Originally Posted on RaceFanNews,Race 2 Win, Inside Racing Groove and Jayski

March 17, 2004 - When you think of Darlington Raceway, history and prestige always rank up on the top of the list. Since 1957 this infamous raceway has hosted a spring race that has left fans in awe when some of NASCAR’s best drivers where able to tame the “Lady In Black.”

There aren’t many names on the Darlington win list. Well, there are plenty of names but most of them are the same people. When you look back into the history of this track you will find only a handful of select names donning the “Victory Lane Plaque.” That is because once the driver finds her sweet spot, he never forgets where it is. He comes back year after year and dominates. Always knowing what he needs to do to tame her.

Now, I know all of that kind of sounds romantic but in all reality it is. A driver has to be good first of all. His team and equipment has to be performing equally as good. If a race team has all of that, then and only then, should they attempt to tame her. Its kind of like being really nervous on a first date and your out trying to feel out the person you are with, when all of a sudden, something just clicks and it’s a romance made in heaven. The dates become years and you are the man who knew what it took to take your lady’s hand and cruise on into victory lane. Year after year, like a great marriage.

That was for the ladies. I am sure it was to corny for all of you fella’s out there so here is how I would explain it in the garage…First of all, no rookie is gonna stand a chance. Experience is what carries you around this track. Your car needs an equal amount of horsepower to help a great chassis setup. Its better to start off slow and let the lead-footed drivers go off and find their stripe. Not too much though. You can get lapped at this place in a hurry if your car is off.

Next you need to remember tire wear. If you haven’t raced at this track for more than five years, you are going to have problems. This race will bring back memories for the drivers who have already tamed her along with the drivers who have raced here six or more years ago. The tire is going to be basically the same as it was back then and the drivers who know how to keep’em on their car the longest will be in victory lane.

Let us not forget about the 2x4 strapped to the roll cage. A must if you want to be in contention. Ricky Rudd described it best in an interview with Sports Illustrated when he said, “They don't put wood under it. They actually wedge it in the door bars. The chance of grazing the wall there is greater than anywhere else we go.”

“So what the teams will do a lot of times is take little blocks of 2x4 wood and if there is a gap between the door bars and the skin, they'll wedge those blocks of wood against the roll bar so if you do make contact you'll hit that block of wood. It's got a little bit of shock absorbency to it. That hopefully keeps it from bending the rim or bending the rear end housing if you bump the wall. It definitely can help.”

“I didn't know about the block of wood until I was driving the Wood Brothers car, and I saw that block of wood. I don't know that all the teams do that. I looked at that and said, 'You know. That is pretty smart right there. It's very simple, but very smart.' I'm sure they learned that from the old days when you used to have to run on the wall and actually had to hang the right-rear quarter panel out there and let it scrape.”

Last, you need to remember the new “Safer Barrier” that is taking up two feet of the only good part of the track left. A good paving after the new walls went up might have been smart. If my thinking is correct, there should be plenty of action for the fans this weekend. This lady has been chewing up cars and spitting them out for quite some time now and I don’t see her changing anytime soon. I think you have to have the right touch, along with lots of luck, and maybe, just maybe, you will know what it feels like to “Tame the Lady In Black.”

No matter what your perception is about Darlington Raceway, you need to remember that this is one of NASCAR's most historical tracks but she is no lady. I think the toughest thing to do at this track is finish the race. Make no mistake about it, this is one tough place to get around and only the best of the best can win here.