The Southern 500 was traditionally held on Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
Darlington Raceway first hosted the Southern 500 in 1950, and the race became one of NASCAR’s most important early events. Its Labor Day weekend placement helped establish a strong association between the holiday and stock-car racing in the United States.
The race was moved away from its traditional Labor Day weekend date after the 2003 season. NASCAR later restored a Labor Day weekend event at Darlington, reinforcing the track’s historic connection with the holiday.
The Southern 500 is not the same race as the Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 is held at Daytona International Speedway and traditionally opens the NASCAR Cup Series season, while the Southern 500 is associated with Darlington’s distinctive egg-shaped track.