On Sept. 4, 1950, Darlington Raceway played host to a stock car race that was named the “Southern Five-Hundred.” In 1951, the race’s name was changed to “Southern 500.” Before the Daytona 500 came to life in 1959, this was the country’s premier stock-car racing event. Johnny Mantz won that first race, which lasted a little more than 6½ hours. Now at 70 years old, the Southern 500 remains one of NASCAR’s most prestigious races. It’s on NASCAR’s oldest paved superspeedway, and it has been won by the sport’s most legendary drivers. From Pearson to Yarborough, from Allison to Earnhardt, Elliott and Gordon, the list goes on and on. Now this is NASCAR’s official throwback weekend. “Southern 500: 70 Years of Thrills and Chills, Drama and Dents at Darlington Raceway” captures the history and the excitement. From the Morning News in Florence, S.C., it is a “must have” for race fans and collectors alike.