Travel Tips: Darlington Raceway – Aug. 31-Sept. 2, 2018

credit: NASCAR Media

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series visit the “Track Too Tough to Tame,” Darlington Raceway in Darlington, SC, for the annual Southern 500 weekend, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 2. The Cup Series’ Bojangles’ Southern 500 goes green on Sunday, Sept. 2, while the Xfinity Series runs in the Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200 on Saturday, Sept. 1.

Festivities kick off on Thursday, August 30 with the 14^th annual Darlington Car Hauler Parade and Race Fest. Race Fest begins at 4 p.m. ET at the Florence Civic Center, featuring a KidsZone, a silent auction and more. The Hauler Parade leaves the Civic Center at 7 p.m. ET; it makes its way through Darlington Square before ending at the “Track Too Tough to Tame.” 

Celebrate seven decades of NASCAR on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET. This ticketed event will feature NASCAR driver and personality appearances from (scheduled to appear) Chase Elliott, Jeff and Ward Burton, Ray Evernham, Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and others. Your $100 ticket includes admission, light appetizers and Coca Cola beverages and water, a commemorative memento, parking pass and more.

Key on-track times:

Friday, Aug. 31 –

• Xfinity Series practice – 1:05 and 3:05 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice – 2:05 and 4:05 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 1 –

• Xfinity Series qualifying – 12:25 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying – 2 p.m. ET
• Xfinity Series Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200 – 3:30 p.m. ET
• 7 Decades of NASCAR Saturday Night Celebration – 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, Sept. 2 –

• Clay Walker pre-race concert – 4:25 p.m. ET
• Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 – 6 p.m. ET

Fans attending the race weekend can check out the event guide here.

Find out more about the event and purchase tickets at www.darlingtonraceway.com.