As with many tracks, parking can be good or bad, depending
on your luck with the parking attendants. I parked in the main lots on the frontstretch
side. The attendants at Darlington will make you move your car if you try to park
somewhere they don’t want you to. I wanted to park near an exit, in the main lot on
RACEDAY, but they made me get back in line and park in order as they directed. They had
poor supervision, and had poor configuration of parked cars. I was almost blocked in by
late arriving busses, so I moved the car before going in for the race.
Traffic afterwards is the worst I’ve been in after a
race. It’s was not uncommon to not move for 10 minutes. Very limited access out of
the parking lot roads, and onto small town streets.
I sat in the top row near the start/finish line for the
Busch race, and it was difficult to see the front stretch. The seats go up at too steep of
an angle. for the Winston Cup race I was sitting towards turn one, and in low seats. As at
all tracks, low seats mean lack of viewing on the backstretch.
I didn’t find much food in town worth talking about.
Darlington was the first track I have been to that lets you
bring in your own beer and cocktails, as long as there is no glass. I learned quickly. Out
on the West Coast, they know we’re going to drink, so they capitalize on selling
alcohol. The concession stands don’t give napkins out (to prevents trash from flying
onto the track), GREAT thinking!!! I found reasonable lodging within 10 miles of the
track, but you best plan early.
