Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina going into the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 14 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Darlington Raceway – Qualifying / Race Data
Track Qualifying Record: Aric Almirola, Ford, 184.145 mph, 26.705 secs. April 11, 2014
Track Race Record (500 miles): Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 141.383 mph, (03:32:45), May 11, 2013
Track Race Record (400 miles): David Pearson, Ford, 132.703 mph, (03:00:54), May 11, 1968
2022 Pole Winner: Joey Logano, Ford, 170.720 mph, 28.805 secs. May, 7, 2022
2022 Race Winner: Joey Logano, Ford, 119.158 mph, (03:21:32), May 8, 2022
At Darlington Raceway Stats & Tidbits:
HISTORY
Darlington Raceway was originally built as a 1.25-mile paved superspeedway in 1949-1950.Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on September 4, 1950 — 75 cars competed in the event. Curtis Turner won the pole at 82.034 mph, and the race was won by Johnny Mantz (Plymouth, 75.250 mph). The race to 6 hours, 38 minutes, and 40 seconds to complete.The track was re-measured to 1.375 miles in 1953.The track was re-configured to 1.366 miles following the spring race in 1970.The track was repaved in 1995.The 2005 race was the first Saturday night race at Darlington Raceway.The track was repaved again prior to the 2008 season.There have been 123 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. From 1960 — 2004 the track hosted two Cup Series races per year.
STARTS
A total of 749 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway; 471 drivers have competed in more than one race at Darlington.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Darlington Raceway with 65.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Darlington Raceway with 30.Fred Lorenzen (16 starts) leads the series in average starting position at Darlington with a 3.688.Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the series in average starting position at Darlington with an 8.4 in 19 starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Darlington Raceway (All-Time and Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1Fred Lorenzen3.688161Denny Hamlin8.421192David Pearson6.277472Brad Keselowski9.438163Frank Mundy6.66733Kyle Larson9.75084Fonty Flock7.00084Joey Logano10.500165Jeff Gordon7.000365Ryan Blaney10.800106Scott Pruett7.00026Chase Elliott11.100107Dick Hutcherson7.20057Kurt Busch11.643288Fireball Roberts7.200208William Byron12.14379Bob Burdick7.50029Kevin Harvick13.4292810Pete Hamilton7.600510Kyle Busch13.85020 A total of 124 different drivers have made their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Darlington Raceway; the most recent was J. Bell (May 7, 2011).The best finish by a driver making their series debut at Darlington was fourth-place by NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte on September 4, 1978. First-Time DriverDate First-Time DriverDate First-Time DriverDate First-Time DriverDate1T.J. Bell5/7/201132Roz Howard9/3/195663Matt Gowan9/7/195394Bill Henson9/4/19502Ed Berrier9/3/199533Tom Lupo9/3/195664Slim Rominger9/7/195395Bill Osborne9/4/19503Pancho Carter9/1/198534Bud Rackley9/5/195565Tyre Rakestraw9/7/195396Bill Widenhouse9/4/19504Eldon Dotson4/14/198535Curley Hatfield9/5/195566Al Conroy9/1/195297Bub King9/4/19505Billy Smith9/3/197936Dick Beaty9/5/195567Al Fleming9/1/195298Byron Beatty9/4/19506Terry Labonte9/4/197837Don Duckworth9/5/195568Banjo Matthews9/1/195299Carson Dyer9/4/19507Richie Panch4/15/197338Doug Cox9/5/195569Herb Fry9/1/1952100Charles Tidwell9/4/19508J.C. Spradley9/1/196939Ed Bergin9/5/195570Joe Weatherly9/1/1952101Dick Soper9/4/19509Bob Ashbrook5/10/196940Jim Thompson9/5/195571Johnny Bridgers9/1/1952102Gene Comstock9/4/195010Gerald Chamberlain5/10/196941Jimmy Roland9/5/195572Johnny Gouveia9/1/1952103Gene Darragh9/4/195011Roy Trantham9/2/196842Larry Flynn9/5/195573Keith Hamner9/1/1952104Hershel McGriff9/4/195012Lennie Waldo5/11/196843Ray Platte9/5/195574Pete Kelly9/1/1952105Hub McBride9/4/195013Bobby Mausgrover9/4/196744Russ Graham9/5/195575Possum Jones9/1/1952106J.E. Hardie9/4/195014Armond Holley5/13/196745Tojo Stephens9/5/195576Tony Bonadies9/1/1952107Jack Carr9/4/195015Walter Ballard4/30/196646Charles Brinkley9/6/195477W.H. Baker9/1/1952108Jack Yardley9/4/195016Bobby Wawak9/6/196547Elmo Langley9/6/195478Billy Tibbett9/3/1951109Jerry Kemp9/4/195017Pee Wee Ellwanger5/8/196548Hassell Reid9/6/195479Bob Johnson9/3/1951110Jesse James Taylor9/4/195018Don Hume9/7/196449Jim Gillette9/6/195480Bob Pronger9/3/1951111Joe Eubanks9/4/195019J.T. Putney5/9/196450Joe Sheppard9/6/195481Buck Baity9/3/1951112John DuBoise9/4/195020Gary Sain9/3/196251Van Van Wey9/6/195482Dave Anderson9/3/1951113Johnny Grubb9/4/195021Matt DeMatthews9/3/196252Walt Harvey9/6/195483Frank Gise9/3/1951114Lee Morgan9/4/195022Clem Proctor9/5/196053Bob Hunter9/7/195384Fred Moore9/3/1951115Murrace Walker9/4/195023T.C. Hunt9/5/196054Bob Weatherly9/7/195385Gwyn Staley9/3/1951116P.E. Godfrey9/4/195024Don Kimberling9/1/195855Elmer Cooper9/7/195386Herb Trimble9/3/1951117Pete Keller9/4/195025G.C. Spencer9/1/195856Emory Lewis9/7/195387Jimmy Warden9/3/1951118Rollin Smith9/4/195026Cale Yarborough9/2/195757George Osborne9/7/195388Johnny Yountz9/3/1951119Roy Bentley9/4/195027Joe Caspolich9/2/195758Junior Johnson9/7/195389Lee Connell9/3/1951120Shorty York9/4/195028Bill Brown9/3/195659Lacy Jackson9/7/195390Oliver Dial9/3/1951121Tex Keene9/4/195029Gene Bergin9/3/195660Laird Bruner9/7/195391Rudy Hires9/3/1951122Virgil Livengood9/4/195030Judge Rider9/3/195661Lloyd Hulette9/7/195392Sandy Lynch9/3/1951123Walt Crawford9/4/195031Ray Hendrick9/3/195662Lonnie Bragg9/7/195393Barney Smith9/4/1950124Weldon Adams9/4/1950
POLES
A total of 52 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at least one pole at Darlington Raceway; 26 of the 52 different drivers have won multiple poles at the 1.366-mile track (50%).Six of the 52 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway pole winners are active this weekend.Active Darlington Pole WinnersPolesSeasonsJoey Logano22022 sweepKevin Harvick22017, 2014William Byron12019Denny Hamlin12018Brad Keselowski12015Ryan Newman12003NASCAR 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)Pearson‘s 12 Darlington poles are tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough (12 poles at Daytona) for the second-most poles all-time at a single track in the NASCAR Cup Series. Pearson also holds the series‘ record for most poles at a single track with 14 poles at Charlotte Motor Speedway.Joey Logano (2022 sweep) and Kevin Harvick (2014, 2017) lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Darlington Raceway with two each.Curtis Turner won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway in 1950 in an Oldsmobile with a speed of 82.034 mph.David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series poles at Darlington Raceway with five straight from 1975 – 1977.In total, 10 drivers have won consecutive NASCAR Cup Series poles at Darlington Raceway — Joey Logano (2022 sweep), Kasey Kahne (2004, 2005-2006), Dale Jarrett (1996-1997), Sterling Marlin (1992 sweep), Bill Elliott (1985 sweep), David Pearson (1975-1977 and 1973 sweep), Cale Yarborough (1969 sweep), Fred Lorenzen (1963 sweep and 1964), Fireball Roberts (1959, 1960 sweep), Fonty Flock (1952-1953).Eight drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Darlington Raceway.First-Time Pole WinnersSeasonDriver’s AgeClint Bowyer200727Elliott Sadler200327Kurt Busch200123John Andretti199532Ken Schrader198731Bill Elliott198125Fred Lorenzen196126Cotton Owens195733
Youngest Darlington pole winner: William Byron (Sept. 1, 2019 — 21 years, 8 months, 3 days).Oldest Darlington pole winner: David Pearson (Sept. 6, 1982 — 47 years, 8 months, 15 days).A total of 46 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway; seven of the 46 are active this weekend.Wood Brothers Racing leads all organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 12 among three different drivers: David Pearson (1978, 1977, 1976 sweep, 1975 sweep, 1973 sweep, 1972), Donnie Allison (1971) and Cale Yarborough (1969 sweep).Active OrganizationsPolesSeasonsWood Brothers Racing121978, 1977, 1976 sweep, 1975 sweep, 1973 sweep, 1972, 1971, 1969 sweepHendrick Motorsports82019, 2000, 1999, 1995, 1993, 1988, 1986 sweepRFK Racing62012, 2008, 2001, 1998, 1989Team Penske42022 sweep, 2015, 2003Joe Gibbs Racing22018, 1997Stewart-Haas Racing22017, 2014Richard Childress Racing22007, 1990A total of 12 different manufacturers have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.Ford leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Darlington Raceway with 45 poles; followed by Chevrolet (22), Mercury (13), Pontiac (10), Dodge (8), Buick (3), Oldsmobile (3), Plymouth (3), Toyota (2), Chrysler (1), Hudson (1) and Studebaker (1).
WINS
A total of 52 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Darlington Raceway all-time; 29 of the 52 drivers have won multiple times (55.7%).Seven of the 52 NASCAR Cup Series Darlington Raceway winners are active this weekend.Active Darlington Race WinnersWinsSeasonsDenny Hamlin42021, 2020, 2017, 2010Kevin Harvick32020, 2020, 2014Erik Jones22022, 2019Martin Truex Jr22021, 2016Joey Logano12022Brad Keselowski12018Kyle Busch12008NASCAR 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.Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in victories at Darlington Raceway with four (2021, 2020, 2017, 2010).Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990) and Jeff Gordon (1995-1996) are tied for the NASCAR Cup Series most consecutive wins at Darlington Raceway with three consecutive each.A total of 13 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Darlington — Greg Biffle (2005-2006), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep), Jeff Burton (1999 sweep), Jeff Gordon (1995-1996), Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990 and 1987 sweep), Bill Elliott (1985 sweep), David Pearson (1976 sweep, 1979-1980), Bobby Allison (1975 sweep), Buddy Baker (1970-1971), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969 sweep), Richard Petty (1967 sweep), Nelson Stacy (1961-1962), Herb Thomas (1954-1955).Youngest Cup Series Darlington winner: Kyle Busch (May 10, 2008 — 23 years, 0 months, 8 days).Oldest Cup Series Darlington winner: Harry Gant (Sept. 1, 1991 — 51 years, 7 months, 22 days).Six drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway:First-Time Winners at DarlingtonDate Regan SmithSaturday, May 7, 2011Lake SpeedSunday, March 27, 1988Terry LabonteMonday, September 1, 1980Larry FrankMonday, September 3, 1962Nelson StacyMonday, September 4, 1961Johnny MantzMonday, September 4, 1950A total of 20 different starting positions have led to wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.21 of the 123 (17.07%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have been won from the pole; the most recent was Joey Logano in 2022.The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (21) than any other starting position at Darlington. The outside front row (second-place) has produced the second-most wins (18).A total of 12 different drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with four wins from the pole (1971, 1972, 1976 sweep). Kevin Harvick (2014) and Joey Logano (2022) are the only active drivers to win from the pole at Darlington.Darlington Winners From PoleWinsSeasonsDavid Pearson41976 sweep, 1973, 1972Bill Elliott31988, 1985 sweepDale Earnhardt21993, 1990Bobby Allison21972, 1971Richard Petty21967, 1966Fred Lorenzen21964, 1961Joey Logano12022Kevin Harvick12014Dale Jarrett11997Tim Richmond11986Harry Gant11984Fonty Flock11952The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Darlington is 43rd by Johnny Mantz in 1950 — the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event held at the historic raceway.The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Darlington is 16th by Denny Hamlin on May 20, 2020.
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Darlington Raceway
Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %12117.07%1132.44%21814.63%1210.81%31310.57%1332.44%497.32%1421.63%5129.76%1543.25%654.07%1610.81%743.25%2321.63%875.69%3110.81%986.50%3721.63%1064.88%4310.81%Additional StatisticsWinning %WinsWinning from the first Starting Position:17.07%21Winning from the Front Row:31.71%39Winning from a top-five Starting Position:59.35%73Winning from a top-10 Starting Position:83.74%103Winning after Starting Outside the top 20:4.88%6Ryan Newman leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington without visiting Victory Lane at 26 starts.Eight active organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.RankWinsActive OrganizationsSeasons114Hendrick Motorsports2012, ’09, ’07, ’04 sweep, ’03, ’02, 1998, ’97, ’96 sweep, ’95, ’91, ’86210Joe Gibbs Racing2021 sweep, ‘20, ’19, ’17, ’15, ’13, ’10, ’08, ’0038Wood Brothers Racing1981, ’77, ’76 sweep, ’74, ’73, ’72, ’6848Richard Childress Racing1994, ’93, ’90 sweep, ’89, ’87 sweep, ’8655RFK Racing2006, ’05, 1999 sweep, ’9364Team Penske2022, 2018, 1975 sweep73Stewart-Haas Racing2020, ’20, ’1481LEGACY MOTOR CLUB2022Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins by an organization at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series with 14 victories — Tim Richmond (1986), Ricky Rudd (1991), Jeff Gordon (1995, ‘96 sweep, ‘97, ‘98, ‘02, ‘07), Terry Labonte (2003), Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep and 2012) and Mark Martin (2009).A total of 11 different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway.Chevrolet leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Darlington Raceway with 42 victories; followed by Ford (32), Mercury (10), Toyota (10), Oldsmobile (six), Dodge (five), Pontiac (five), Buick (four), Plymouth (four), Hudson (three) and American Motor Company (two).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes:
A total of 63 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Darlington Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty with eight second-place finishes each.Denny Hamlin (2007, 2012, 2013, 2022) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in second-place finishes at Darlington Raceway with four.
Top Five In Runner-Up Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups1Darrell Waltrip81Denny Hamlin4Richard Petty82Kyle Larson33David Pearson73Kevin Harvick24Mark Martin6Kyle Busch25Denny Hamlin45Austin Dillon1Fireball Roberts4Brad Keselowski1Jeff Gordon4Joey Logano1Ryan Newman1Tyler Reddick1
Top-Five Finishes:
A total of 145 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Darlington Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty with 25 top-five finishes.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Darlington with 13 top fives.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Richard Petty251Kevin Harvick132David Pearson242Denny Hamlin123Bill Elliott223Ryan Newman74Dale Earnhardt194Joey Logano6Jeff Gordon195Kyle Busch6
Top-10 Finishes:
A total of 240 different series drivers have posted top-10 finishes at Darlington Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott with 35.Kevin Harvick leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Darlington with 18 top 10s.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop 10sRankActive DriversTop 10s1Bill Elliott351Kevin Harvick182Richard Petty342Denny Hamlin163David Pearson303Ryan Newman144Bobby Allison264Kyle Busch13Mark Martin265Joey Logano10Martin Truex Jr10
Average Finishing Position:
Bob Burdick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington Raceway with a 3.0 in two starts.Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Darlington Raceway with a 7.476 in 21 starts.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinishRaces1Bob Burdick3.00021Denny Hamlin7.476212Denny Hamlin7.476212Kyle Larson9.200103Marty Robbins8.00023Erik Jones10.700104Shorty Rollins9.00024Tyler Reddick11.14375Kyle Larson9.200105Brad Keselowski12.111186Bill Elliott9.365526Austin Dillon12.308137Herb Thomas10.42977Martin Truex Jr12.381218Nelson Stacy10.50068Kevin Harvick12.767309Erik Jones10.700109Ryan Newman12.7692610Tyler Reddick11.143710Joey Logano13.00018
TRACK / EVENT STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway is the March 16, 2003 race won by Ricky Craven with a margin of victory of 0.002 second over Kurt Busch. Darlington‘s 0.002 sec. margin of victory is tied with the 2011 Spring Talladega race as the closest finishes in the series using electronic scoring.
Top Five Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway
Margin Of VictoryDateRace WinnerRunner-Up0.002Sunday, March 16, 2003Ricky CravenKurt Busch0.132Sunday, March 21, 2004Jimmie JohnsonBobby Labonte0.144Sunday, August 31, 1997Jeff GordonJeff Burton0.169Sunday, March 23, 1997Dale JarrettTed Musgrave
Top Five Largest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway
Margin Of VictoryDateRace WinnerRunner-Up7.400Sunday, March 27, 1994Dale EarnhardtMark Martin6.390Sunday, September 4, 1994Bill ElliottDale Earnhardt5.230Sunday, September 1, 1996Jeff GordonHut Stricklin4.058Sunday, September 1, 2019Erik JonesKyle Larson3.631Sunday, September 6, 1998Jeff GordonJeff BurtonNASCAR Overtime: Four NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in a Overtime finish at Darlington Raceway:Scheduled LapsActual LapsOvertime LapsRace WinnerDate3673747Kevin HarvickSaturday, April 12, 20143673681Jimmie JohnsonSaturday, May 12, 20123673703Regan SmithSaturday, May 7, 20113673703Greg BiffleSaturday, May 7, 2005A total of 10 of the 123 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway have been shortened from their scheduled number of laps; the most recent was in 2020.DateScheduled LapsActual LapsFewer LapsRace WinnerWednesday, May 20, 202022820820Denny HamlinSunday, September 3, 200036732839Bobby LabonteSunday, September 5, 199936727097Jeff BurtonSunday, March 21, 1999293164129Jeff BurtonSunday, September 5, 199336735116Mark MartinSunday, September 6, 199236729869Darrell WaltripSunday, September 6, 1987367202165Dale EarnhardtSunday, April 13, 1980367189178David PearsonMonday, September 1, 1969367230137LeeRoy YarbroughMonday, September 1, 19583673643Fireball RobertsQualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway six times: 1952, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2016.Five NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington from 2020-2021 did not hold qualifying due to the COVID-19 pandemic/restrictions: In 2020, the May 17 race (random draw), May 20 (inverted field), Sept. 6 (metric qualifying). In 2021 both races were by metric qualifying May 9 and Sept. 5.NASCAR Cup Series has held nine races on Mother‘s Day producing eight different winners.Last season‘s race at Darlington Raceway, won by Team Penske‘s Joey Loganowas the most recent Cup race on the holiday Mother‘s Day.Buck Baker has won the most NASCAR Cup Series races on Mother‘s Day — twice (1956, 1954).Mother’s Day Race WinnersDateTrackHolidayJoey LoganoSunday, May 8, 2022Darlington RacewayMother‘s DayMartin Truex Jr.Sunday, May 9, 2021Darlington RacewayMother‘s DayJeff GordonSunday, May 13, 2007Darlington RacewayMother’s DayCale YarboroughSunday, May 14, 1978Talladega SuperspeedwayMother’s DayBenny ParsonsSunday, May 9, 1971South Boston SpeedwayMother’s DayBob WelbornSunday, May 11, 1958Greensboro FairgroundsMother’s DayBuck BakerSunday, May 13, 1956Orange SpeedwayMother’s DayTim FlockSunday, May 8, 1955Arizona State FairgroundsMother’s DayBuck BakerSunday, May 9, 1954Wilson SpeedwayMother’s Day
LAP LEADERS
In total 177 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Darlington Raceway.NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Darlington Raceway with 2,648 laps led in 44 series starts.Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with 899 laps led in 22 starts at Darlington.The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by the race winner was 351 laps of the scheduled 400 laps (87%) by Johnny Mantz on September 4, 1950. He started the race from the 43rd position.The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by a driver that did not win the race was 284 laps of the scheduled 367 laps (77%) by Kyle Larson on September 2, 2018. He started the race from the second position.The fewest laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway by the race winner was just the final lap by Ricky Craven on March 16, 2003. He started the race from the 31st position.
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Darlington Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Dale Earnhardt442,64814,01119%2Richard Petty652,39117,12014%3David Pearson472,11612,53617%4Jeff Gordon361,74411,45815%5Darrell Waltrip551,72316,39511%6Cale Yarborough491,64712,95913%7Bobby Allison451,60112,63013%8Harry Gant311,0889,14412%9Bill Elliott5298017,4776%10Fireball Roberts209164,57220%RankActive DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Kyle Busch228997,22212%2Kevin Harvick308139,9378%3Denny Hamlin217927,32511%4Martin Truex Jr217697,27011%5Kyle Larson106863,34720%6Brad Keselowski183956,0966%7Ryan Newman263398,9044%8Joey Logano182936,1605%9Chase Elliott121513,5784%10Erik Jones101323,1534%
FEMALE COMPETITORS
Three female drivers have competed at Darlington Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series — Danica Patrick, Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson.DriversStarting PositionFinishing PositionDateDanica Patrick33269/3/2017Danica Patrick25249/4/2016Danica Patrick30429/6/2015Danica Patrick33224/12/2014Danica Patrick40285/11/2013Danica Patrick38315/12/2012Averages33.228.8 Janet Guthrie26169/5/1977Shawna Robinson42423/17/2002
NASCAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina has hosted a total of 318 NASCAR national series races among 10 different tracks.Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedFirst YearDarlington RacewayDarlington12365101981950Coastal SpeedwayMyrtle Beach20021956Columbia SpeedwayColumbia4300431951Gamecock SpeedwaySumter10011960Greenville-Pickens SpeedwayGreenville2920311951Hartsville SpeedwayHartsville10011961Lancaster SpeedwayLancaster20021957Newberry SpeedwayNewberry10011957Piedmont Interstate FairgroundsSpartanburg2200221953Rambi Race TrackMyrtle Beach9130221958Totals2338010323The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in the state of South Carolina was at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 4, 1950 — the event was won by Johnny Mantz in a Plymouth.
SOUTH CAROLINA IN NASCAR
A total of 140 different drivers have made at least one NASCAR national series start with their home state recorded as South Carolina.James Hylton leads all NASCAR drivers from South Carolina with the most NASCAR national series starts with 607.Three drivers from South Carolina have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame — David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, and Cotton Owens.11 drivers from South Carolina have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series totaling 240 victories; seven have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.Winners From South CarolinaCupXfinityTruckDavid Pearson10510Cale Yarborough8300Cotton Owens900Tiny Lund500James Hylton200Johnny Allen100Joe Eubanks100Larry Pearson0150Jason Keller0100Butch Lindley060Jeremy Clements020Totals206340
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