring-in Mother’s Day this Sunday with NASCAR

This weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway (Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be the 11th-time in NASCAR Cup Series history the series has competed on Mother’s Day. 

The 2021 season was the first time since 2007 the NASCAR Cup Series had competed on Mother’s Day. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. took the win on May 9, 2021 becoming the seventh different driver to win on Mother’s Day in the series.

Then in 2022, Team Penske’s Joey Logano joined in the Mother’s Day festivities grabbing his first win on the special holiday on May 8, 2022, becoming the eighth different driver to win on Mother’s Day. 

And last season, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron joined the list of drivers to win on Mother’s Day after capturing his first win on the special holiday on May 14, 2023, becoming the ninth different driver to win on Mother’s Day.

Prior to the 2021 season race, the most recent winner on Mother’s Day in the NASCAR Cup Series was NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, who won the 2007 rain delayed Darlington Raceway race on May 13, 2007.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Buck Baker holds the record for the most wins on Mother’s Day in the NASCAR Cup Series with two victories on the special holiday (1956, 1954). 

Majority of Darlington wins come from starting in the top-10

Looking through the data, it’s clear starting inside the top-10 is advantageous to a driver’s winning chances. Of the 125 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, 104 have been won from a top-10 starting spot – a winning percentage of 83.2%. Defending Darlington winner, William Byron, grabbed the win at 1.366-mile track last season after taking the green flag in the fourth starting spot.

The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Darlington (16.80%). The outside front row (second starting position) has produced the second-most Darlington wins at 18 (14.40%)

A total of 54 different drivers have won the Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway, and only 12 drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Darlington Raceway in the series; led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with four wins from the pole (1971, 1972, 1976 sweep). Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2022) is the only active driver to win from the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington.

NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 (1967, ’70, ’72, ’73 sweep, ’75 sweep, ’76 sweep, ’77, ’78 and ’82). This weekend, six of the 54 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington pole winners are active, led by Team Penske’s Joey Logano with two poles (2022 sweep).

Dancing with the ‘Lady In Black’

Almost every driver who has ever competed in NASCAR will tell you that Darlington Raceway is one of the most challenging tracks to master, and because of that challenge, it is one of the competitor’s favorites on the schedule.

Over the years Darlington has produced 54 different Cup winners. This weekend, eight of the 54 former winners are entered in Sunday’s Goodyear 400, led by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin with four victories (2010, 2017, 2020, 2021).

NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in victories at Darlington Raceway with 10 wins (1968, ’70, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’76 sweep, ’77, ’79, 80); followed by Dale Earnhardt with nine and Jeff Gordon with seven.

This weekend’s Goodyear 400 will be 293 laps (400.2 miles) and will be broken up into three stages. The first stage will be 90 laps, the second stage will be 95 laps and the final stage will be 108 laps. 

On-track activity for the NASCAR Cup Series is set to start with practice and Busch Light Pole qualifying, and both events will be televised on FS1 starting at 10:30 a.m. ET on May 11. 

Loop Data Lowdown: Stats point to Hamlin as the driver to beat at Darlington

Among active drivers this weekend, one driver has risen above the rest statistically at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. 

The 43-year old, Hamlin, has made 23 starts at Darlington Raceway and leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the following stats at the 1.366-mile track:

• Wins: 4 (2010, 2017, 2020, 2021)
• Runner-Ups: 4 (2007, 2012, 2013, 2022)
• Top Fives: 12
• Top 10s: 16
• Driver Rating: 107.2
• Average Starting Position: 8.826
• Average Running Position: 7.778
• Average Finishing Position: 8.435
• Laps Led: 978
• Laps in the Top 15: 7,043 Laps, 88.0%

Approaching regular season midway point, nine Playoff spots still available 

As the NASCAR Cup Series approaches its midway point of the regular season with race No. 13 on 2024 schedule, the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway (Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) it’s no surprise the season is off to a hot start competitively. As the series heads to Darlington Raceway this weekend, seven drivers – Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Daniel Suarez – have earned their spots in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by virtue of their wins this year, leaving nine postseason positions still available.

Currently, of the drivers trying to earn a spot on points, Martin Truex Jr. has the largest point cushion above the cutoff with +155 points. But at the other end Playoff outlook in the hot seat is RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski, who is grasping ahold of his 16th and final Playoff spot by a mere four points over 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace in 17th, and 18 points over two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano in 18th. 

Five former Darlington winners without victories this season

A total of eight former NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway winners are active this weekend in the Goodyear 400 (May 12 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), and five of them are still looking for their first win of the 2024 season.

Returning after two weeks off due to injury is Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones, who won at Darlington Raceway in 2019 and in 2022. Jones is currently wrestling a winless streak that dates back to his win at Darlington on September 4, 2022 – 57 races ago. The Byron, Michigan native has made 12 starts at the ‘Lady In Black’ posting two wins (2019, 2022), five top fives and eight top 10s. His average finish at 1.366-mile track is 11.8 (fifth-best among active drivers). 

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Marttin Truex Jr. also has multiple Cup Series wins at Darlington Raceway (2016, 2021). Currently, Truex is managing a winless streak that dates back to July 17, 2023 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – 28 races ago. At Darlington, Truex has made 23 career series starts putting up one pole, two wins (2016, 2021), four top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 13.4 (eighth-best among active drivers). 

RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski captured his victory at Darlington Raceway in 2018, but don’t count him out this weekend. Keselowski is straddling a winless streak that dates back to April 25, 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway – 110 races ago. Keselowski has made 20 series starts at Darlington putting up one pole, one win (2018), six top fives and 11 top 10s. His average finish is 11.4 (fourth-best among active drivers).

Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch secured his NASCAR Cup Series Darlington victory in 2008, then driving for Hendrick Motorsports. Now, the two-time Cup Series champion returns to Darlington on a winless streak that dates back to June 4, 2023 at World Wide Technology Raceway – 33 races ago. Busch is also looking to extend his series record of 19 straight season with a victory to 20. Busch has made 24 series starts at Darlington posting one win (2008), six top fives and 14 top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 13.3 (seventh-best among active drivers).

Team Penske’s Joey Logano earned his lone victory at Darlington Raceway in 2022 from the pole position. This season, Logano finds himself below the Playoff cutline (18th) looking for his first win of the year. Logano is riding a winless streak that dates back to March 19, 2023 at Atlanta Motor Speedway – 43 races ago. Logano has made 20 series starts at Darlington putting up one pole, one win (2022), six top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish is 13.2 (sixth-best among active drivers).

NASCAR Cup Series & the Next Gen car continue to deliver

For the second-time this season the NASCAR Cup Series race came down to a photo-finish, further proving the series and the Next Gen car produce some of the greatest racing on the planet. Here just a few of the highlights from this season thus far.

Last Sunday the average Margin of Victory of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was 0.001-second, the closest Margin of Victory in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Two of the NASCAR Cup Series top-five closest Margins of Victory have occurred this season – 1. 2024 Kansas (0.001), 2.  2003 Darlington (0.002), 2011 Talladega (0.002), 3. 2024 Atlanta (0.003), 4. 1993 Talladega (0.005), 2007 Daytona (0.005), 5. 2001 Atlanta (0.006).

This season the NASCAR Cup Series has produced 37 different lap leaders through the first 12 races of the season, the series-most different lap leaders since 2011 (40). This season is also averaging 12.33 lap leaders per race, the third-most in the Modern Era (1972-2024).

This 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 29.25 average lead changes per race, the third-most in the Cup Series through 12 races in the Modern Era (1972-2024); behind the 2011 (33.6), and 2010 (30.7) seasons. The NASCAR Cup Series is seeing a year-over-year increase of +17.9% in lead changes (’23 vs ’24).

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway race produced 66 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – series-most at Kansas since the inception of the Loop Data stat in 2005. The previous Kansas record for Green Flag Passes for the Lead in the Cup Series was 65 Green Flag Passes for the Lead set in 2023.

Through the first 12 races on the Cup Series schedule, the 2024 season’s Green Flag Passes for the Lead total (979) is up +24.6% compared to the 2023 season’s total (786 Green Flag Passes for the Lead).

You can expect more great action this weekend at one of NASCAR’s most historic and iconic tracks – Darlington Raceway. In fact, the 1.366-mile track at one time held the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history (2003 race – Ricky Craven won by 0.002-second over Kurt Busch).

Below are the top five closest finishes at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series:

NASCAR PR