NASCAR & Auto Racing

Man arrested for threatening to bomb Darlington Raceway

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Ryan Blaney leads the field to the start the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will resume its season without fans starting May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. As NASCAR speeds back to the race track during the coronavirus pandemic the series has a heavy responsibility to set a safety standard that doesn’t slow the return of other sports. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Ryan Blaney leads the field to the start the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will resume its season without fans starting May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. As NASCAR speeds back to the race track during the coronavirus pandemic the series has a heavy responsibility to set a safety standard that doesn’t slow the return of other sports. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File) Terry Renna AP

A Darlington man was arrested after threatening to bomb Darlington Raceway, the track where NASCAR is expected to resume its season on Sunday following a two-month postponement due to the coronavirus.

Michael Donovan Avin, 46, was charged with possession, threatened or attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction for an act of terrorism following an investigation by the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, according to the arrest warrant.

The warrant states that Avin left phone messages at the Darlington Raceway on April 27, “describing a possible explosive device and the results it may create to further his cause.” Investigators also alleged that Avin indicated in a letter written to another location in Darlington County that he had access to 125 tons of bomb-making materials.

Avin is currently in custody at the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing while the case remains under investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Darlington Raceway and NASCAR declined to comment on the matter.

NASCAR is currently preparing to resume its official season at the 1.33-mile oval located in Darlington, S.C. Sunday’s Cup Series race marks the 116th Cup race hosted by Darlington Raceway in the series’ history, and will be the first of a two-race event at the speedway. The second Cup race at Darlington is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20. A NASCAR Xfinity race is also scheduled for next Tuesday.

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Alexandra Andrejev
The Charlotte Observer
NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription
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