Darlington Raceway is a track that provides very little margin for error. That’s why Brad Keselowski likes it so much.
Yes, Darlington stripes from contact with the outside wall are commonplace, but if a driver strays just a little too far over the edge, the results can be disastrous.
As a test of talent, Darlington is unparalleled.
“I love coming here,” Keselowski said before opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice on Friday. “It’s always been one of my favorite race tracks. I love the challenge. I love running up against the wall. I’m not always a big fan of the heat, but I do like that it’s a very demanding track. It makes you feel like a race car driver.
“It makes you feel like you’re on the edge, and it makes me really kind of appreciate my job. All the race tracks have their challenges, but this one just has so many, and it’s so unforgiving. If you mess up just a little bit, you’re in the wall and your day is ruined. I appreciate that. It demands that, to be successful, you drive aggressively, but also that you not make any mistakes. That’s pretty cool to me.”
The defending winner of the Bojangles’ Southern 500, Keselowski was sixth fastest in final practice on Friday afternoon.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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