She's been called the Lady in Black, and it's not because she's fashionable.

Metaphorically speaking, the 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway has been compared more to a witch than an evening gown model. Instead of sexy curves, the unique egg-shaped oval has treacherous ones.

"It's a deal where you race the track all day long and you have to stay on your toes all day," said Sterling Marlin, who hopes to defend his Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 title Sunday. "You can't let your guard down because she'll jump out and get you."

The wicked track of the south has left more than one driver claiming this is the "Track Too Tough To Tame."

"You hear 'race the race track, race the race track,' and that is pretty much the case a lot of the time. But it goes further than that," said Kyle Petty, who will make his 650th career start this weekend. "You're not only racing the race track, you have to race and dodge all of the guys who forgot to race the racetrack. When everybody is working hard and concentrating and not losing focus, there is a pretty good race there. But all it takes is one guy tuning out for just a second and it all breaks loose."

Undoubtedly, this unpredictable style of racing contributes to exciting events. But it's Darlington's history that provides mystique.

The raceway opened in 1950 hosting the inaugural Southern 500 -- a Labor Day weekend event that continues today and is rivaled only by the Daytona 500 in terms of NASCAR prestige and tradition. Sunday's race will be the 100th at the granddaddy of superspeedways.

Within the world of sports there are several comparisons. Fenway Park and Lambeau field come to mind. Like those facilities, Darlington has tremendous historical value and charm -- but lacks modern amenities.

Two years ago during a news conference, Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed that one of the reasons Darlington was so difficult is because it's, "full of seashells." This was a reference to the asphalt mix, which as legend would have it, included crushed seashells. The track public relations department denies this.

	Even six-time Darlington winner Jeff Gordon knows the historic track can be unforgiving.

Still, despite being repaved in 1994, the surface remains abrasive, lending credence to Earnhardt's assertion and dramatically affecting the racing.

"Goodyear can bring any tire they want there, but the surface will still tear it up," Tony Stewart said. "It's not because of a lack of effort on Goodyear's part, it's just that Darlington has a very abrasive surface that's worn out. And anytime you have a track that's worn out like Darlington is; it's virtually impossible to bring a tire that is going to live."

A year ago, Stewart was caught up in a violent crash in Darlington's spring race that briefly knocked him unconscious and required immediate airlifting to a nearby hospital. But prior to that he led 27 laps and demonstrated what it takes to be competitive at the South Carolina track.

"The way the tires fall off and the way that you have to change your driving style to compensate for what the tires lack at the end of a run, you'll end up running different lines," Stewart said. "You've got to change your driving style each lap -- change where you're lifting, how much you're braking, how much you're on the throttle."

Because tire management is so difficult, track position becomes crucial. Last year, after changing engines in practice, Marlin was forced to start at the back. He charged his way to victory, in the process overcoming significant odds. Only five times in 99 Darlington races has a driver started worse than 15th and gone on to victory.

"It's a track where you almost need to be out front," Petty said. "The place is so tricky there isn't a perfect place to be. Probably the best place to be is in the lead two laps after a restart. That way you are in front of everybody else and the only mistakes you have to worry about are your own. Any place else at Darlington is the worst place to be.

"At times, it seems Darlington is stock car racing's answer to the steeplechase ... run hard, jump over something, dodge this or that, and get ready to go another lap. The track itself is a real obstacle."

Despite having six Darlington victories -- the most among active drivers -- Jeff Gordon agrees.

"It's still 'Too Tough to Tame,'" Gordon said. "You have to respect the track every single lap and take what it gives you. If you try and take more than it will allow, you can count on a 'black stripe' on the side of your car at the very least."