DARLINGTON, SC. – Darlington Raceway is known as the track “Too Tough to Tame” – and perhaps too that end, its long and distinguished list of winners includes a noticeable group of veterans. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with four victories, another four runner-up finishes and also bests the grid in top-fives (13), top-10s (18) and overall average finish (8.2).
NASCAR Hall of Famers such as Jimmie Johnson (three wins), Bill Elliott (five wins) Jeff Gordon (seven wins) and the late Dale Earnhardt (nine wins) were all so good at the 1.366-mile oblong oval.
“This sport is so week-to-week it’s hard to say [the track favors veterans] but you can’t argue with results,’’ said Hamlin, who has led laps in the last 10 consecutive Darlington races – and has led more than 100 laps five different times in his career.
“It lends itself to the best drivers and the best teams. I think it’s a great combination of, you’ve got to have everything. … the driver has to just be really good at his craft and know when to push and when not to.
“It’s going to be mentally taxing knowing you’ve got to hit your marks just perfectly,’’ he continued. “And just the mental side of it, with 35 other guys that aren’t there to let you win. It’s really hard to navigate that. .. it just takes its toll, it has for me on my body and mind every time I race here. As far as the veteran side of it, I think certainly it seems that those that have lots of experience on this track and more than likely the guys have been successful because they know that feel they need to be fast here and continue to replicate it.”
NOTES:
AN EVERYDAY EARNHARDT THROWBACK
*There is no question that NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar is a huge fan of the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt. The driver of the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet recently purchased online a Chevrolet pick-up truck with a paint scheme identical to one of Earnhardt’s iconic No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolets. He says it’s his “daily drive” and actually drove the truck from his Charlotte-area home to Darlington for the race this weekend.
“Basically I wanted something old-school car wise,’’ said Hocevar, who posted a photo of the truck parked at Darlington on his social media. “I just thought it would be fun and interesting to have. So I got it.’’
ZILISCH TO MAKE 2ND CUP START
*On Thursday of this week, Trackhouse Racing announced that 18-year old driver Connor Zilisch will make his second NASCAR Cup Series start for the team in the sport’s longest race, the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The North Carolinian Zilisch is in his first fulltime NASCAR Xfinity Series season driving the No. 88 Chevrolet as a development driver for JR Motorsports and has already won an Xfinity race this year – from the pole position – claiming the trophy at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) road course in March. He’s currently sixth in the Xfinity Series championship standings.
“It’s awesome to have the opportunity to race in one of NASCAR’s coolest events,” said Zilisch, who has shown great talent competing in endurance races – winning in his class in both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring IMSA races last year.
“The Charlotte 600 is one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. It’s going to be a physical and mental challenge because that race is so tough.”
Source: Holly Cain | NASCAR Wire Service
