Darlington - The Southern 500Kurt Busch slides through turn four in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson Sunday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15

By the time the Southern 500 began in Darlington, SC on Sunday I had already been at the track for nine hours and met my two deadlines on my first assignments covering a NASCAR event. Most of the day I spent exploring the infield and hanging out with race fans flying confederate flags. You can check out the video I produced and some more photos at The State Newspaper: ‘This is my tradition’: Confederate flags still fly at Darlington race.

I didn't have any assignments or deadlines for the race action photos - but I was there with a camera - and when in Rome...

It seemed like there were a billion caution flags and Carl Edwards didn't cross the finish line until near midnight. I thought about leaving a few times, but the opportunity to photograph a winner's circle kept me there. After which, I jogged back through pit row to the media building - edited and filed a photo to the paper of Edwards in the winners circle and packed up and made my way back to Columbia.

Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagHerman Ray (LEFT), Misty Allbright and Lance Kenyon tailgate from a vehicle rooftop Saturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. Following the June massacre in Charleston and the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds the traditional symbol for southern race fans continues to face scrutiny. 9/6/15 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagArchie Braxton holds a souvenir program from the 1976 Southern 500 Saturday afternoon in Darlington, South Carolina. Following the June massacre in Charleston and the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds the traditional symbol for southern race fans continues to face scrutiny. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagA group of flags fly from the infield Saturday afternoon before race time at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. Following the June massacre in Charleston and the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds the traditional symbol for southern race fans continues to face scrutiny. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagRace fans tailgate Saturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. Following the June massacre in Charleston and the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds the traditional symbol for southern race fans continues to face scrutiny. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagSaturday afternoon at the Southern 500 in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15 Darlington confederate flagCarl Edwards celebrates after winning the Southern 500 Sunday night in Darlington, South Carolina. 9/6/15