Old and new traditions will unite during the 60th season of racing at Darlington Raceway when the Southern 500 name returns to the track "Too Tough to Tame" on Mother's Day weekend in 2009, track president Chris Browning announced today. In 2009 the annual Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway is sure to be an even bigger spectacle as the race will once again be known as the Southern 500. A track rich in tradition, Darlington Raceway ran the first Southern 500 on September 4, 1950. Californian Johnny Mantz drove to victory that day after starting in the back of a 75-car field. The tradition continued for 54 years with Jimmie Johnson winning the last Southern 500 in 2004. Beginning in 2005 a new tradition began at Darlington Raceway: Saturday night racing on Mother's Day weekend. Fans have turned out in full force to see the stars of NASCAR dance with the "Lady in Black" under the lights. The event has quickly become one of the most difficult tickets to get on the NASCAR schedule and has sold out for four consecutive years. Ticket renewal orders are being accepted now for fans that purchased tickets to the Sprint Cup Series event in 2008 more info at 866-459-RACE or online at darlingtonraceway.com.(Darlington Raceway PR)(8-14-2008)

Nice to see some of the old tradition return amid all the changes that NASCAR has seen.