Yarborough, Pearson to be at Darlington track festival

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- NASCAR legends and South Carolina natives Cale Yarborough and David Pearson, along with longtime promoter H.A. Humpy Wheeler, will be the featured guests at the Darlington Historic Racing Festival Sept. 26-27, announced Darlington Raceway president, Chris Browning.

Yarborough, Pearson and Wheeler will each participate in a fan forum question and answer session as well as an autograph session.

"Cale, David and Humpy have all done so much for our sport," Browning said. "Having them at the second annual Darlington Historic Racing Festival will be a real treat for the fans and entrants at the event."

"I'm looking forward to being back at my home track, Darlington Raceway," Yarborough said. "I enjoyed my time there in May for the Southern 500 and I'm looking forward to being there for the Darlington Historic Racing Festival in September."

Yarborough and Pearson each have a storied history at Darlington. Pearson holds the all-time wins record at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval with 10 career victories. Yarborough also has his name in the record books at Darlington with the most wins in the famed Southern 500 with five, a record that was later tied by Jeff Gordon.

Wheeler, former president and general manager at Lowe's Motor Speedway, is widely regarded as one of the best promoters in the history of NASCAR. Wheeler stepped down from his post at LMS in 2008 and shortly after formed The Wheeler Company, a management consulting operation primarily focusing on professional sports, motorsports and general business.

Other legends appearing at the Darlington Historic Racing Festival will be announced at a later date.

The Darlington Historic Racing Festival will offer fans two days of excitement featuring question and answer sessions with the legends, exhibition laps by the historic race cars, autograph sessions, a large display and vendor area, car carousels and a variety of other activities.

Darlington Raceway, or the track "Too Tough to Tame" as it is known to many, is where the purest of NASCAR competition meets true Southern hospitality. A NASCAR staple since 1950, Darlington Raceway has seen some of motorsports most talented drivers thunder to Victory Lane. In 2009, a NASCAR tradition, the Southern 500, returned to Darlington Raceway as part of the famed track's celebration of 60 Seasons of Racing.

The 2009 Darlington Historic Racing Festival will feature something for the entire family. Tickets for the event are $15 per day or $25 for the entire weekend. Kids age 12 and under will be admitted free, and each admission includes access to the garage and infield area. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 843-395-8802 or online at http://www.darlingtonraceway.com/tickets/.