1950

[h=1]From The Archives: Darlington’s first Southern 500[/h] Friday, September 2, 2016 at 10:37 by GODWIN KELLY


Nine years before the first Daytona 500 was held, there was NASCAR’s first superspeedway race, the 1950 Southern 500, held at Darlington Raceway – which will host the 67th annual running of the historic event on Sunday.
Johnny Mantz poses with his trophies after winning the first Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

The track then was a 1.25-mile paved oval that was egg-shaped, the layout resulting from avoidance of a minnow pond during construction. Johnny Mantz won that race in a car owned by NASCAR founder and president Bill France Sr. The track now measures 1.366-miles long.
The ISC Archives & Research Center in Daytona Beach unearthed several classic photos from that legendary event. In one, Bill Sr. and several Darlington employees appear to be plotting some promotional strategies. The two other photos show the Southern 500 pace lap and Mantz in Victory Lane.
Each week this blog will highlight items from the ISC Archives and Research Center.
Fans may visit the ISC Archives and Research Center as part of a Daytona International Speedway “VIP Tour” that provides race fans an opportunity for an intimate, exclusive look behind-the-scenes at the “World Center of Racing.”
DARLINGTON, SC — September 4, 1950: The pace lap for the first Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives)

In addition to the ISC Archives and Research Center visit – where fans can see artifacts, past champion trophies, historic images and more – the VIP Tour provides an insider’s look at areas such as the Drivers’ Meeting Room, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garages, tech inspection and the Daytona 500 Club President’s Row.
Fans can have their photo taken at Daytona’s famed Gatorade Victory Lane and enjoy a birds-eye view of the entire 2.5-mile track from the new Daytona Rising Stadium. The tour concludes with access to the Coca-Cola Theatre and a close-up look at Denny Hamlin’s Daytona 500 winning car.
In addition, VIP Tour guests also get a visit to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which has moved to DIS from Novi, Michigan. The MSHFA is located in the DIS Ticket and Tours Building.
Admission to the VIP Tour is $52 per person and advanced reservations are encouraged as availability is limited. Reservations can be made in person at the Daytona International Speedway Ticket Office or by calling 877-306-7223.
DARLINGTON, SC — 1950: Bill France, Sr. (3rd from left) and other track employees work on preparation for the first Southern 500 NASCAR Cup race at Darlington Raceway. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives)