NASCAR: Fewer Wrecks At The New Darlington Surface Than Anticipated
May 12, 2008
CIA Stock Photo, Inc.
Most drivers thought Darlington Raceway’s new surface would produce a crash-filled race with a lot of cautions, and it would be hard to pass going around the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval.
But there were only eight caution flags for 31 laps, with only one involving multiple cars. That happened on lap two when Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler got tangled going into Turn 1. Passing also wasn’t as much of a problem as there were a track-record 35 lead changes among 15 drivers.
The drivers weren’t the only ones fearing the worst, as Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning expected more carnage during the race.
“I thought it was going to be a long night,” Browning said Sunday. “Everything I had heard from the drivers was the tires would take a few laps to come in, and there would be a fine line with the ultra grip.
“But cars there were able to get side-by-side, and that’s pretty good for the first time in a new surface.”
“It was pretty good,” Gordon said. “You know for the first time, new surface, new tire not to have problems was pretty good. You were able to get up and go on new tires.”
And unlike in a typical Darlington race, drivers didn’t have to worry about getting new tires on every pit stop. Some drivers went 60 to 70 laps without changing tires.
