Governor, racers tout Darlington

The Republican governor, up for re-election this year, opened his home to several NASCAR racers and cars, celebrating the sport that first ran at Darlington in 1950 and urging the public to keep up support for Darlington.

Each race brings about $30 million in financial impact to the state, according to the most recent study done by the University of South Carolina. Sanford says that financial success does not just stay in the Pee Dee, but spreads throughout the state.

"We're here to celebrate a great tradition and something that's very unique in the history of NASCAR and what it means not only to the racetrack and to NASCAR, but frankly, South Carolina as a whole," Sanford said.

Not too long ago, there was doubt Darlington's gates would even be opened in 2006. The track had lost its trademark Labor Day weekend date, its signature race in the Southern 500 and one of its two Nextel Cup events. Poor turnout for the Mother's Day event 11 months ago - the weekend was long a week off for NASCAR's top series - might've sent Darlington the way of North Carolina tracks in North Wilkesboro and Rockingham that no longer hold Nextel cup events.

"A little over a year ago, people were writing our track's obituary," Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning said.

Instead, Darlington officials sold out the track's first night race last Mother's Day weekend. The buzz was so significant, track owners International Speedway Corp. gave Darlington leaders the green light to invest $6 million, which included construction of the new 6,300-seat Brasington Grandstand along turn one.

About 3,300 seats from an old grandstand in turn four, which also bore the name of Darlington builder Harold Brasington, were removed.

With about a month to go before this year's Dodge Charger 500 on May 13, Browning says the track is on the way to an even earlier sell out than in 2005. "There were 2,713 seats left when I left this morning," he said.

Jeremy Mayfield drives the No. 19 Dodge for Evernham Motorsports. He got his NASCAR start with South Carolina native Cale Yarborough and shrugs when he thinks about not coming back to Darlington's egg-shaped layout.

"Every time we come the stands are full," Mayfield said.

Mayfield may have a bias - he met his wife Shana - she's from Myrtle Beach - at the track years ago.

Jimmy Spencer, nicknamed "Mr. Excitement" during his racing days, said one of the most upsetting times of his career was when he heard Darlington had lost a race.

"The important thing is if we lose another date, especially coming from the heart of NASCAR racing, the Southern 500's gone, we don't need to lose Darlington," he said.

The governor and his wife, Jenny, chatted with the drivers and others in attendance: local and state leaders, officials of Darlington Raceway and NASCAR. Several show cars, including Mayfield's No. 19 and the No. 9 of his Evernham Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne, were lined up along the mansion's entranceway.

Browning, Darlington's president, said the show of support from Sanford means the state's chief executive recognizes the track's importance to South Carolina.

"They realize we have a great asset," Browning said. "The international exposure on Darlington, the focus of the world is on South Carolina. That's something you can't buy."