We turned Darlington red hot with our RaceAway crew in tow for the 2025 Cook Out Southern 500. On Sunday, August 31, 2025, we spent the night at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, watching Chase Briscoe dominate the “Track Too Tough to Tame” and score his second straight Southern 500 victory. Under the lights, with our high percentage of returning guests and our Darlington NASCAR weekend dialed in, it felt like bringing a big group of old friends back to a favorite track.
Settling In at the Beach Before Darlington
Our weekend home base was the Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, right on the sand with ocean views and easy access to restaurants and entertainment. I am Emily, a North Carolina girl who loves this Darlington event, and I arrived on Saturday evening ready to catch up with a lot of familiar faces. With about 80% of our travelers having been with RaceAway before, I found myself saying, “Well hey there, good to see y’all again!” more than anything else.
The lobby felt more like a reunion than a check-in line. Guests swapped stories about past RaceAway trips, talked about who they were pulling for, and compared notes on how many times the Lady in Black had “tamed” their favorite drivers. Newer guests slipped right into the mix and were quickly folded into the conversations. By the time race day rolled around, it felt like one big extended family getting ready for a Southern 500 tradition.
Race Day: From Myrtle Beach to the Lady in Black
Sunday morning, everyone had a little time to enjoy the beach, grab breakfast, or take a walk along the water. Just before noon, I rounded up our crew in the lobby, “Alright y’all, if you are goin’ racin’, it is time to climb aboard,” and we loaded our charter bus for the 90-mile ride to Darlington Raceway. The coach had a restroom on board, and with coolers and bags packed to track specs, everyone settled in quickly for an easy ride inland.
As we made our way toward the Lady in Black, I walked the aisle to go over the basics one more time. As of August 2025, Darlington Raceway used cashless concessions and merchandise stands, and all bags and coolers were subject to search at the gates, so I encouraged everyone to have a card or mobile pay ready and keep their items within the current guidelines.
We arrived at the track with time to spare. Guests with Pre-Race Experience passes headed through the Walk of Champions and into the infield, where they could step out onto the racing surface and get close to the driver-introduction stage. Others explored the midway, checked out souvenirs, and grabbed an early bite before the evening cooled off. The sun was still up and the temps were warm, but you could already feel that big-race buzz starting to build.
By late afternoon, we were gathering toward our grandstand section, watching the track come to life under the lights. Driver introductions set the tone, and when engines fired for the Cook Out Southern 500, that familiar Darlington rumble rolled right through our seats. The Lady in Black looked as mean and beautiful as ever.
Briscoe’s Dominant Darlington Double
Once the green flag waved, Chase Briscoe went to work. He took control early and just kept on clicking off laps, looking every bit like a driver who had figured out the track too tough to tame. Over the course of the 367-lap, 500-mile classic, he led 309 laps and kept the field in his mirrors for most of the night.
Every time Tyler Reddick started reeling him in, our group leaned in, waiting to see if Darlington had one more twist up its sleeve. Restarts, long green-flag runs, and comers and goers off the worn-out Darlington surface kept everyone guessing, but Briscoe never really flinched.
In the closing laps, Reddick mounted one last serious charge, and you could feel our whole section tighten up as he sliced through traffic. When Briscoe finally took the checkered flag and sealed back-to-back Cook Out Southern 500 victories, our guests were on their feet. It felt like we had just watched a little piece of Darlington history play out right in front of us.
After the race, I reminded everyone we had an hour before our charter needed to leave the track. Folks took their time getting down the grandstands, snapped a few last photos of the lit-up oval, and made their way back to the bus. Once everyone was on board, we pointed the nose back toward Myrtle Beach, tired but grinning from ear to ear.
What Guests Had to Say
One of the sweetest parts of any race weekend is hearing from guests afterward. Scott G. sent us a note that just made me smile from the inside out: “Race was great. Thank you. Shout out to Emily. Great host. Nice person. Big heart. Great job! Cannot say that enough. See ya next time I go racing.”
Stacey V. followed up with her own kind words after the Darlington event: “We had such a great time! Thank you sooo much for the awesome package and for the incredible customer service and support. I highly recommend!”
I always say, if y’all leave the track sun-kissed, a little worn out, and already talking about “next time,” then we have done our job.
Highlights from This 2025 Darlington Weekend
- We enjoyed an oceanfront stay at Embassy Suites Myrtle Beach, with time to enjoy the beach before race day.
- Easy, hosted round-trip charter transportation for the 90-mile ride between Myrtle Beach and Darlington Raceway.
- Pre-Race Experience access that put guests on the racing surface and near the driver-introduction stage.
- A relaxed, fun group vibe thanks to our returning guests and lots of familiar faces and inside jokes.
- Chase Briscoe’s dominant run, leading 309 laps and holding off Tyler Reddick for back-to-back Cook Out Southern 500 victories under the lights.
- Heartfelt post-race notes from guests like Scott G. and Stacey V., already looking forward to their next RaceAway NASCAR weekend.
Wrapping Up a Night at the Track Too Tough to Tame
By the time we rolled back into Myrtle Beach, the bus was quieter but the stories were flowing: favorite passes, pit strategies, and how wild Darlington looks under the lights. It was another classic Southern 500 night – a legendary track, a dominant winner, and a RaceAway group that truly felt like family.
If y’all are thinking about tackling the “Track Too Tough to Tame” yourself, or exploring other NASCAR travel packages with RaceAway, I would be glad to see you on a future trip and help you make some race-day memories of your own.