A concurrent RESOLUTION

 

TO EXPRESS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BELIEVES THAT NASCAR RACING IS AN INTEGRAL AND VITAL PART OF THE STATE AND THE ECONOMY, TO CONGRATULATE THE DARLINGTON RACEWAY FOR ANNOUNCING THE CONTINUATION OF A SECOND RACE TO ITS SCHEDULE, DOUBLING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE, TO CELEBRATE NASCAR'S SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, TO IDENTIFY SOUTH CAROLINA'S RICH NASCAR HISTORY, AND TO NAME THE WEEKS AROUND BOTH RACES, MAY 8-MAY 15, 2023, AND AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 5, 2023, 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-fifth anniversary and 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 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Whereas, the State of South Carolina is rich in historical references to the sport of stock car racing, as evidenced by the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame at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 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 one hundred twelve million dollars, as NASCAR fans from across the country and around the world visit the State 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 Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

 

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, express that the General Assembly believes that NASCAR racing is an integral and vital part of the State and the economy, congratulate the Darlington Raceway for announcing the continuation of a second race to its schedule, doubling the economic impact of the State, celebrate NASCAR'S seventy-fifth anniversary, identify South Carolina's rich NASCAR history, and name the weeks around both races, May 8-May 15, 2023, and August 28-September 5, 2023, as "Darlington Raceway Week", two weeks too tough to tame.

 

Be it further resolved that the copy of this resolution be forwarded to NASCAR and the Darlington Raceway.

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