Darlington Creates "Too Tough To Tame Tailgate Zone"

Tailgating is a big part of the culture race fans enjoy when they visit Darlington Raceway. To accommodate the ever-growing demand for tailgating prior to the track’s events, the raceway is now offering a new area outside turn two, the Too Tough to Tailgate Zone, for tailgating fans prior to the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Saturday, May 12.

For $50 per spot, fans will receive a 20x20 space in the Tailgate Zone; big enough to accommodate a passenger vehicle, a pop-up tent, tables, chairs and a grill. There are no limitations to how many guests can tailgate at the space. Admission to the Bojangles’ Southern 500 is not included in the price. Tickets to the race must be purchased when you order your tailgating spot in order to obtain admission.

The Too Tough to Tailgate Zone will open at 9 a.m. on race day and close when the race begins at approximately 7 p.m. The Tailgate Zone, located outside of turn two, can be accessed through Gate 1 off of Harry Byrd Highway (US 151).

"The Track Too Tough To Tame"

Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning said he is excited about the tailgate area and thanked fans who took the time to vote on the name via Facebook and Twitter. “The Too Tough to Tailgate Zone name was voted on by the fans, so thank you to everyone who participated via Facebook and Twitter to choose a fitting name for the area,” Browning said. “We enjoy engaging fans socially and asking them to help us with initiatives like this. It is their area to enjoy, so it’s fitting that they chose the name for it.”

Darlington Raceway is also changing its ticket office hours to accommodate race fans who are unable to purchase tickets during normal business hours. From now until race weekend, the ticket office will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ticket office will also be open on Good Friday, April 6, and seven days a week beginning Monday, April 9. Besides the normal 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday schedule, the hours will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sundays.

“We recognize that it can be difficult for fans to come in during normal business hours, so we felt that extending our hours to 6 p.m. on weekdays and opening on weekends beginning April 9 would be beneficial for our local community members, who have not yet purchased tickets to the race,” Darlington ticket manager Vicki Gilbert said. “It’s always nice when you can come into the ticket office and get that person-to-person interaction.”

Tickets to the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 and Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 can still be purchased anytime at DarlingtonRaceway.com.