Danica Patrick visits Darlington, South Carolina in support of Bojangles’ Southern 500

Darlington, South Carolina received a visit from NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Danica Patrick on Tuesday to help promote Darlington Raceway’s upcoming Bojangles’ Southern 500.

Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet, cooked lunch for the media at South of Pearl restaurant in Darlington and also paid a visit to the Darlington County School District to promote the upcoming Sept. 2-4 race weekend. South of Pearl is a traditional restaurant reminiscent of the southern charm that Darlington has brought to the Pee Dee region for decades.

“Darlington Raceway is a great track I’ve liked racing at for many years,” Patrick said. “I love to cook, so to prepare southern dishes for the media was something I really enjoyed. I was also proud to visit the Darlington County School District and support them with their back-to-school initiatives.”

Patrick cooked a southern-style lunch for the media that included pulled pork BBQ and ribs with a variety of salads and sides. She cooked with local chef Dale Barth, who owns and cooks at local establishments Red Bone Alley and Town Hall, which are two favorites in Florence.

Patrick also visited the school district where she helped pack food bags for the Carolina’s Kids organization. She also participated in a Q&A for fans that donated a backpack to the district.

Darlington Raceway PR