Need For Speed Race Preview: Darlington

Get ready to count Darlington stripes this weekend as NASCAR heads to the legendary and historic South Carolina track, commonly referred to as "The Lady In Black" for more racin' under the lights!

We'll also hear the terms: Beating and Banging, Authentic, Tradition, Deceptive and Southern Hospitality a lot over the course of the weekend.

Last week's race winner, Kyle Busch returns as defending race winner @ Darlington. In his 4 races @ Darlington, Kyle's finished 1st-37th-7th-23rd. Kyle's currently 5th in the point standings.

Greg Biffle looked like he had the car to beat during last year's race. He started from the pole and led 95 laps before losing an engine on lap 234. Biffle finished last. He won two years in a row in '05 and '06. Biffle has started in the top-10 in 6 of his 8 races @ Darlington with 3 top-10 finishes. Biffle's currently 11th in points.

On a side note, the last time a polesitter won a Darlington race was back in '97 with Dale Jarrett.

Who do you think will get the first win for Stewart-Haas Racing? Tony Stewart or Ryan Newman?

Tony Stewart has yet to win a cup race @ Darlington. It's just 1 of 3 tracks on the current cup schedule he hasn't won at. The Auto Club Speedway in Fontana and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway are the other 2. Stewart has finished in the top-5 four times in the last 5 races. In 16 starts @ Darlington, he's posted 8 top-10 finishes. Still yet, he's proved he can get around the track. Stewart won last year's Nationwide Series race @ Darlington.

“With the rich heritage and history at Darlington, to win there – it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe,” Stewart said of that win. “It’s just cool to win at Darlington. This series is just so deep in history, and this is one of those tracks where the history goes as deep as NASCAR does. To finally get a win at Darlington was a huge honor for me.”

Ryan Newman has posted 5 top-5 and 6 top-10 finishes in his 10 races @ Darlington. He has also led 249 laps which is the best among drivers entered (in Saturday night's race) without a win.

Jimmie Johnson has 2 wins, 5 top-5 and 8 top-10 finishes in 10 starts.

Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 7 Darlington victories. Gordon's finished in the top-3 in the last 5 races @ Darlington, including a win in '07.

To celebrate Mother's Day, mothers of various cup drivers will once again serve as grand marshals for the 5th consecutive year - since the Southern 500 was moved to Mother's Day Weekend in '05.

500 miles =367 laps TV coverage begins at 7 Saturday night on FOX.

The Nationwide Series - Diamond Hill Plywood 200 will begin at 7 Friday night on ESPN2.