3/26/2026
Lake View Motor Speedway
South Carolina’s Biggest Weekend in Motorsports Just Got Bigger!
When you think of Labor Day Weekend and auto racing, you think of Darlington, South Carolina. Since 1950, the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway has been held annually on Labor Day Weekend, firmly establishing the holiday as South Carolina’s biggest weekend in motorsports.
But it doesn’t stop at Darlington.
The thrill and nostalgic magic of the Southern 500 runs deep into the grassroots of short track racing all across the state — especially in the Pee Dee region. This year, the legendary weekend kicks off in Timmonsville at Florence Motor Speedway with the Cook Out 225 CARS Tour race. Saturday sends asphalt fans back to Darlington for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, building momentum toward Sunday’s Southern 500.
But what about dirt racing?
Historically, the magic of Labor Day Weekend has reached far beyond the asphalt. When it hits the red clay, it can be unforgettable. While dirt racing hasn’t been a consistent staple of the holiday in recent years, South Carolina’s dirt racing history tells a much bigger story. In 1984, Mike Duvall won an NDRA Dirt Late Model event at Hartsville-Darlington Speedway that paid an incredible $54,000 to win with bonuses — that’s more than $167,000 in today’s dollars. It remains one of the largest Dirt Late Model paydays of all time. That moment alone stands as proof that Labor Day Weekend racing in South Carolina has always gone deeper than asphalt alone.
In 2026, Lake View Motor Speedway looks to continue that tradition in a major way.
On Saturday, September 5th, the Carolina Clash Super Late Model Series will visit Lake View for the annual Edwards Family Memorial, now paying $12,000 to win — the largest purse in the track’s history. The annual event honors one of the most successful families in all of Dirt Late Model racing. Jimmy Edwards Sr., "Hurricane" Hank Edwards, and Jimmy Edwards Jr. have made an everlasting impact on the sport. With over 74 years in motorsports, they have accumulated more than 2,800 wins and 80+ championships, cementing their name in Dirt Late Model history.
To make this year’s event even more special, Jimmy “Porky” Edwards Jr. has been inducted into the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame, recognizing his lasting impact on regional dirt racing and the legacy his family name carries in the sport.
With no other national dirt touring series competing that weekend, Lake View Motor Speedway becomes the destination for Dirt Late Model fans and drivers looking to be part of something meaningful on motorsports’ biggest weekend in the state.
And the weekend doesn’t end there.
On Sunday, while the Southern 500 takes center stage at Darlington, Carolina Clash competitors will head inland to Cherokee Speedway for the annual Hall of Fame Race and Mike Duvall Memorial, paying $5,000 to win. That’s more than $17,000 on the line across two days for the series during South Carolina’s most iconic racing weekend.
From Darlington’s storied asphalt to the red clay of Lake View, Labor Day Weekend in South Carolina isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s a tradition. It’s where history, tradition, and real competition come together, right here in the heart of the South. In 2026, that legacy continues louder than ever, proving that when the engines fire on Labor Day Weekend, you don’t have to leave home to race for big money and a place in motorsports history.
Submitted By: Dawson Miller
