End Of An Era At The Track

Kerry Tharp’s favorite thing about stock car racing is the people. The Darlington Raceway president said that’s what NASCAR is all about.

In the week before his last race before retirement, Tharp spent much of his time with the people. He handed out doughnuts and sandwiches to fans, shook hands with reporters he corralled for a decade and rode around the infield on his golf cart, waving like royalty. He even held a pet lizard.

Tharp announced his retirement in June. The Sept. 3 Cook Out Southern 500 marked his last race at the The Track to Tough to Tame, and kicked off NASCAR’s playoffs.

Pictured, Kerry Tharp, Josh Harris and Chip Wile stand at a press conference announcing Harris as the new track president at Darlington Raceway.

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