"It's great to be in Darlington again on Labor Day weekend," Darrell Waltrip said as he looked around at the Lady In Black. "This place brings back a lot of memories for me."

Waltrip, along with a host of NASCAR Legends, was on hand this weekend at the Darlington Raceway for the inaugural Historic Racing Festival. The two-day event marked the first time since 2003 that stock cars turned laps on a Labor Day weekend at the famed 1.336 mile egg-shaped oval.

Thousands of hardcore race fans were treated to question and answer sessions with the legendary drivers in a huge air conditioned tent before lining up for well organized autograph parties that took place throughout the weekend. Waltrip, Junior Johnson, Charlie Glotzbach, Waddell Wilson, Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Cotton Owens, Bobby and Donnie Allison, Marvin Panch and Buddy Baker were among the NASCAR greats who took their time meeting and talking with fans while posing for photos and signing their autographs on everything imaginable.

The garage area was filled with more than one hundred twenty cars of yesteryear, including modifieds, sprint cars and midgets from all over the United States. Among the notable NASCAR stock cars on display were Jim Vandiver No. 31, Dale Earnhardt No. 3, Rob Moroso No. 20, Neil Castles No. 06, Fireball Roberts No. 22, Cale Yarborough No. 11 and Richard Petty No. 43. More than one hundred of these cars took to the track and turned laps during the weekend.

Drivers and fans alike seemed to enjoy the camaraderie the festival provided.

"I would never miss the chance to turn a few more laps at Darlington Raceway," said 10-time Darlington winner David Pearson. "I have had a great time this weekend catching up with these guys that I don't get a chance to see very often anymore."

"This has been a great event for the fans, entrants and NASCAR legends," said Darlington Raceway President, Chris Browning. "It was great to have such a full garage and paddock area on Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway again."

Take a bow, Darlington Raceway staff. You did a fabolous job of putting the Darlington Historic Racing Festival together and it was enjoyed by many.