Darlington Raceway will reawaken the Southern 500 on Mother’s Day weekend in 2009.

Track President Chris Browning is anxious of the events taking place next year.

"The timing really is good with us celebrating our 60th year of racing next year. It just seemed to make sense," Browning said. "Although it's not on Labor Day, it is a 500-mile race at Darlington, and that's another way of our continuing to tie back into our history and our tradition."

Driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Jeff Gordon, and Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet are enthused about the rekindling of the Southern 500 at Darlington.

"When I think of Darlington and the history of the track, the Southern 500 is what comes to mind," Gordon stated. "I think it's great the Southern 500 is coming back to Darlington.

"I look forward to the opportunity of possibly winning a sixth Southern 500 during Darlington's 60th season of competition."

"Winning the 50th Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in 1998 was one of the highlights of my NASCAR career," said Burton. "With so much history that surrounds Darlington Raceway, bringing the Southern 500 back on Mother's Day weekend in 2009 is going to make winning even more prestigious."

The Southern 500 debuted on September 4, 1950 and was ran for over five decades before forfeiting the date to Auto Club Speedway (then California Speedway) in 2005. Starting in 2005 the venue began racing on Mother’s Day weekend under the lights. The nocturnal events have sold out for the past four years.

The track will now combine the best of both worlds keeping the events on Mother's Day Weekend and regenerating the Sothern 500, it is sure to be a good show to any Hardcore Race Fan able to grab a spot in the grandstands.

"The Southern 500 is synonymous with Darlington Raceway," said Browning. "Combining the tradition of the Southern 500 and Mother's Day weekend under the lights at Darlington is a real treat for NASCAR fans everywhere.”