NASCAR Cup Series

The National Motorsports Press Association and Sprint announced today at Darlington Raceway that voting for the Most Popular Driver Award will open Sept. 6.

With two races left before the start of the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Brad Keselowski got the momentum builder he needed with Saturday's pole-winning effort at Darlington Raceway.

JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 3M CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Darlington Raceway to discuss his last Southern 500 as a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, making the Chase, the low downforce package and many other topics.

Aric Almirola, driver of the No. 43 STP Ford Fusion, along with crew chief and Darlington, South Carolina native Trent Owens, met with media members after opening practice Saturday to discuss their 43 car throwback scheme, the weekend ahead and more.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What are your expectations for this weekend? “Well, it’s hard to pick expectations. You come here once a year – different aero package – so you’re not really sure, but certainly the last few months our cars have been fast, so we’re hoping we can continue that momentum here."

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford Fusion, finds himself in the middle of a hot streak, having won two of the last three Sprint Cup races. Logano enters Sunday night’s Southern 500 second in the points standings and poised for a deep Chase run with two regular season races remaining. Logano spoke to media members Friday morning.

Old School: Darlington Raceway hosted the first 500-mile race in NASCAR history and the first on asphalt on Sept. 4, 1950. – won by Johnny Mantz. There were 75 cars that started that first 500 mile race, opposed to the 43 cars that regularly start modern-day NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races. In 1950 the pole winning speed was 82.034 mph; the current track qualifying sits at 184.145 mph. The average race winning speed in 1950 was just 75.250 mph, compared to the track race record of 141.383 mph.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the XFINITY Series head to Darlington Raceway for a Labor Day racing weekend. All on-track action can be seen on NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra. The Camping World Truck Series is off this weekend.

After a few years on tinkering around with tradition, something NASCAR seems more than eager to do until the manure hits the ventilation system, the Southern 500 is back for the Labor Day weekend.

Over the last 65 years the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has been competing at Darlington Raceway. The unique egg-shaped track – configured that way to avoid disturbing Ramsey’s pond - hosted its first Cup Series event in 1950. Darlington’s banner race, the Southern 500, was traditionally held over Labor Day weekend and became a staple for NASCAR fans each and every season. In 2003 NASCAR decided to move the date of the Southern 500 to April. Twelve years later one of motorsports crown jewel races returns to its original date.