I know we’re supposed to be objective and not have favorites, but in this case I don’t care. I love Darlington. It’s not as big a deal as it used to be, but it’s still the only track in NASCAR (well, that and Indianapolis) that shares an aura with so many historic facilities in so many other sports. It hasn’t been overbuilt. It’s not unwieldy. You can imagine it looking 50 years ago very much like it looks today. The Fenway Park and Lambeau Field analogies very much apply.

The place is just cool, with a nasty reputation that’s very much deserved. Brett Bodine took a few media members out today in the pace car, and the sensation of speed here is tremendous. I’ve done similar rides at Las Vegas and Daytona, and Darlington feels so much faster. Maybe that’s because the track is no narrow, and at 120 mph - 50 mph slower than the Cup cars travel - it feels like you’re roaring down a chute. From the exit of Turn 3 to the entrance of Turn 1, Bodine keeps the hammer down. Screaming right against the outside wall, on bump-free new pavement, is a complete gas.

I just can’t imagine doing it with 42 othet cars on the track. And the pit road entrance here is dastardly, requiring an abrupt left turn. But man, riding around this place is fun. I can see why so many drivers are so fond of it.

Of course, it’s also May in near-coastal South Carolina, which means it feels like a broiler at times outside. It’s not really hot, but the humidity is suffocating. Our three weeks of spring in this part of the world are over. Toughest job in the garage: firemen outfitted head to toe in thick red coveralls, complete with balaclava and helmet. I told one of them I didn’t envy him today. “Aww, it’ll be all right,” he said.