DARLINGTON, SC (WBTW) – With Tropical Storm Hermine out of the area many NASCAR fans are excited for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Sunday.
For many race fans the action doesn’t begin the day of the big race.
“We weathered the storm, got everything we could to set up, we’re ready to roll,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan and Charleston native Lance Kenyon.
Drivers sped around the track for the Infinity series Saturday afternoon. For regulars this tradition brings them back year after year. But for Charlotte native Kendra Owens it’s her very first time at the track that’s too tough to tame.
“Of course this is the first one that we have been too that Junior hasn’t been here,” mentioned Owens.
Since Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t racing on Sunday, many fans will be cheering for his replacement Jeff Gordon.
“At least he is a teammate and that makes it neat too. It’s nice too that Jeff came out of retirement that was very special and very nice of him to do that,” said Owens.
But some fans believe Jeff Gordon doesn’t have what it takes.
“Dale senior use to beat his doors in coming around that corner on turn four, you get more aerodynamics on his car to be able to win the races. He taught his boy everything he knew but it’s just not the same without Junior being here,” Kenyon said.
The sound of generators replaced an otherwise empty infield at the Darlington Raceway a few days ago, now nearly every empty space is filled with campers and race fans.
Year after year die hard race fans like Zoe Brais and her best friend Kirby Groome come to the race.
This year the Clemson Tigers also show off their school spirit.
But for newlyweds like Martin Cooper and his wife Luanne cooper, they come to create lifetime memories.
“We were supposed to get married in the winner’s circle but because of so much rain they allowed us to do it in the museum,” said Cooper.
While the big race doesn’t even start until Sunday race fans say the fun began long before then.