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Darlington stripe going ‘green,’ Turn 3 towers renamed after Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500

DARLINGTON, SC - SEPTEMBER 06: A detail view of skid marks on the SAFER barrier forming “The Darlington Stripe” seen following the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 6, 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images)

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The famed “Darlington stripe” is getting a “green” facelift for the looming race weekend at the track “Too Tough To Tame.”

Darlington Raceway has announced Turn 4 will be painted green for the Sept. 1-3 race weekend as part of sponsor activation with Pee Dee Electric Cooperative and state-owned utility Santee Cooper.

The track is using 100 percent renewable energy to generate electricity at the track for the Xfinity and Cup series races.

As part of the environmental awareness initiative, fans can sign up to win three laps in a pace car around the track on Sunday, Sept. 3, at www.DarlingtonGreenStripe.com.

Darlington has also announced it will be renaming its towers in Turn 3 after Dale Earnhardt Sr and Jr.

The renaming comes as the track will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Earnhardt Sr.'s 1987 Southern 500 win and Earnhardt Jr.'s final Cup start at the track.

Earnhardt Towers will feature graphics that depict memorable moments of Earnhardt Sr. and Earnhardt Jr.'s careers featured on the backside of each tower. The Earnhardt Towers name will also be displayed on the front of the towers facing the track.

Earnhardt Sr. won at Darlington nine times in his Cup career, including three times in the Southern 500.

The towers will be dedicated on the morning on Sept. 1 prior to Cup and Xfinity practice in a ceremony featuring track president Kerry Tharp and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner of JR Motorsports and daughter of Earnhardt Sr.

“Darlington Raceway is fortunate to have many of the sport’s legends honored throughout our property,” Tharp said in a press release. “We felt that it was fitting to honor Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for their positive impact on the sport and on the track Too Tough To Tame. Earnhardt Towers will forever celebrate and recognize their achievements and be a lasting landmark at our tradition-rich facility.”

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