Showtime Southern 500 Tickets

The Showtime Southern 500 is held at the famed Darlington Speedway in Darlington, SC and will take place on May 7.

It will be the new Mother's Day tradition for female NASCAR fans, a demographic that the sport continues to try and reach. It is one of two races held each season at Darlington, which is deep in the heart of NASCAR country.

The race began in 1957, and at that time was only 300 miles long. It was later increased to 400 and then 500 miles, only to then be brought back down to 400 miles. Officials then once again increased it to 500 miles, which is where we stand in 2011.

Fireball Roberts was the first driver to win the race, and there have been many NASCAR legends to cruise to victory lane in Darlington. Some of the notable winners include Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett and Mark Martin.