Darlington Raceway is a track that will challenge drivers and tempers – without any contact from another competitor. It’s the track itself that one must overcome this weekend as drivers try to stay off the wall and in front of the NASCAR Sprint Cup field.

So what are some key storylines to watch this weekend? We’ve got them here:
 

Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman both still seem a little steamed about their incidents at Richmond International Raceway, and others in their past. The two may not make contact at Darlington this weekend, but there's sure to be some fireworks between the pair as each talk about the wrecks and their relationship.

Staying off the wall at Darlington is so difficult that even the contact has earned a nickname. The Darlington Stripe, that shiny streak of missing paint on the side of one’s car and the correlating black mark on the wall, will mar many a run this Saturday night. It doesn’t take another competitor to push one into the barrier — just a moment of less-than-full concentration, or a car that just won’t handle quite right.

It takes a special driver to survive the fender-bending, aggression-making action at Darlington — and one look at the winners list proves it. Hall of Famers Pearson and Earnhardt top the list, with Jeff Gordon a close third overall. Can Gordon continue to show his dominance at the track too tough to tame?

First, Kyle is back to his winning ways. Second, Kurt is back to his sarcastic, ranting ones. The combination has both boys gaining headlines heading into Darlington. Adding fuel to Kurt’s frustration is the overwhelming success of his kid brother. Kurt has 22 career Cup wins, and Kyle notched No. 21 last weekend. Plus, Kyle has a lengthy list of victories in other series. Kurt may have that 2004 title to hold over Kyle’s head, but with records falling around him each season — and a future championship a solid possibility — it’s doubtful that '04 title really carries much heat in the comparison chats anymore.

AJ Allmendinger has been making up ground in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all season. Last Saturday, he notched a season-best seventh-place finish at Richmond International Raceway. Now, instead of looking at just a landmark season with Richard Petty Motorsports, he’s looking at a potential berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Allmendinger is 11th in the standings, one slot out of a guaranteed spot when the field is set after 26 races. Can he keep up the pace?

A NASCAR executive for decades, Jim Hunter is forever linked with the track he once presided over. Drivers, crews and media members will remember him this weekend, the first race at the track since he was lost last fall. A charity golf tournament was held in his honor, and the media center bears his name. Fans, too, were familiar with Hunter, whether they knew him or not, both through his quotes on major NASCAR issues and the things he helped shape in the sport.

A lot of people are pulling for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win these days, and not all are members of Junior Nation. He’s been putting together a strong season, and his Hendrick Motorsports team is blossoming under the tutelage of crew chief Steve Letarte. The key element of his increased fandom, though, is the fact that only two races remain before the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Earnhardt Jr. is not in the field as of now, which means he is probably leading the fan voting by a landslide. If he wins one of the two remaining races before that event, though, the door opens for another fan favorite to get voted into the show. For fans of other drivers also not in the field, an Earnhardt Jr. victory is suddenly more desirable.

As the weeks tick by, the list of those drivers deeper in the points takes on increased significance. While some have made up ground in recent weeks, the fact is only 15 drivers are within 96 points of leader Carl Edwards. The maximum points one can earn in a race is 48. Among those deeper in the field are 2010 runner-up Denny Hamlin, who sits 17th in the standings and 97 points out of the lead (37 out of the top 10). Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray are also beyond that group. For these teams, not only is gaining points crucial, but wins are taking on added significance as well, since NASCAR has opened up two wild-card spots that will be available to drivers with wins who are outside the top 10 but inside the top 20.

First, Martin Truex Jr. brings a revamped one to Darlington after a series of miscues in recent weeks cost him spots on the track. This year, crews seem to be bearing the weight of competition more heavily than ever before. Pit stops have changed, but teams still expect the speed to be there. Many times, pit road is the place where drivers can make up lost ground. Watch those guys work their magic at Darlington.

NASCAR may not race on Mother’s Day, but it comes awfully close. NASCAR is as much a family sport as there is, and that's usually clear at Darlington. This year, not only will the mothers of drivers be noted by fans, but a whole slate of new NASCAR moms will be present, as well as several drivers who have become fathers this season.