Darlington Raceway Named 2026 S.C. School Boards Association Champion for Public Education

Darlington Raceway has been named a 2026 Champion for Public Education by the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA), recognizing its longstanding commitment to supporting students, educators and families throughout Darlington County School District (DCSD).

The Champions for Public Education award honors individuals, organizations, and businesses whose contributions have significantly benefited public education in South Carolina.

Darlington Raceway is being recognized for its sustained partnership with DCSD and its efforts to create educational opportunities that connect students with academics, career exploration, and real-world experiences.

One of the Raceway’s most recent contributions is its partnership in DCSD’s Racing Towards Excellence initiative. The yearlong program brings fifth-grade Gifted and Talented students from across the district to the Darlington County Institute of Technology (DCIT) and Darlington Raceway for hands-on STEM learning. Students explore engineering, technology and the history and business of motorsports while designing and building their own remote-control race cars.

“We are honored to accept the 2026 Champion for Public Education award,” said Josh Harris, president of Darlington Raceway. “The Palmetto State’s educators are to be commended for providing opportunities for students to learn outside of the classroom setting. Darlington Raceway is proud to play a role in those efforts by hosting educational programs throughout the year at the track, exposing our next generation of leaders to opportunities to expand their knowledge.”

“Darlington Raceway has been an extraordinary partner to our schools because they understand that investing in public education is an investment in the future of our community,” said Matthew Ferguson, Ph.D., superintendent of Darlington County School District. “Whether it's helping fifth graders discover the excitement of engineering, introducing high school students to career opportunities or supporting our teachers and families, the Raceway consistently finds ways to make a difference. We're proud to see them receive this well-deserved recognition, and we're grateful for a partnership that helps us create stronger opportunities for each child.”

Its impact extends across grade levels and programs. Students in DCIT’s Sports and Entertainment Marketing program visit the track “Too Tough to Tame” to learn how large-scale sporting events are marketed and managed, while Auto Technology and Auto Collision students gain firsthand insight into the mechanics and engineering behind high-performance racing.

Darlington Raceway engages with eighth graders in the district through participation in ASCEND, a career exploration program through which those students visit local business and industry. For the past two years, Darlington Raceway has hosted ASCEND participants.

Darlington Raceway hosts The NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics Fun Day Festival for third graders in Darlington at the track during its spring NASCAR weekend. The initiative promotes healthy lifestyles of children in local racing communities through racing-themed lifestyle programming, which includes driver visits with the kids.

Darlington Raceway also has made a point of supporting educators and families. During Teacher Appreciation Week, the Raceway provides treats for educators across the district. It works with school social workers to sponsor families during the Christmas season and provides heavily discounted NASCAR event tickets for DCSD teachers and staff.

The Raceway has also created experiences recently for students, including visits from NASCAR drivers Cole Custer, Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, and Ross Chastain at DCIT. These experiences give students opportunities to meet industry professionals while reinforcing the value of education, hard work, and career preparation.

Through its continued collaboration with DCSD, Darlington Raceway demonstrates how a community institution can help strengthen public education by investing in students, educators and families. Its partnership provides learning experiences, opens doors to career possibilities, and helps build community pride throughout Darlington County.