Darlington Raceway joins Airbnb NASCAR partnership

Darlington Raceway is one of five NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports racetracks to join a first-of-its-kind partnership that makes Airbnb the official lodging partner for those tracks during the 2027 racing season.

Airbnb and NASCAR made the announcement today, May 12, at the State House in alongside Darlington Raceway leadership and South Carolina elected officials.

During the 2027 NASCAR season, Airbnb listings will be displayed directly on the websites of Bristol Motor Speedway, Darlington Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway, giving fans a way to discover accommodations close to the track, especially for families and groups traveling together, according to a news release.

The partnership with these racetracks reflects a shared commitment to growing the sport, supporting the small towns that have shaped its history, and ensuring fans can experience race weekend at every level, the release stated.

“Big events have been part of Airbnb’s DNA since day one, and there are few events more deeply woven into the fabric of American communities than NASCAR,” Adam Alfandary, head of U.S. East Business for Airbnb, said in the release. “The racetracks in this partnership sit in towns where hotel rooms are scarce but the welcome runs deep, especially places like Darlington, Talladega and North Wilkesboro, where neighbors have been opening their doors to race fans for generations. This partnership puts locals at the front of the pack and helps communities that make race weekends possible share directly in the economic opportunity it creates.”

Nationally, 63% of U.S. Census tracts are home to Airbnb listings but no hotels. Race communities like Darlington are exactly the kind of places where short-term rentals are often the only meaningful accommodation option, the company says.

“Darlington Raceway is one of the crown jewels of American motorsports, and the Southern 500 is a tradition unlike any other,” State Rep. Cody Mitchel (R-Hartsville), said in the release. “This partnership is going to bring more fans through the doors of one of our most iconic venues, and when they arrive, they’ll find homes and hosts in Darlington ready to welcome them. That’s good for race fans, and it’s good for the people of South Carolina.”

By connecting fans to Airbnb listings directly through participating racetrack websites, the partnership creates a clear pathway for everyday Americans to share their homes, showcase their hometowns, and earn supplemental income during the busiest weeks of the racing calendar — while ensuring more of the economic benefit of race weekend flows to the communities and small businesses that make it possible, Airbnb says. In 2025, guests on Airbnb spent approximately $200 per person, per day when traveling on Airbnb, not including the cost of their listing.

“Our NASCAR racetracks sit at the center of some of the most passionate fan experiences in sports because they are deeply rooted in the culture and communities they call home. Through our partnership with Airbnb at Darlington, Martinsville and Talladega, we’re making it easier for fans to plan their race weekend and stay closer to the action,” T.R. Stape, vice president of track sales for NASCAR, said in the release. “Together, we’re helping extend the impact of our events beyond the track and into the surrounding communities that play such an important role in every race weekend.”