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Gov. Henry McMaster To Serve As Honorary Pace Car Rider For Cook Out Southern 500 At Darlington Raceway

by Press Release September 3, 2026 0 comments

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Darlington Raceway announced today that South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will serve as the Honorary Pace Car Rider for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500. McMaster, a longtime supporter of NASCAR and Darlington Raceway, will participate in pre-race ceremonies before climbing in the passenger seat of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse that will lead the field to green for one of the sport’s crown jewel events and the opening race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase.

“Governor McMaster has been an unwavering supporter of NASCAR and Darlington Raceway, and we are honored to have him lead the field to green for the Cook Out Southern 500,” said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. “His support of our sport and our track goes far beyond being a fan. His leadership and commitment made it possible for NASCAR to become the first major professional sport to return to competition following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We are incredibly grateful for everything Governor McMaster has done for NASCAR, Darlington Raceway, and the state of South Carolina.”

McMaster’s role in the history of Darlington Raceway, NASCAR and the greater sports world cannot be overstated. As the world dealt with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nation was at a standstill, McMaster worked alongside NASCAR officials, public health experts and state and local leaders to create the environment that allowed Darlington Raceway to host NASCAR’s first race following the sport’s nearly two-month shutdown.

The Real Heroes 400 on May 17, 2020, marked NASCAR’s return to live competition and was the first professional sports event in the United States after the pandemic brought the sports world to a halt. That race marked a defining moment in Darlington Raceway’s storied history, as the Track Too Tough to Tame paved the way for the broader return of professional sports.

The “Lady in Black” is ready to take center stage again as the NASCAR Chase begins at Darlington Raceway on Labor Day Weekend. On Saturday, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase begins with the Fleetio 200. That sets the table for Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500 as the best drivers in the world vie for the highly coveted Johnny Mantz Trophy.

Tickets are going fast, so fans are encouraged to act now to secure their seats and experiences while supplies last at www.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 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and/or NASCAR CRAFTSMAN 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 sport’s 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 NASCAR   

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 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). 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 five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

Source: Darlington Raceway