A senate RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE BELIEF OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE THAT NASCAR RACING IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ITS ECONOMY; TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE DARLINGTON RACEWAY FOR ANNOUNCING THE CONTINUATION OF A SECOND RACE TO ITS SCHEDULE, DOUBLING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AS ONE OF OUR STATE'S MOST TREASURED ATTRACTIONS; to IDENTIFY NASCAR's seventy-six years of racing as a significant part of SOUTH CAROLINA'S RICH HISTORY; AND TO NAME THE WEEKS AROUND BOTH RACES, THE OFFICIAL THROWBACK WEEKEND OF NASCAR, MAY 6th through 12th, 2024, AND THE TRADITIONAL LABOR DAY WEEKEND, AUGUST 26th THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1st, 2024, AS "DARLINGTON RACEWAY WEEK", TWO WEEKS TOO TOUGH TO TAME.

Whereas, the Darlington Raceway opened on September 4, 1950, with the inaugural running of the Southern 500, the first stock car race on a paved track; and

Whereas, since 1950, Darlington Raceway has served as a cornerstone in the development of stock car racing, one of the fastest growing and most popular spectator sports in the country; and

Whereas, NASCAR, which was incorporated on February 21, 1948, is celebrating its seventy-sixth anniversary. NASCAR has become the premier motorsports innovator, universally regarded as one of the world's most successful sports entertainment properties; and

Whereas, NASCAR has expanded throughout its history to become a global sport with series that race in more than thirty States, as well as Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Brazil. Today, NASCAR sanctions more than one thousand two hundred races annually. Its races are broadcast in nearly every country around the world; and

Whereas, South Carolina hosts one of the crown jewel events in motorsports, the Southern 500, and lays claim to many of the legends of NASCAR racing, including Rex White, David Pearson, Bud Moore, James Hylton, Tiny Lund, and Cale Yarborough; and

Whereas, South Carolina is rich in stock car racing history, as evidenced by the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame at Darlington Raceway, in addition to dirt raceways across the State that served as home to the fledgling sport of NASCAR racing in the 1950s; and

Whereas, the NASCAR events at Darlington focus our nation's attention and the attention of the world upon our great State as a sport and tourism destination each year; and

Whereas, the annual economic impact that the two Darlington NASCAR racing events have on South Carolina is in excess of one hundred eighteen million dollars, including over eighteen million dollars annually in federal and state tax collections as NASCAR fans from across the country and around the world visit the State each year to attend racing events and then vacation in communities throughout the Palmetto State; and

Whereas, the Darlington Raceway participates as a good corporate citizen at the local, regional, and state levels and is active in numerous community and charitable efforts contributing to the improvement of the people and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, express the belief that NASCAR racing is an integral part of the State of South Carolina and its economy, recognize Darlington Raceway as one of our State's most treasured attractions, identify NASCAR's seventy-six years of racing as a significant part of South Carolina's rich history, and name the weeks around both races, the official throwback weekend of NASCAR, May 6th through May 12th, 2024, and the traditional Labor Day weekend, August 26th through September 1st, 2024, as "Darlington Raceway Week", two weeks too tough to tame.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Governor, the House of Representatives, NASCAR, and the Darlington Raceway.

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