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NASCAR: Darlington Raceway receives bomb threat, man arrested

By Asher Fair

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet, and William Byron, driver of the #24 HendrickAutoguard/CityChevrolet Throwback Chevrolet, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 01, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet, and William Byron, driver of the #24 HendrickAutoguard/CityChevrolet Throwback Chevrolet, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 01, 2019 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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A man has been arrested after threatening to bomb Darlington Raceway ahead of NASCAR’s return to action with a race at the track.

On Thursday, April 30, NASCAR confirmed a plan to return to racing by announcing a four-race Cup Series schedule, a two-race Xfinity Series schedule and a one-race Truck Series schedule over the course of an 11-day span at two tracks.

One of those tracks was the target of a bomb threat, which was received just three days before this announcement.

A man has now been arrested for phoning in threatening messages to Darlington Raceway back on Monday, April 27, according to the Darlington County Sheriff’s Investigators.

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The four-turn, 1.366-mile (2.198-kilometer) oval in Darlington, South Carolina is scheduled to host the first NASCAR race in 10 weeks this Sunday, May 17. This race, the The Real Heroes 400, is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. It is the fifth race of the Cup Series season.

The arrest warrant for Michael Donovan Avin stated that his message “described a possible explosive devise (sp.) and the results it may create to further his cause”, according to the Darlington Sheriff’s Office. Avin reportedly also phoned another Darlington County location, claiming to have access to 125 tons of bomb-making materials.

The 46-year-old Darlington man is currently being held W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center in Darlington. He is being held on charges of possession, threatened or attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction for an act of terrorism, not resulting in death.

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Earlier today, NASCAR released an additional return to racing schedule that runs through Sunday, June 21. There are scheduled to be nine Cup Series races, seven Xfinity Series races and three Truck Series races from now until then, starting with this Sunday’s event at “The Lady in Black”.

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