A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE BELIEF OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT NASCAR RACING IS AN INTEGRAL AND VITAL PART OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND ITS ECONOMY; TO CONGRATULATE THE DARLINGTON RACEWAY FOR THE CONTINUATION OF A SECOND RACE IN ITS SCHEDULE, THEREBY DOUBLING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; TO HIGHLIGHT THE DARLINGTON RACEWAY AS ONE OF OUR STATE'S MOST TREASURED ATTRACTIONS; TO SPOTLIGHT SOUTH CAROLINA'S RICH NASCAR HISTORY; AND TO NAME THE WEEKS AROUND BOTH RACES, THE OFFICIAL THROWBACK WEEKEND OF NASCAR, MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 2024, AND THE TRADITIONAL LABOR DAY WEEKEND, AUGUST 26 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1, 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, incorporated on February 21, 1948, NASCAR is now celebrating its seventy-sixth anniversary. Over the years, it has become the premier motorsports innovator and is 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. Further, today NASCAR sanctions more than twelve hundred races annually, and 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Whereas, South Carolina is rich in historical references to the sport of stock car racing, as evidenced by the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame at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 Palmetto 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 NASCAR racing with two events has on South Carolina is in excess of $118 million, which generates over $18 million annually in federal and state tax collections as NASCAR fans from across the country and around the world visit South Carolina 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 in contributing to the improvement of the people and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express the belief that NASCAR racing is an integral and vital part of the State of South Carolina and its economy, recognize Darlington Raceway as one of our state's most treasured attractions, and acknowledge NASCAR's seventy-six years of racing as a significant part of our state's rich history.

Be it further resolved that the weeks around both races, the official throwback weekend of NASCAR, May 6 through May 12, 2024, and the traditional Labor Day weekend, August 26 through September 1, 2024, be named "Darlington Raceway Week," two weeks too tough to tame.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Senate, NASCAR, and the Darlington Raceway.

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