Darlington Stripe

A Darlington Stripe is a black mark or scrape that appears on the right side of a NASCAR race car after it rubs against the outside wall during a race, most famously at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.

This distinctive mark gets its name from Darlington Raceway, known as "The Lady in Black" or "The Track Too Tough to Tame." The track's unique egg-shaped design and narrow racing surface make it extremely challenging for drivers to navigate without touching the wall.

The stripe typically appears when drivers push their cars to the limit, running as close as possible to the outside wall to find the fastest racing line. When a car gets too close, the right-rear section scrapes against the concrete barrier, leaving behind a black streak of rubber and scraped paint.

Rather than being seen as a driving mistake, earning a Darlington Stripe is considered a badge of honor in NASCAR. It shows that a driver was pushing hard and testing the limits of what's possible at one of racing's most demanding tracks.

The phenomenon is so common at Darlington that it has become part of the track's identity. Veteran NASCAR fans and drivers often view the Darlington Stripe as a rite of passage, proving that someone has truly experienced the challenge of racing at this historic venue.

Modern race cars use flexible composite body panels, which means today's Darlington Stripes may not cause as much visible damage as they did in the past. Some racing teams even apply fresh vinyl decals before races, anticipating that their cars will likely make contact with the wall.

While the term originated at Darlington Raceway, drivers can earn similar wall marks at other NASCAR tracks. However, the Darlington Stripe remains the most famous and respected version of this racing battle scar.