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Darlington Raceway’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race, Ross Chastain To Raise Awareness For South Carolina Department Of Public Safety

by Press Release April 8, 2023 0 comments

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Darlington Raceway and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) announced today (April 5) that it is naming the May 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race the Buckle Up South Carolina 200. In addition, SCDPS is utilizing NASCAR Cup Series star Ross Chastain in a series of public service announcements that will promote safe and sober driving on Palmetto State roads.

The joint initiatives were unveiled during a ceremony featuring South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Robert G. Woods, IV, Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp and Ross Chastain at the Governor’s Mansion.

“It’s an incredible honor to utilize our powerful platform to promote the importance of highway safety in our state,” said Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp. “We’re pleased that the South Carolina Department of Public Safety continues to see value in that platform and recognize the reach and star power of Ross Chastain, who has long championed safety’s priority on our roads nationwide.”

Chastain will be featured in a pair of public service announcements that will air during the May and September race weekends at The Track Too Tough to Tame. The PSA that will air in May will highlight Buckle Up South Carolina, while the September PSA will feature the SCDPS’ Sober or Slammer campaign.

“As we enter the second year of our partnership with NASCAR and Darlington Raceway, we are more optimistic than ever that this collaboration will help educate the public about safe driving habits,” said Director Robert G. Woods, IV. “The Department of Public Safety continues to look for impactful ways to communicate the importance of highway safety to South Carolina residents and visitors alike. We are thrilled to expand our partnership this year to include NASCAR driver Ross Chastain. We feel that getting our Buckle Up South Carolina and Sober or Slammer messages to the loyal fans of NASCAR, Darlington Raceway, and Ross Chastain is a game changer this race season.”   

NASCAR returns to Darlington Raceway May 12-14 for the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR. It begins with the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 on Friday, May 12, and continues with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Shriners Children’s Hospital 200 on Saturday, May 13. That all sets the stage for the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series, who return for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 14. That day will be the pinnacle of NASCAR’s 75^th Anniversary celebration, as the sport gathers to honor its 75 greatest drivers of all time.

Then on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2-3, the historic Cookout Southern 500 will once again begin the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and cap an action-packed weekend featuring the sport’s best and brightest. NASCAR tickets are available for purchase via phone at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com.

About Darlington Raceway

Darlington Raceway, nicknamed The Lady in Black and the track Too Tough To Tame, is home to the award-winning Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR and annually hosts two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends, along with the NASCAR Xfinity Series and/or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Opening in 1950, Darlington Raceway is “A NASCAR Tradition” and NASCAR’s original superspeedway with its famed 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval, challenging the sports best in one of the most iconic NASCAR races, the Southern 500®. For more information about Darlington Raceway, visit darlingtonraceway.com. Stay connected to Darlington Raceway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the NASCAR Tracks App.

About SCDPS

SCDPS, the largest law enforcement agency in the state, includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. SCDPS has approximately 1,300 employees serving across the state, providing a wide range of public safety services focused on making South Carolina a safer place to live, work and raise a family. To learn more about the SCDPS, visit scdps.sc.gov.

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75^th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Source: Darlington Raceway