Why Darlington Raceway Got The Name ‘The Lady in Black’

Darlington Raceway is one of the oldest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. Opened in 1950, the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval has been a staple on the NASCAR schedule since the inaugural Southern 500 on Sept. 4, 1950, which was won by Johnny Mantz.

The Southern 500 at Darlington is one of NASCAR's crown jewel races along with the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400. In addition to its prestige, Darlington Raceway has earned the nicknames "The Track Too Tough to Tame" and "The Lady in Black."