MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (WMBF) – State leaders and NASCAR representatives gathered Wednesday aboard the historic USS Yorktown at Patriots Point to preview the upcoming Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
The media event, held on the aircraft carrier’s flight deck, highlighted the substantial economic footprint and deep-seated sporting heritage the Labor Day weekend race brings to the Palmetto State each year.
“Darlington is a crown jewel for South Carolina,” Gov. Henry McMaster said. “This Labor Day tradition brings in thousands of visitors from across the country, boosting our local businesses and showcasing the very best of our hospitality.”
McMaster was joined by RFK Racing driver Chris Buescher, Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie, and Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris to emphasize the logistical, economic, and tourism efforts currently underway.
The press conference also marked the 50th anniversary of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Harris pointed out a strong parallel between the decommissioned warship and the legendary South Carolina racetrack, noting that both are recognized nationwide for their resilience, toughness, and enduring local legacies.
“We’re standing on the ship nicknamed ‘The Fighting Lady,’” Haynie said. “We’re right next to the Laffey, the ship that was dubbed ‘the ship that would not die’ … but we’re also the state that is home to the track that is ‘too tough to tame,’ so we all kind of fit together.”
For Mount Pleasant, which was recently inducted into the All-America City Hall of Fame, the upcoming race weekend represents a major financial driver. Local merchants, hotels, and restaurants throughout the Pee Dee region and coastal shores are already gearing up for a massive surge in out-of-state visitors.
State Highway Patrol and local emergency management services are also busy finalizing advanced traffic-routing protocols and safety measures to handle the holiday road congestion.
Buescher, driver of the No. 17 Ford Mustang, echoed the track’s challenging reputation.
“Darlington is the one racetrack that’s guaranteed to put up a fight throughout the entire evening and never let you leave there looking quite as good as you showed up,” Buescher said.
The race weekend at Darlington Raceway is scheduled for Sept. 5-6. The postseason action begins Saturday, Sept. 5, with the Fleetio 200 before the NASCAR Cup Series Chase officially kicks off under the lights on Sunday, Sept. 6, with the running of the Cook Out Southern 500.
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