2026 Southern 500 at Darlington

Too Tough to Tame. The track that punishes mistakes.

Darlington Raceway is an anomaly on the NASCAR schedule. The asymmetric egg-shape was dictated by a minnow pond the original owner would not relocate. The result is a track where one end is banked differently from the other, where the wall comes up fast, and where the infamous Darlington Stripe -- a scrape along the right side of a car from riding the wall -- is a badge of honor.

The Southern 500 is the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, which means the championship stakes kick in here. The retro throwback theme that NASCAR runs at Darlington each Labor Day weekend adds a layer of history to an already historic event.

Florence or Myrtle Beach. Your choice.

Two hotel options: Comfort Suites Florence (7 miles from the track, most convenient for the race) or the Hampton Inn Myrtle Beach Oceanfront (beach access before or after the race, about 75 miles from Darlington).

Both include breakfast and motorcoach transfers to the track. The Myrtle Beach option is for travelers who want to make a beach weekend of the trip.

• › NASCAR Cup Series race ticket
• › Pearson or Brasington grandstand seating

• › Comfort Suites Florence (7 miles from track)
• › Hampton Inn Myrtle Beach Oceanfront (beach option)
• › Daily breakfast at both properties

• › Deluxe motorcoach transfers to and from the track
• › Pre-race tailgate party

• › Expert pre-travel consultation and planning
• › Professional tour representatives on-site
• › Race day essentials kit
• › All taxes included

Choose your hotel. We build the rest around it.

The Darlington package gives you a choice at the start: Florence for track proximity, or Myrtle Beach for the beach lifestyle option. Either way the motorcoach handles track transfers and the race experience is the same.