Next stop, Darlington Raceway or better known to most as the “Lady in Black.” The term is a result of the walls around the track being painted white prior to the race, but are always largely black by the end of it due to the abundance of tire contact. It’s also known as one of the most difficult tracks on the circuit, and often referred to as “The Track Too Tough to Tame.“ Those many who will visit the wall during the race will receive a legendary “Darlington stripe.”
Darlington Raceway is unique in shape, somewhat of an egg-shaped oval, with the ends having very different configurations. The layout of the track results from a minnow pond located on the West side of the property, near turn four. The track builder promised the land owner that he wouldn’t disturb the pond when he constructed the track. However, he was able to make the other turn at the east side of the property wide, sweeping, and flat as he wanted.
Length 1.366 mi (2.198 km)
Turns 4 Banking Turns 1 & 2: 25°
Turns 3 & 4: 23°
Front Straight: 3°
Back Straight: 2°