The Dodge Charger 500 was Darlington's first Nextel Cup night race. Credit: Autostock

Darlington going full speed ahead for 2006 despite uncertain future

Darlington Raceway president Chris Browning isn't waiting on a thumbs up from NASCAR for 2006. He's moving ahead as if "The Lady in Black" has a secure spot on next year's Nextel Cup schedule.

And after the sold-out show last Saturday night, why shouldn't he?

Final lapsBiffle rolls to the checkers in dramatic fashion at Darlington Bumper TagWaltrip penalized after continuous beating and banging with Green Dodge Charger 500All the highlights from Saturday night's race Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

Browning says about 100,000 people spent their weekend at Darlington as the old track sparkled in its first-ever night race, its reputation for thrills and excitement holding true when Greg Biffle used a late caution to take the Dodge Charger 500.

Since then, Browning's gotten nothing other than congratulations and "attaboys" from NASCAR and Darlington's owners, International Speedway Corp.

"We've had some very loose conversations with our management and with NASCAR," Browning said Tuesday. "And nobody's said anything like we shouldn't do what we've always done."

So Browning's track will take ticket deposits and keep a growing waiting list -- it had about 1,000 names of fans too late to purchase seats for this race -- for next year's Dodge Charger 500, even if official confirmation about its status won't come until late May or early June, Browning says.

"We're going forward," Browning said.

Browning hopes his words don't come back to choke him. Darlington's future in Nextel Cup has been topic one among South Carolina race fans ever since former NASCAR chairman Bill France called out "The Track Too Tough To Tame" two years ago for its less-than-stellar crowds.

Darlington was hit hard by NASCAR schedule changes. The Labor Day weekend spot it held for more than half century was shuffled to California Speedway for the 2004 season. Then last year, Darlington was told its two Nextel Cup races would be sliced to Mother's Day weekend this season.

More recently, track officials have fought off rumors Darlington would soon be sold by ISC to Speedway Motorsports Inc. which would grab the remaining Nextel Cup date for its own.

Still, Browning and his staff apparently convinced race fans the first-ever night race would be a special event, gaining their first pre-race sellout in eight years.

Browning got more encouragement from a 40-minute facility tour he gave former chairman France on Saturday.

France was thrilled with the sell out, Browning said, but cautioned him to try and duplicate this next year before pushing ahead with major capital improvements like building more seats.

"That's good advice," Browning said. "Lets see what the interest is" in 2006.

If some NASCAR drivers had a vote, Darlington would make the schedule every year. Tony Stewart calls it one of his favorite places to race, as does Jeff Gordon, a six-time winner here and runner-up to Biffle last Saturday night.

Jimmie Johnson says the honor of conquering a track that's given NASCAR greats fits for more than 50 years is something special. "When you leave this racetrack, and you know that you won and you are the guy that everybody chased, it means a lot," said Johnson, who swept Darlington's 2004 races. "It's top of the list."

Browning expects the drivers to feel that way for years to come. Besides the $3.5 million in recent improvements Darlington's already put in, Browning has a five-year plan that's expected to contain adding to the track's 60,000 seats.

Browning will meet with someone from ISC's construction division soon to discuss the future. In September, Browning says he'll bring contractor bids on projects like upgrading restrooms and infield access tunnels for ISC board approval with the work complete before Darlington's next event.

There are areas to improve, Browning said. He's kicked around dropping the green flag earlier to finish the 500-miler around 11 p.m. instead of midnight. He hopes to work with companies in South Carolina's Upstate, such as Michelin and BMW, to expand their involvement in the state's lone Nextel Cup track, which according to University of South Carolina studies brings $30 million to the state each time NASCAR haulers show up. And Browning wants the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks back at Darlington for a triple-header weekend like the final Southern 500 this past November.

Browning's eager to tally up hard numbers of ticket renewals and see for certain what he believes -- fans want Darlington on the schedule. For that, though, he'll need an official OK from NASCAR.

"Everything went just fantastic," he said "Now, we've got to capitalize on that."