Darlington sets 2013 Southern 500 date

Darlington Raceway has announced that the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will return to the track on Mother's Day weekend, May 10-11, 2013.

The 2013 Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 will mark the 64th consecutive year of NASCAR racing at the track.

“We're excited the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will be returning to Darlington Raceway for our traditional Mother's Day weekend in 2013,” track president Chris Browning said in a news release. “Darlington Raceway always puts on some of the most exciting racing in NASCAR and we look forward to hosting another great race weekend this May.”

Jimmie Johnson captured his third career Cup win at Darlington this year in a thrilling late-race duel with defending Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. It gave team owner Rick Hendrick his 200th career Sprint Cup win.