Leading up to this weekend’s live NASCAR action from Darlington Raceway, NBC Sports presents a new one-hour documentary created to take fans inside the storied history of “The Track Too Tough To Tame.” Produced in partnership with NASCAR Productions, “Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington” premieres tonight at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Multi-platinum recording artist Darius Rucker narrates the special in tribute to his South Carolina roots. Current NASCAR drivers Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch are joined by Ken Squier and racing legends Dale Jarrett, Kyle Petty and Jeff Burton, who reflect on how the Southern 500 became a stock car racing tradition.
Premiering during a week dedicated to honoring the rich history of NASCAR, the original program will also be available via live stream on the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com.
A preview of tonight’s special is available here. Below are excerpts from “Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington.”
Kyle Petty, former driver and NASCAR on NBC analyst: “Bill France was there and Raymond Parks was there. So many Hall of Famers were there for that first race and that speaks volumes to what Darlington was, even in the beginning.”
Buz McKim, NASCAR Historian: “Darlington never has been a normal track and it never will be. There is too much folklore, there is too much history and there are too many great spots and low spots. It is totally the track of the unexpected.”
Dale Jarrett, Hall of Fame driver and NASCAR on NBC analyst: “The idea to go back to Labor Day and run the Southern 500 is something that our sport really needed.”
Harold Brasington III, grandson of Darlington Raceway founder: “I have to admit I felt pretty special knowing that my granddad built this place. I can remember the first time he drove me up into the infield through that tunnel it was like a portal into another world. I saw these structures coming out of the beds of pickup trucks. The crowd was overwhelming.”
Tune-in to watch the Bojangles’ Southern 500 this Sunday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. ET on NBC, or listen live on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Fans can also purchase tickets to catch all the on-track action in person by visiting www.nascar.com/tickets.
NASCAR PR
