The late NASCAR rebel Tim Richmond tamed “The Lady in Black” in 1986.

While they say you can never quite do that, the Silver Fox David Pearson did a record 10 times.

Richmond, the flamboyant living and spectacular driver who died of complications from AIDS in 1989, won the Southern 500 for a fellow mullet-sporting Rick Hendricks at famous Darlington Raceway.

Today, Richmond and Pearson will be remembered for their drives at Darlington along with a group of other NASCAR greats who survived and won at the track “too tough to tame.”

It’s throwback time at Darlington with the Bojangles’ Southern 500 returning to its traditional Labor Day weekend date.

And with the Sprint Cup cars looking sharp in their retro paint schemes.

To top it off, Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett and son Dale Jarrett will call the race at some stage for NBC and dress in ’70s fashions, which will be priceless.

It appears Hendrick’s mullet days are well behind him, but we may see Jeff Gordon, who had a great one going in the ’90s, surprise us with a mullet wig.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the likes of Brad Keselowski, who will drive the No. 2 Miller High Life Ford, Joey Logano and A.J. Allmendinger do the same.

Darlington under lights will be spectacular, but the racing will be hard.

Thoughts of Darlington winners from yesteryear such as Pearson, Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts, Neil Bonnett, Benny Parsons, Joe Weatherly, Fred Lorenzen, LeeRoy Yarbrough, Cale Yarborough, Junior Johnson, Lake Speed, Dale Earnhardt, Buck Baker, Harry Gant and Bobby Allison, who swept Darlington in an AMC in 1975 for Roger Penske, will come flooding back to me.

The Lady in Black will put on a real show.

Catch her tonight.

If you possibly can.

Contact Mike Brudenell: mbrudenell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikebrudenell. Be sure that you follow Freep Sports on Twitter (@freepsports) and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

Races left before the Chase

Tonight: Bojangles’ Southern 500, Darlington.

Saturday: Federated Auto Parts 400, Richmond.

NASCAR TOP 10

Other drivers with wins: Carl Edwards (1, 14th), Kyle Busch (4, 29th).