Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site - Talladega Superspeedway News Archive

TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
NEWS/RUMORS ARCHIVE

Websites:
www.talladegasuperspeedway.com

Talladega Reduces Sprint Cup Series Tickets To $40: Talladega Superspeedway just gave its fans another reason to help celebrate its 40th Anniversary, by reducing more than 20,000 Sprint Cup Series tickets to only $40 each. Beginning January 8, tickets in the Gadsden and Lincoln grandstands will be available at this phenomenal low price for both the April 26 Aaron’s 499 and the Nov.1 AMP Energy 500 Sprint Cup Series races. “We recognize the difficult economic conditions our fans are facing, so to help we are thrilled to offer our fans a $40 ticket to a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “In 40 years of racing, no other racetrack has matched Talladega Superspeedway for sheer speed or thrilling competition.” The Gadsden and Lincoln Grandstand tickets normally retail for $70 and $75 respectively, creating a savings of more than 40% for race fans. In addition to a new lower ticket price, fans attending the April 24 - 26 Aaron’s Dream Weekend and the Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 AMP Energy 500 Weekend will find that some of the best things at Talladega are still FREE. With more than 15,000 free campsites in three overnight parks, free day parking on track property and a free Kid’s Zone in the display area, Talladega Superspeedway is making life easy for race fans during tough economic times. For tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.(TSS PR)(1-9-2009)

Talladega promotes George Dennis to Senior Director of Sales and Marketing: Talladega Superspeedway announced the promotion of George Dennis to Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. Dennis previously served as the Director of Sales and Marketing at the track since his hiring on April 1, 2002. Dennis came to Talladega Superspeedway after previous experience as the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Birmingham Barons baseball team and Special Events Coordinator for The Birmingham News. He is a 1996 graduate from Samford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. For information on tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS PR)(12-8-2008)

Talladega Superspeedway Announces $99 All-You-Can-Eat Deal: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that the popular All-You-Can-Eat package for the Allison Grandstands returns in 2009 for the April 24-26 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. The $99 package includes a reserved seat in the Allison Grandstand for the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race, Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and a Pre-race Pit Pass for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 with all-you-can-eat vouchers for both days. The all-you-can-eat voucher is valid from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Each trip to the concession stand allows a voucher holder to receive a maximum of 2 sandwiches (2 hotdogs or 2 hamburgers or 1 of each), 2 bags of chips and 2 soft drinks. Fans wanting to take advantage of this great deal should act soon as quantities are limited. For information on tickets, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS PR)(11-10-2008)

Below yellow line at Daytona/Talladega OK on last lap? NO UPDATE 3: This was posted back in Feb 2007 about the Truck Series race at Daytona. The 'rule' was metnioned at the end of ABC's broadcast, but NASCAR ruled otherwise.
Drivers throughout the Craftsman Truck Series garage were still talking about last week's [Feb 2007] three-wide finish at Daytona International Speedway. While they admitted the finish was good for television, most wondered why NASCAR allowed Johnny Benson to drive below the yellow line - Daytona's out of bounds line - to jump from third to second in the final 200 yards. Benson wasn't penalized because "if you can see the checkered flag on the last lap, anything goes," according to NASCAR spokesman Owen Kearns.(Augusta Chronicle)(2-24-2007/10-5-2008), no word on the exact ruling, problem with the ruling? take it up with NASCAR, contact info on my Racing FAQ/Contact NASCAR page.
from NASCAR: Post-Race Comments from NASCAR Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Hunter Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 5, "You cannot improve your position anytime you go below the yellow line. In our judgment, he (Regan Smith) improved his position and the penalty for that is a pass thru, so he was moved back to the tail end of the longest line or 18th position. At the driver's meeting, we clearly state that you cannot improve your position by going below the yellow line. We do not feel he was forced below the yellow line. Anytime you get into a situation like this, there are going to be two different opinions. We respect Regan's view, but we made the call, we think it's the right call and the finish is final. NASCAR has to maintain some kind of control – and that's the reason we say, you cannot advance your position by going below the yellow line. If he had not improved his position, he probably would have been awarded 2nd place."(NASCAR)(10-5-2008)
UPDATE: Smith and even Johnson, the two-time defending champion, said after the race they thought that the rules were not as tight coming to the finish line. A NASCAR spokesman stated publicly after a controversial truck race finish at Daytona in February 2007 that such was the case. Hunter, speaking for NASCAR on Sunday, said that was not true. "From what the officials tell me, it was pretty black and white,'' Hunter said of the decision. "You can't advance your position. It doesn't matter how you get there. It's a no-no.''(Roanoke Times)
UPDATE 2: Talladega Drivers Meeting: THIS IS YOUR WARNING DRIVERS: Race Director -David Hoots told the drivers and crew chief’s today “This is your warning. If you race below the yellow line and in the judgement of NASCAR you advance your position, you will be black flagged. If, in NASAR’s judgement you force someone below the yellow line in an effort to stop him from passing you , you may be black flagged” Hoots added: “Aggressive driving zones..first off don’t place yourself in position of opening up in our judgement of what’s aggressive. It’s considered all the way around the race track with much emphasis and observation placed on the turns and in the tri-oval. If you think that you are getting ready to go over being aggressive back off and let’s get to the end of the race." Hoots also warned the group about speeding. “I would remind you all we had numerous speeding penalties yesterday at the entrance and exits and yellow line to yellow line,” he said. NO Questions: When asked by Hoots if there were any questions - the room of drivers and crew chiefs was silent.(Dialed in/Claire B. Lang)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR Rule Clarification Regarding Passing At Daytona International Speedway And Talladega Superspeedway: At yesterday's Drivers Meeting, NASCAR reiterated the rule about passing under the yellow line and provided the same information to all drivers and crew chiefs in a hand out, as we've done in past Daytona and Talladega races. The verbatim language is: "This is your warning: race above the yellow line. If, in NASCAR'S judgment, you go below the yellow line to improve your position, you will be black-flagged. If in NASCAR's judgment you force someone below the yellow line (in an effort to stop him from passing you), you may be black-flagged."
"During the last lap of yesterday's race at Talladega Superspeedway the driver of the #01 violated NASCAR policy by driving under the yellow line to improve his position," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. "In NASCAR's opinion he was not forced below the yellow line. NASCAR correctly took immediate action to enforce the policy by penalizing the #01 and scoring the #20 as the race winner."
Helton continued, "Since the end of the race there has been some confusion as to what is allowable during the last lap at Daytona and Talladega. To be clear, as we go forward, there will be no passing under the yellow line at any time during NASCAR races at Daytona or Talladega, period. This includes any passing below the yellow line near the start/finish line on the final lap," said Helton.(NASCAR PR)(10-6-2008)

Talladega Grand Marshals: Pepsi employees who serve with the Army National Guard; Antonio Clements, John Foster, Richard Stuckey, Daniel Harris, Demetrius Blackmon, Reginald Thomas, Kenneth Goodwin and Raymond Castleberry, will serve as the Grand Marshals for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The AMP Energy 500 will be Talladega’s 40th fall race.(TSS PR)(10-2-2008)

John Berry To Perform at Talladega Superspeedway: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that country music star John Berry will perform the national anthem prior to the Mountain Dew 250 Fueled by Winn Dixie on Oct. 4th and “God Bless America” prior the AMP Energy 500 on Oct. 5th. Tickets to the AMP Energy 500 are available by visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS PR)(9-30-2008)

Golfer to Serve As Honorary Starter at Talladega: Fresh off a rousing victory in the Ryder Cup, the first for America since 1999, Boo Weekley has been tabbed as the Honorary Starter for the AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 5th. Over the course of the Ryder Cup weekend, Weekley went an impressive 2-0-1, with a team victory in Saturday Fourballs competition with teammate JB Holmes and a Singles victory over Oliver Wilson on Sunday. Weekley is currently ranked 17th on the PGA Tour Money list and owns two career PGA Tour victories in addition to his team victory in the Ryder Cup (2007 & 2008 Verizon Heritage). Tickets to the AMP Energy 500 are available by visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.(TSS PR)(9-25-2008)

Reserved Overnight Parking Still Available at Talladega: Overnight parking is still available in several of Talladega Superspeedway’s reserved overnight parks, including the all-reserved infield. “We do have overnight parking spaces available for guests wanting to spend the entire weekend at the track,” explained Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. “This is a great opportunity for race fans from as close as Birmingham to cut down on back and forth travel expenses by camping out with friends and family at Talladega Superspeedway.“ Staying in an overnight park can be as simple as setting up a tent, or as elaborate as getting a group together and sharing an RV. All reserved overnight parks outside the track open at 8 a.m. the Tuesday of race week (Sept. 30) and must be cleared by 11 a.m. Monday following the race. Guests will be required to show their race tickets and parking pass prior to entry and a valid ticket must be shown each time for admission. Reserved overnight parks with availability include:
* Yellow Reserved Infield Overnight Park – Located north of Talladega Boulevard in the infield, this overnight park has convenient access to the infield shower house and is for automobile and tent camping only. Price for a two-night stay is $250 and includes two infield admissions.
* Champions Corner – Located just outside Turn 1, this overnight has a strict no-alcohol policy for park residents and guests. Each space features water hookups, gravel parking pads and morning newspaper delivery to your doorstep. Price per spot $280.
* East Park – Located just off Speedway Blvd, this overnight park is for self-contained RVs and pull behinds only. Price per spot $110.
For more information on the reserved overnight parks or tickets for the upcoming AMP Energy 500 weekend, guests should call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342) or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(9-17-2008)

2009 Talladega Tix on Sale: Tickets to the new triple-header Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway go on sale this Saturday, August 23rd. The April 24- 26 Dream Weekend is enhanced in 2009 by the addition of a Friday ARCA RE/MAX Series event. The 2009 Aaron's Dream Weekend features The Birmingham News Qualifying for the Nationwide Series, followed by the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 race on Friday, April 24. On Saturday, April 25, fans will see The Birmingham News Qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series, followed by the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. On Sunday, April 26, the greatest drivers in the world face off in the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup Series race. Tickets are still available for the upcoming Oct. 3-5 AMP Energy 500 Weekend. The AMP Energy 500 is Race Number Four in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and a critical factor in determining the 2008 Sprint Cup Series champion. For more information on tickets to Talladega Superspeedway, please visit talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS PR)(8-23-2008)

2009 Cup Schedule Announced, 4 "off" weeks: NASCAR announced today its national series schedules for the 2009 season, which features realigned dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series. In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series there will be a three-way date swap between Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) and Talladega Superspeedway.
• Atlanta’s second 2009 race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, taking the Labor Day weekend slot now held by Auto Club Speedway.
• Auto Club Speedway’s second race will be Sunday, Oct. 11 – the fourth week of the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” a slot formerly held by Talladega.
• Talladega’s second event will move to Sunday, Nov. 1, making it the seventh Chase event – the slot formerly held by Atlanta.
“The 2009 schedule reflects realigned dates that are good opportunities for everyone involved in our sport – fans, sponsors, tracks and teams," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. The season begins with a tripleheader weekend at Daytona International Speedway capped by the running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15. In addition to that season-opening event for the Sprint Cup Series, the Truck Series starts its season on Friday night, Feb. 13, followed the next afternoon by the Nationwide Series opener. For all three series, the season will conclude with another tripleheader weekend, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20-22.
Other key NASCAR Sprint Cup dates in 2009:
• The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona – a non-points event – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7.
• On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 12, Richmond International Raceway will again host the “Chase cut-off” race, affording the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for NASCAR’s championship playoffs.
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the first races in both the “Race to the Chase” (Sunday, June 28) and the Chase (Sunday, Sept. 20).
There also will be an additional off-week for NASCAR’s premier series in 2009, prior to the Labor Day weekend event, giving teams a final break before a 12-week stretch that will end the season. Because of the way the calendar falls, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will have a total of four off-weeks during the 2009 season.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have a 35-race schedule. Changes from this year include a new event at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1, replacing Mexico City; a switch of the Atlanta Motor Speedway event from March to September; and moving the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event in Montreal to Sunday, Aug. 30.
The NASCAR Truck Series in 2009 again will have 25 races, with one realigned date: The series’ late-season race at Atlanta will be replaced by a night event at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, Aug. 28.(NASCAR PR)(8-19-2008)

Fans Vote Bobby Labonte, Rex White Into Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame: The votes are in for the 2008 Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame honorees. Bobby Labonte won by the closest margin in history for active driver, while Rex White won the inactive driver category by a landslide. Labonte and White will be enshrined to the Walk of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 4, during the AMP Energy 500 weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame in downtown Talladega is both a focal point saluting NASCAR's greatest names and a tribute to one of racing's brightest stars - the late Davey Allison. Developed in 1994, the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame has inducted one active driver and up to two inactive drivers since 1995 based on the fans' vote chosen from a ballot of nominees selected by strict guidelines. White, 78, of Fayetteville, Georgia, will be inducted as this year's inactive driver. White won the 1960 NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) championship as a driver/owner, recording six wins and 35 top 10s in 41 starts. He is one of just six driver/owners in history to win a series championship. Fan voting for the 2008 Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame began on April 15. In addition to Labonte, active driver nominees this year included: Michael Waltrip, Jeff Burton, Morgan Shepherd, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Robby Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader and Carl Edwards. White competed against inactive drivers, Jim Paschal, Bill Rexford, Jack Smith and Speedy Thompson. In the park, Davey Allison is remembered with a large marble monument, while drivers inducted into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame have bronze plaques placed around the park, accessible by walkways that form the shape of Talladega Superspeedway. For additional information, visit talladegawalk.com.(TSS PR)(7-25-2008)

Buy a Talladega Suite Ticket, Get a Gas Card: Talladega Superspeedway is helping fans get to the track. With the purchase of an "Individual Suite Package," fans will receive a $45 gas card, allowing them to sit back and relax in luxury with extra bills in their wallet. With the purchase of an individual suite package, guests will enjoy: Pass into the suite Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 1 Suite/Hospitality parking pass per two Suite passes; Pre-Race pit passes (Saturday and Sunday only; schedule & weather permitting) allowing guests access to pit road until 1 hour prior to track activity; Sunday souvenir programs; Saturday Event Souvenir; Friday Event Souvenir . Each Luxury Suite Package is $800 and available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-24-2008)

Experience Talladega Superspeedway - Stay All Week: Don't miss a minute of all the fun and excitement of a race week at Talladega Superspeedway by making plans to stay on track property in one of the many overnight parks! Reservations run as low as $75 for a Tuesday - Monday stay during the AMP Energy 500 race week. Staying in an overnight park can be as simple as setting up a tent, or as elaborate as getting a group together and sharing an RV. All reserved overnight parks outside the track open at 8 a.m. the Tuesday of race week (Sept. 30) and must be cleared by 11 a.m. Monday following the race. For more information on the reserved overnight parks or tickets for the upcoming AMP Energy 500 weekend, guests should call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-21-2008)

Talladega Superspeedway Media Center Undergoing Facelift: When racing returns to Talladega Superspeedway for the October 3-5 AMP Energy 500 Weekend, the media will be pleased to find that the Ken Patterson Infield Media Center has undergone significant changes to its interior. Contractors are currently in the process of hanging and painting drywall, with new carpet and tile coming soon. "The changes we are making will give the Media Center a fresh new look," said Kristi King, Talladega Superspeedway Senior Director of Communications and Consumer Marketing. "I'm sure our friends in the media will be excited to find a more comfortable work environment awaiting them on Oct.3rd." Tickets are available at talladegasuperspeedway.com or 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS PR)(6-25-2008)

TSS Announces Promotion of Kristi King: Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey announced that Kristi R. King has been promoted to Senior Director of Communications and Consumer Marketing. Since joining TSS in 2004, King has played an integral role in expanding national media exposure as well as targeting and exploring new areas of consumer marketing. "I am excited to announce the promotion of one of our long-time employees - Kristi King," said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey. "Kristi's hard work and dedication is certainly one of her finest qualities and we feel this promotion will allow her to continue the great job she has been doing as well as expand and utilize her creativity to explore new consumer marketing opportunities." A 14-year veteran in the motorsports industry, King previously held the position of Director of Public Relations. Prior to joining TSS, King served as Director of Public Relations for North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham from 1994 - 2002 and Director of Public Relations and Marketing from 2002 - 2004 before transferring to TSS in June 2004. A 1994 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, King and husband David have a 3 month old son, Will, and reside in Riverside. In addition to King's promotion, Humphrey announced new title changes in the marketing and ticketing departments. George Dennis is now Director of Sales and Marketing and Todd Pryor is Director of Ticketing and Relationship Marketing.(TSS PR)(6-16-2008)

TSS President Rick Humphrey Honored: Rick Humphrey, President of Talladega Superspeedway, has been named a recipient of the Clarence L. Pugh Sr. Distinguished Alumnus Award by his alma mater Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C. The Clarence L. Pugh Distinguished Alumnus Award is the Lenoir-Rhyne College Alumni Association's highest award and is presented annually to that alumnus/a who has achieved great prominence in his or her field of endeavor. Humphrey is a 14-year veteran in the motorsports industry and has served as President of Talladega Superspeedway since July 2007. As President, he oversees a staff of 50 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 2.66-mile, 3,000 plus acre complex. In addition to his duties as President, Humphrey serves as Executive Director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.(TSS PR)(5-28-2008)

California race to move rumor returns: Speculation is mounting that NASCAR's Labor Day race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana could be moved to October, starting next year. The track has struggled to sell all of its 92,000 seats on Labor Day weekend partly because of the weekend's typically hot temperatures, and has petitioned NASCAR for another date. One proposal being weighed is a three-track swap, in which Fontana would receive Talladega Superspeedway's date in October, Atlanta Motor Speedway would get the Labor Day race and Talladega would receive Atlanta's fall date in October. That would put the California race in the middle of the 10-race Chase for the Cup that decides NASCAR's premier championship. But NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the sanctioning body is still meeting with officials for all tracks and that next year's schedule "is still being determined." NASCAR hopes to announce the schedule by September, he added. Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker said "nothing has been decided yet" and that the three-track swap idea "is one of several scenarios that I have heard are being discussed." She also said "it's possible that [Labor Day] date will remain the same" next year but is hopeful of moving the race. "Everyone is in agreement that a later date for the second [Fontana] race is in the best interests of the sport," Zucker said. Her track also stages a Cup race in late February.(Los Angeles Times)(5-25-2008)

On Sale Now - AMP Energy 500 Event Weekend Tickets: Tickets to the October 3-5 AMP Energy 500 event weekend are on sale now. The AMP Energy 500 event weekend features 1,000 miles of racing at Talladega Superspeedway with the ARCA Series 250 on Friday, the Craftsman Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 on Saturday and the Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500, race number four in the in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, on Sunday. Tickets are available at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(5-16-2008)

Aaron's 499 ticket sales off 8 to 10%: The sale of tickets for Sunday's Aaron's 499 are off about 8% to 10% from last year, Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey said Friday. That's pretty much in line with what other NASCAR tracks are seeing this season as record gas prices are forcing some fans to stay home.(Alabama Live)
Children age 11 and younger will be admitted free of charge with a ticketed adult in the general admission grandstands area for all of Saturday’s activities, including The Birmingham News Qualifying for the Aaron’s 499 Sprint Cup Series race and the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Tickets are still available to the Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, which includes The Birmingham News Qualifying on Friday, the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday and the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday. Tickets may be ordered by calling 1-877- Go2-DEGA or going to talladegasuperspeedway.com.(4-26-2008)

Taylor Hicks To Perform National Anthem at Talladega: Taylor Hicks, who won the fifth-season of the American Idol competition, will sing the National Anthem prior to the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, April 27 at Talladega Superspeedway. The 31-year-old Hicks, born in nearby Birmingham Ala. and raised in Hoover, captured more than 63 million votes to win the fifth season of American Idol, which has a tradition of producing today's greatest singing stars. After winning the fifth season of American Idol in 2005, Hicks' first single "Do I Make You Proud" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard's Hot 100, the Single Sales chart and the Pop 100 with more than 190,000 copies sold in its first week of release. His self-titled major-label debut album arrived in late 2006 and "Live at the Workplay Theatre," a concert album recorded in summer 2006, was released in 2007. Tickets are still available for the Aaron's Dream Weekend by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS)(4-18-2008)

Toby Lightman To Perform Prior To Aaron's 499: NASCAR fans at Talladega Superspeedway are in for a treat when they recognize the familiar voice of Toby Lightman as she performs prior to the Aaron's 499. Lightman sings the new musical opening on all NASCAR on FOX network television broadcasts, "NASCAR Love (Let's Go Racing)". Tickets are still available for the Aaron's Dream Weekend by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342) or visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS)(4-14-2008)

Talladega helping guests by Expanding Free Overnight Parks: In an effort to help ease the cost of race fans wanting to attend the Aaron's Dream Weekend next month, Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that the track is expanding its free overnight parks. The Aaron's Dream weekend is scheduled for April 25-27. Staying in an overnight park can be as simple as setting up a tent, or as elaborate as getting a group together and sharing an RV. All free overnight parks open at 8 a.m. the Tuesday of race week (April 22) and must be cleared by 11 a.m. Monday following the race. Guests wanting to stay in the parks will be required to show their race tickets prior to entry and a valid ticket must be shown each time for admission. For more information on the free overnight parks or tickets for the upcoming Aaron's Dream Weekend, guests should call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342)(TSS PR)(3-30-2008)

Talladega announces All-You-Can-Eat Package: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that they are offering an all-you-can-eat package for the Allison Grandstand. The $80 package includes a reserved seat in the Allison Grandstand for the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race and Aaron's 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with all-you-can-eat vouchers for both days! The all-you-can-eat voucher is valid from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Each trip to the concession stand allows a voucher holder to receive a maximum of 2 sandwiches (2 hotdogs or 2 hamburgers or 1 of each), 2 bags of chips and 2 soft drinks. Guests who purchase the all-you-can-eat-package also have the opportunity to add a Pre-race Pit Pass to their order for only $15! The Pre-race Pit Pass allows access onto the track from 8 a.m. until one hour before the start of the Aaron's 499 on Sunday only. A tram will shuttle guests from the front of the Allison Grandstand to pit road. Pit road access is subject to change pending NASCAR rules and subject to weather and time permitting. To find more information on the all-you-can-eat package at Talladega Superspeedway, fans are encouraged to visit the website at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(3-9-2008)

Get A "Suite" Seat at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that race fans will have the opportunity to watch a full weekend of racing from the comfort of a luxury suite with the "Individual Suite Package." The Individual Suite Package includes:
* Pass into the suite Friday, Saturday and Sunday
* 1 Suite/Hospitality parking pass per two Suite passes
* Pre-Race pit passes (Saturday and Sunday only; schedule & weather permitting) allowing guests access to pit road until 1 hour prior to track activity
* Sunday souvenir programs
* Saturday Event Souvenir
* Friday Event Souvenir
Inside the luxury suite, guests will find:
* Closed-circuit televisions
* Telephone service
* Security guard
* Private restroom
* Catering for continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and beverages (soda, water and beer)
* Cash bar available
Each Luxury Suite Package is $800 and available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342).(TSS PR)(3-2-2008)

Talladega Opens New Infield Overnight Park: In response to strong demand from race fans wanting more opportunities to stay overnight in Talladega Superspeedway's infield, track officials announced today the opening of the Orange Infield RV Park. The Orange Infield RV Park is a reserved overnight park with space for 180 RVs. The all-reserved infield typically sells out well in advance of the race, so guests are encouraged to reserve their spaces early. The park is located on the west side of Talladega Boulevard, between the Yellow and Red Zones. The Orange Infield RV Park package is $330 and includes 2 infield admissions and a reserved RV site. The sites are dry, so guests staying in the park should plan on providing their own power and water. For more information on staying overnight in any of Talladega Superspeedway's overnight parks, guests should call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-26-2008)

Chamber of Commerce Names Talladega Superspeedway Large Business of the Year: The Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce named Talladega Superspeedway Large Business of the Year during its annual celebration luncheon. Track Public Relations Director Kristi King was also named Outstanding Chamber Member at the event. 2007 season was a record for Talladega Superspeedway in terms of donations and charitable contributions. Race weekend work, provided during the track's two major event weekends by volunteers from various service groups throughout the region, produced more than $500,000 to be shared by the respective organizations. Talladega Superspeedway also hosted Race Fever Night to benefit the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Foundation. The largest source of unrestricted funds for the AIDB Foundation, the event raised over $200,000. To close out the year, the track again partnered with WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM to raise over $15,000 to provide Christmas gifts to less fortunate children throughout the track's surrounding region.(Talladega PR)(1-18-2008)

Tickets On Sale Now For International Motorsports Hall Of Fame Ceremony: Tickets are on sale now for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and officials are encouraging individuals and businesses alike to reserve their tickets early. This year’s black-tie ceremony set for Thursday, April 24th, consists of a reception, banquet and awards ceremony. This year, the induction class features: Land Speed Record breaker Art Arfons, NASCAR Champion Robert “Red” Byron, drag racing guru Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, car fabricator Frank Kurtis, NASCAR car owner and driver Everett “Cotton” Owens and Winston promoter Ralph Seagraves. Additionally, 2007 Driver of the Year and two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson will be honored for his accomplishments. Individual tickets for the evening are $125 and a table of eight may be reserved for $1,000. Tickets and tables are available by calling 1-256-362-5002.(TSS PR)(1-17-2008)

AMP Energy to Sponsor fall Talladega race: Leaders from Pepsi-Cola North America joined with Talladega Superspeedway to announce that beginning in 2008, the fall Sprint Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway will be known as the AMP Energy 500. Mountain Dew AMP Energy drink is blasting onto the NASCAR scene in 2008 with several high profile sponsorships. In addition to the race at Talladega Superspeedway, Pepsi-Cola North America announced last year that Mountain Dew AMP Energy will be a lead sponsor of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s #88 Mountain Dew AMP/National Guard Chevy in the Sprint Cup Series. Mountain Dew is no stranger to the NASCAR scene, having found a winning formula as lead sponsor of Darrell Waltrip's championship-winning Cup entries in 1981 and 1982 and most recently, having sponsored the 2007 Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.(TSS PR)(1-5-2008)

Talladega Keeps Its Crown As The King of Speed and Competition: Below is a list of the top-five race speeds recorded at the tracks and the driver that recorded that speed during competition. Only the fastest driver counts for each race during point races.
Fastest Driver of Race for 2007 Sprint Cup:
1. 4/29 Talladega, #31-Jeff Burton, 195.704 mph
2. 10/7 Talladega, #26-Jamie McMurray, 192.904 mph
3. 2/18 Daytona, #38-David Gilliland, 185.229 mph
4. 7/7 Daytona, #2-Kurt Busch, 183.214 mph
5. 2/25 California, #1-Martin Truex Jr, 178.277 mph
Top 5 Races in Green Flag Passes for 2007 Sprint Cup
1. 4/29 Talladega - 16,808
2. 10/7 Talladega - 7,979
3. 2/18 Daytona - 7,786
4. 7/7 Daytona - 5,220
5. 9/2 California - 3,753
Talladega Superspeedway Tickets are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342).(TSS PR)(1-5-2008)

Bake A Christmas 2007 Raises More Than $15,000 For Area Children: Talladega Superspeedway officials joined the staff of local radio station WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM Friday, Dec. 14 to raise more than $15,000 during Bake A Christmas 2007, an annual fundraiser that generates money used to provide Christmas gifts to less fortunate children throughout the track's surrounding region. This year's Bake A Christmas marks the eleventh consecutive year that the radio station and track have paired for this event, and both were pleased that this year's broadcast efforts exceeded last year's totals by over $2,000.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(12-26-2007)

Tickets Still Available For Talladega races: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that tickets are still available for the Oct. 5-7 UAW-Ford 500 Event Weekend, including $60 two-day tickets that feature admission to the Mountain Dew 250 Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday and the UAW-Ford 500 Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday. The entire weekend feature's 1,000 miles of racing at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track and has quickly grown into one of the most exciting weekends on the NASCAR circuit. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342).(TSS PR)(9-28-2007)

Tickets For 2008 April race at Talladega on Sale Sept. 1: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that tickets for the 2008 Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, set for April 25 - 27, will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 1. Aaron's Dream Weekend on-track action kicks off on Friday, April 25 with Sprint Cup Series practice and The Birmingham News Qualifying for the Busch Series. General admission grandstand seats for Friday's activities are only $15, with kids age 11 and younger admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult. On Saturday, April 26, Sprint Cup Series drivers will vie for the top starting position in Sunday's Aaron's 499 during The Birmingham News Qualifying, followed by the always-exciting Aaron's 312 Busch Series race. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge on Saturday also, when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Then on Sunday, April 27, prepare to be dazzled by the most spectacularly competitive racing on the circuit in the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup Series race. For only $60, fans can experience the excitement of both the Aaron's 312 on Saturday and the Aaron's 499 on Sunday from the Allison Grandstand located on the east side of the track just outside of turn two. Talladega Superspeedway offers a variety of other 2-day packages, as well as single-day event tickets for Saturday and Sunday. Call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office for more information or to order at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-28-2007)

Talladega Ticket Holders to Get Sneak Peek at COT Test: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that ticket holders for the UAW Ford-500 will be able to view the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow test session on Monday, September 10 from the grandstands. The UAW Ford-500 marks the first superspeedway race for the Car of Tomorrow. Those attending the test session should enter the speedway from the main entrance on Speedway Blvd. From there, traffic will be directed to a parking area. Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and guests will need to show their tickets at the gate for entrance into the grandstands. Ticket holders who have purchased tickets yet have not received their tickets and wish to attend the test session should stop by the ticket office on the day of the event to receive an admission voucher. Fans who have not yet purchased tickets can still see the test session by purchasing tickets on the day of testing. To order tickets by phone, guests can call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342).(TSS PR)(8-13-2007)

Talladega Names New PR Manager: Talladega Superspeedway has hired Andrew Smith as Public Relations Manager. Smith, a native of Enterprise, AL and 2005 graduate of UAB, returns to Alabama having previously served as Corporate Sales Executive at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. This also marks Smith's return to Talladega, where he interned in the Public Relations department through much of 2005. Smith's responsibilities at Talladega will include overseeing the media center and press box during event weekends, creating and distributing press materials and assisting the director of public relations as a liaison between drivers and track activities. Smith will report to Director of Public Relations Kristi R. King.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-14-2007)

ISC promotes Talladega Execs: Rick Humphrey has been named President of Talladega Superspeedway and Grant Lynch has been appointed Senior Vice President of Business Operations for International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Humphrey, who has served as Vice President & General Manager of the 2.66-mile superspeedway since 2002, will assume his duties immediately. Lynch has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Business Operations for ISC, the parent company of Talladega Superspeedway. Lynch most recently served and President of Talladega Superspeedway and Vice President of ISC, where has held both positions since 1993. Lynch's new corporate duties will include overseeing numerous ISC subsidiaries, including the company's 13 wholly-owned and/or operated racetracks and Americrown Service Corporation. Humphrey will report directly to Lynch.(TSS PR)(7-3-2007)

Blood Donors to See COT test at Talladega: Laps For Life: A Blood & Marrow Drive For Alabama will present its second annual blood and marrow drive on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Talladega Superspeedway and officials will have even more to offer donors as a "thank you" for giving the gift of life. This year, the drive will be held in tandem with the last official test date of the season allowed for the Nextel Cup Series and teams will be fine-tuning their Car of Tomorrow for the UAW-Ford 500 - the first Car of Tomorrow race on a superspeedway. Lps For Life: A Blood & Marrow Drive For Alabama will be held from 10am to 7pm, and will begin at the Speed Channel Dome in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame adjacent to the track's administration building. Each participant and one guest will receive a special credential for the day that allows access to five different Pit Stops that once completed will compose a "Lap For Life" around Talladega Superspeedway. Afterward, participants will venture outside to board the tour bus and be transported on a track tour and into the grandstands for Pit Stop 4, "Type Testing" where they'll watch from the grandstands as the final Nextel Cup Series test session of the season. From there, participants will return to the Hall of Fame for Pit Stop 5, "The Donor Diner," where they will enjoy treats provided by Talladega Superspeedway sponsors. More info at talladegasuperspeedway.com.(6-26-2007)

Once In A Lifetime Chance to Drive Talladega: Race fans wanting to experience one of the biggest thrills a race fan could ever dream of have only a couple of weeks left to take advantage of a special once in a lifetime chance to drive Talladega Superspeedway. In addition to witnessing the closest on-track competition in NASCAR, as an added incentive for fans, speedway officials are offering a special promotion in which any person who purchases a ticket for the October 7 UAW-Ford 500 Nextel Cup Series race by May 28, will receive a voucher to experience a racer's view of Talladega Superspeedway. Any individual, who renewed their fall tickets or has already purchased a ticket for the October 7 race, will also receive a voucher in the mail. A track ride voucher will allow each qualified account holder to drive his or her own vehicle around the freshly-paved, 2.66-mile tri-oval. Fans who take advantage of this offer will have a choice of three dates to redeem their track ride voucher; June 30, July 28 or Aug. 25. Each voucher is good for a two-lap ride in one vehicle and as many passengers as there are seatbelts. Tickets for the 2007 UAW-Ford 500 weekend on Oct. 5-7 may be purchased by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA. More information on reserving a spot in Talladega's overnight parks and reserved infield area is also available online or by calling the Ticket Office. Children age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge with a ticketed adult on Friday and Saturday of race weekend.(TSS PR)(5-20-2007

Talladega Track Bans 14 Fans for Life UPDATE: Fourteen auto racing fans who were identified as throwing objects onto the Talladega Superspeedway track after Sunday's Aaron's 499 will never again be allowed to purchase a ticket at the track, speedway officials said Monday. The fans were arrested Sunday and charged with disorderly conduct, according to Talladega County Sheriff Jerry Studdard. All posted bond at jail facilities located at the speedway and were released, Studdard said. Disorderly conduct is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Numerous fans peppered the track with beer cans following Jeff Gordon's win Sunday. That win allowed Gordon to surpass the late Dale Earnhardt in career wins on what would have been Earnhardt's 56th birthday. Talladega Speedway officials had warned all week that fans caught throwing objects over the fence that separates the grandstands from the track would be arrested. Track President Grant Lynch also made that announcement over the public address system before the race, and warnings were posted on track guides issued to fans before the race. Additional security was placed in the stands. Lynch said he knows that more fans than 14 threw objects, but pinpointing the culprits was more difficult than he imagined. He was in the stands at the race's conclusion but was unable to identify a single person throwing an object onto the track.(AlabamaLive.com)(5-2-2007)
UPDATE: If Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch has his way, the 14 fans he banned from ever again having the opportunity to purchase a race ticket at his speedway won't ever have the opportunity to buy a NASCAR race ticket again. To any race. At any track. "I'm going to be notifying all my fellow track presidents across NASCAR of the people we've banned to see if they'll also [participate in the ban]," Lynch said. "They'll make their own decisions, but I expect great participation from the [International Speedway Corp.] tracks." Lynch said he will make personal calls to Richmond International Raceway president Doug Fritz, as well as Lowe's Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler, since races at their tracks are coming up on the schedule. Lynch also said he is looking into additional steps to ban those 14 individuals from Talladega track property completely. "Certainly you can refuse to sell tickets to basically anyone you want to," Lynch said. "The law I'm checking into [is] can we notify them they're no longer allowed on track property, and what legal means can we take if they choose to be." Lynch said a team of attorneys is exploring that option now.(ESPN.com)(5-2-2007)

No injuries, some arrrests at Talledega: Talladega Superspeedway officials said no injuries were reported from the postrace beer-can barrage. Less than 10 people were detained, but hundreds of cans littered the track. NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter and Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch released statements three hours after the Aaron's 499, which Jeff Gordon won to earn his 77th career victory and pass Dale Earnhardt on the all-time list. "We warned our fans about throwing debris on the racetrack and the consequences of such actions," Lynch said in the statement. "Additional security was brought in for the grandstands. We had a plan in place. I was in the grandstands at the conclusion of the race, and as promised, we enforced our policies and took appropriate action on individuals we were able to accurately identify. We aren't going to let less than one percent of out fans spoil a record-setting weekend," Lynch added in the statement. Hunter's statement echoed Lynch's comments. "It's very unfortunate a few unruly fans can ruin things for a lot of people," Hunter said in the statement. "The track put a lot of effort into preventing this type of behavior. Our fans are passionate, but this type of behavior doesn't represent the majority of our fans."(ESPN.com)(4-30-2007)

Talladega Traffic Schedule & Heightened ADA Parking Enforcement: Talladega Superspeedway will welcome fans again soon for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend April 27 - 29, 2007 and track officials ask fans to make note of the facility’s traffic schedule in advance. In addition, fans should also be aware that law enforcement is heightening its regulation of ADA parking compliance, and violations will not be tolerated. The following schedule summarizes important elements of the track’s schedule and traffic plan:
Thursday, April 26:
Grandstands and Day Parking Lots will be closed to the public. The infield will open at 6 a.m.
Friday, April 27:
Traffic on Speedway Blvd. will flow in normal direction all day.
Grandstands open at 11:30 a.m.
Day Parking Lots behind the frontstretch grandstands open at 7 a.m.
After the Busch Series Qualifying, traffic will be routed out of the track’s main entrance & Old Jackson Trace Road.
Saturday, April 28:
Day Parking Lots open at 5 a.m.
Hrandstands open at 8 a.m.
NOTE: On Saturday, the following Day Parking Lot will not be open: Lot 11W
Starting at 8 a.m., all traffic on Speedway Blvd. approaching the track from the West will be one-way, with regular traffic patterns used for traffic approaching from the East.
After the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Busch Series race, Speedway Blvd. traffic will be one-way west bound, with eastbound traffic routed two-way. Any traffic approaching the superspeedway at this time will have to do so from the East.
Sunday, April 29:
Day Parking Lots open at 5 a.m.
Grandstands open at 9 a.m.
Starting at 7 a.m., all eastbound and westbound traffic on Speedway Blvd. is routed in toward the main entrance, one-way.
After the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, all eastbound and westbound traffic on Speedway Blvd. will be routed out one-way.
ADA PARKING INFORMATION
Talladega Superspeedway provides ADA Parking for guests with disabilities who have the appropriate, valid state-issued plates or placards. The accessible lots are HC1 and HC2, located on the south end of the track near turn one, behind the O.V. Hill South Tower near Gate EP4; HC3 and HC4 located at the north end of the track near turn 4, behind the Gadsden Tower and O.V. Hill North Tower near Gates EP1 and EP3; and for guests in the Allison Grandstand, HC5 located on the east side of the track near Gate EP8.
Talladega Superspeedway provides these lots in order to make attending a race an enjoyable experience for all people and asks that all guests be respectful of state laws governing the use of ADA parking spaces and permits. Law enforcement officers will be watching for vehicles that are not permitted in these lots, including those without the appropriate state-issued plates or placards as well as those who unlawfully use such permits.(TSS PR)(4-25-2007)

Joe Nichols To Sing National Anthem Prior To Aaron's 499: Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch announced today that country music artist Joe Nichols will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the Aaron's 499 Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday, April 29. Nichols' current single "I'll Wait For You" is Top 10 on the country charts and is the third hit single from his gold-selling album III. Talladega Superspeedway welcomes fans back for another year of the most competitive racing on the NASCAR circuit! Get your tickets now for Aaron's Dream Weekend, set for April 27 - 29, 2007. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (462-3342) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT, or by logging onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-23-2007)

Army National Guard to recognize Recently Deployed Soldiers at Talladega: The Army National Guard will recognize recently deployed Soldiers at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 312 Busch Series race on April 28th and the Aaron's 499 Nextel Cup Series race on April 29th. The two chosen groups of 25 Soldiers each will include many Guardsmen who have recently deployed in defense of the War on Terror. The Guard is extending these hospitality days to its members in conjunction with its ongoing partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and the #25 racecar driver, Casey Mears. Soldiers recognized at the Aaron's 499 Nextel Cup Series race on Sunday will be comprised of Alabama Army National Guardsmen chosen from a variety of Guard units around the state. Many of these Soldiers have recently served their country in Iraq, while others have served in their own communities during recent natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina. The Soldiers will be provided with entry passes to the race and access to a special hospitality trailer on the infield. For the Saturday Aaron's 312 Busch Series race, the Guard will honor the Mississippi Army National Guard 155th Armor Brigade with a similar infield hospitality package and with a one-time-only paint scheme that prominently features that brigade's emblem.(TSS PR)(4-23-2007)

Jeff Foxworthy to serve as Talladega grand marshal: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that Jeff Foxworthy, host of the hit show, "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader," will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Aaron's 499 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.(Talladega Speedway PR)(4-11-2007)

Talladega RV Overnight Parking Spots Sold Out; Limited Auto/Tent Overnight Spots and FREE Areas Remain: All RV overnight parking spots have been sold, and only a limited amount of spots for automobiles/tents remain for the upcoming Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway April 27-29. The track's hundreds of acres of reserved overnight parks outside the track are completely filled, and the only reserved spots remaining in the 212-acre infield are within the Yellow Zone which is specifically designated for those planning to park overnight with automobiles and tents. All reserved overnight parks outside the speedway will not open until Tuesday morning of race week, a new policy for 2007. This will include the FREE overnight parks that have typically opened the weekend prior to the race. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-4-2007)

Talladega Superspeedway Officials To Oversee Intl Motorsports Hall of Fame/Museum: Talladega Superspeedway will oversee day-to-day operations of the nearby International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum, Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch announced recently. "Talladega Superspeedway has historically maintained a close relationship with the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and we obviously are familiar with the actual facility considering our offices formerly were housed there. These are just two reasons why our management will be the best possible steward of this prestigious Hall of Fame. We are very excited about the many opportunities that will result from this enhanced relationship," Lynch said. Lynch said the management transition is effective Feb. 1, 2007. A manager will be hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Hall of Fame and Museum and will report to Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey, whose present duties will expand to include serving as the Hall of Fame's executive director. Opened in April 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of motorsports history. Since then induction into the Hall has become one of the highest honors in motorsports. Plans are in the works for a spectacular 2007 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony set for Thursday, April 26 on-site at the Speed Channel Dome. This year's inductees are Junie Donlavey, Ray Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Warren Johnson, Wayne Rainey and Bruton Smith. Also to be honored during the evening is 2006 Driver of the Year and reigning Nextel Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, as well as eight-time ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion Frank Kimmel. The black-tie event consisting of a reception, banquet and awards ceremony is always a must-attend occasion, and therefore tables are limited. Call (256) 362-5002 to reserve tickets and/or tables. To order tickets, call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-12-2007)

Friday is Deadline to Renew Seats for Oct races at 'Dega: Talladega Superspeedway officials remind race fans who purchased tickets for last year's UAW-Ford 500 weekend that Friday, February 9 is the deadline to reserve the same seats for this fall. The 2007 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend features Nextel Cup Series, Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250. Guests planning to return for the 2007 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend have been sent renewal information by mail, however any fall account holder wishing to renew seats may call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (877-462-3342) by the end of day Friday, Feb. 9 to ensure the seats are reserved. Then from February 26 through March 4, any seats that are not renewed will be open for account holders who renewed their tickets to upgrade their seats.(TSS PR)(2-8-2007)

Talladega first racetrack In US to earn StormReady Supporter Designation: Talladega Superspeedway is the first racetrack in the United States to earn the National Weather Service (NWS) StormReady Supporter designation, which recognizes the facility for its severe weather safety plan and for promoting severe weather safety awareness through the principles of the NWS StormReady program. Local NWS forecast offices encourage entire communities to participate in the StormReady program, which consists of community leaders learning to better prepare for severe weather through planning, education and awareness, followed by an application and review process. Talladega Superspeedway's designation as a StormReady Supporter is an extension of that larger community effort. Based on the bylaws of the local NWS StormReady Advisory Board and an endorsement from local emergency management, Talladega Superspeedway was deemed eligible for the designation, then received final approval of its application from the local StormReady Advisory Board. In addition to the track's existing hazardous weather plan, all full-time employees participated in training sessions to learn more about storm formation, lightning safety, flash flood precautions and general severe weather preparedness. For more information on the StormReady and StormReady Supporter programs, visit the NWS StormReady website at www.stormready.noaa.gov.(TSS PR)(1-18-2007)

Talladega Adds Alcohol-Free RV Parking Area: Talladega Superspeedway announced that it has answered the call of race fans seeking increased family-oriented amenities by introducing Champion's Corner, an enclosed RVs-only overnight parking area outside the track's first turn featuring a strict no-alcohol policy for all park residents and guests. In addition, the new Champion's Corner Overnight Park features:
- Water hook-ups and gravel surfaces for each of its 156 spaces
- Morning newspaper delivery to each guest's doorstep
- Special entertainment
- Children's activities and worship service Sunday morning provided by Alabama Raceway Ministries
The new Champion's Corner Overnight Park is the latest announcement from Talladega Superspeedway regarding projects expanding and improving its hundreds of acres of overnight parks. Track officials announced last month the expansion of several of its existing parks, including the addition of spaces for purchase in its Reserved Family Parks B, C and D, and additional capacity created within select free parks. Reserved spaces in the new Champion's Corner are limited and may be purchased for $280 by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(1-5-2007)

Talladega expands and improves overnight parking areas: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that it is making room for even more race fans in its thousands of acres of overnight parking areas, including some areas that are free of charge for ticket holders. The areas that have expanded include Family Parks B, C and D, which are located outside of the track on the southern end, near turn two. Spaces in these parks require reservations, and are available for purchase at $80 per space. Talladega Superspeedway management has also increased capacity of its North Park, which is located across Speedway Boulevard outside the track's northern end, closest to turn three. Spaces are free to guests with race tickets in North Park, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Another area developed for expansion is a new, free South Park, located outside the track to the south of the existing Free Family Park. It will be opened as needed for race attendees. Another change to overnight parking at Talladega Superspeedway is that the parks formerly known as Reserved Family Parks I & II located outside of turn one have been renamed Winner's Walk I & II Reserved Family Parks. Starting this spring, all of Talladega Superspeedway's overnight parks outside the track will open on Tuesday of race week at 8:00am. Talladega Superspeedway will host its first races of the 2007 NASCAR season during the Aaron's Dream Weekend, set for April 27-29. Gift certificates and tickets are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (462-3342) or going to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(12-14-2006)

Talladega Superspeedway Gift Certificates: So how do you fit the experience of attending an event at NASCAR's biggest and most competitive track into a neatly-wrapped package? With Talladega Superspeedway gift certificates available in a variety of denominations. The certificates may be redeemed for race tickets, infield admission passes, fan hospitality packages and overnight park reservations for any Talladega Superspeedway events currently available for sale. There is no expiration date, so the recipients may redeem the certificates at their own convenience. For more information go to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)

.38 Special Concert at Talladega: The rock band .38 Special will headline this year's Miller Lite Rock'n Racing Concert in Talladega Superspeedway's infield this Saturday evening. Universal South recording artist Shooter Jennings will open the show. The concert will begin tentatively at 7 p.m., and will be located in the southern portion of the infield near the intersection of the interior roads known as Talladega and Eastaboga Boulevards. The concert is free to all guests in the infield.(PR)(10-5-2006)

Martin To Visit With Fans In AAA Pit Tour Experience at Talladega: Fans who purchase the AAA Pit Tour Experience for the Oct. 8 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will enjoy a visit from Nextel Cup Series #6 AAA Ford driver Mark Martin. AAA is the Official Auto Club and insurance provider of Talladega Superspeedway. While the AAA Pit Tour Experience is open to all guests who choose to purchase the package, the track is offering the experience for only $130 to AAA members who also purchase frontstretch grandstand or tower tickets for the UAW-Ford 500. In addition to the special visit from Martin*, the AAA Pit Tour Experience hospitality package includes:
* Pass to the AAA Pit Tour Experience located in Talladega Superspeedway's Hospitality Village
* Pre-race Pit Road Tour*
* Catering for continental breakfast, lunch, soda and water, plus four beverage tickets per person
* Event souvenir
* Suite/Hospitality parking pass
To purchase the AAA Pit Tour Experience hospitality package, call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (462-3342). If you're not a member of AAA, join online at AAA.com/RacingJoin.(9-26-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report, September 13: Crews are now finished with the 12-foot transporter truck lane that runs along the inside of the 2.66-mile surface of Talladega Superspeedway, and also have finished the track's aprons. They are now tying in the skid pads of the track to pit road and the backstretch. The entire project will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-14-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report, September 6: The reinstallation of SAFER barriers and fencing is nearly complete around the walls of Talladega Superspeedway, and crews continue paving the final elements in Talladega Superspeedway's monumental paving project that began May 2. In addition, work is nearly complete on the 12-foot transporter truck lane and aprons along the interior of the track surface. Crews are also working on paving skid pad areas along the backstretch. The entire project will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-7-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report, August 24: Sunmount Corporation Project Manager John Hajdasz said it is very gratifying to be in the final stage of Talladega Paving Project 2006, and that the change is most evident to the eye now that the final layer of asphalt around the 2.66-mile track is nearly complete. Next, crews will pave the 12-foot truck lane at the base of the turns and tri-oval, he said. Then, they will tie-in and make finishing touches on the apron, pit road and skid pad areas. Fencing and SAFER Barrier installation is currently underway. The entire project will be complete when track officials welcome fans back for the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-26-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report, August 17: The new track surface approaches completion at Talladega Superspeedway, with the final wear layer down on the backstretch and well into the tri-oval and frontstretch. Workers are completing the third and final pass near the bottom of turns three and four today and will be completing turns one and two in the next several days. Soon, the final layer of asphalt will be complete all the way around the 2.66-mile track, followed by finishing touches on the apron, pit road and skid pad areas. Then, work will begin to restore fencing and landscaping to pristine condition in time to welcome fans back for the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-18-2006)

Only few reserved spots left at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced nearly two months ago there were only a select few reserved spaces still available for the Oct. 6 - 8 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend - and now the only reserved spots that remain are a handful of spots for tents and automobiles only in the areas designated as the Blue Zone and Yellow Zone in the track's infield. More info at the Talladega Superspeedway site.(8-18-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report: Paving crews have begun applying the final layer of asphalt in turns three and four of Talladega Superspeedway. Three passes will be required to cover the width of the track, and the first pass along the wall is nearly complete. In addition, preparation is underway entering turn three to continue paving the skid pad two extension, where grass has been removed to make way for asphalt along the entire length of the backstretch. The finished project will result in asphalt repaving of the track, skid pad and pit road, and will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-11-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report: Fans attending the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend at Talladega Superspeedway October 6 - 8 will notice another major improvement in addition to a new track surface. The infield now has a large, paved paddock extension for the ARCA Series to use. The addition was needed to make room for Truck Series teams that will compete in the track's inaugural Talladega 250 on Oct. 7. The truck teams will set up in the garage area that houses the Busch Series teams in the spring. The ARCA Series teams will use the new paved paddock area to prepare for the Friday, Oct. 6 Food World 250. Nextel Cup Series teams will continue to set up in the north garage in preparation for the UAW-Ford 500 on Sunday, Oct. 8.(Talladega Superspeedway)(8-5-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress Report, July 27: Crews this week have been paving skid pad areas of Talladega Superspeedway while other crews continue applying the asphalt level-up course to the track itself. The finished project will result in asphalt repaving of the entire track, skid pad and pit road, and will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-28-2006)

Stewart checks out Talladega repaving project: #20-Tony Stewart visited Talladega Superspeedway Monday [July 17th] to lend a hand in the track's ongoing paving project and to talk with members of the media about the upcoming UAW-Ford 500 event weekend set for Oct. 6 - 8 at Talladega Superspeedway. Stewart met with dozens of media outlets after climbing aboard and operating the gigantic paver making its way through turn one of the legendary Alabama track, applying a level-up course of asphalt. "I think it's going to have a lot more grip," Stewart said. "People that like three- and four-wide racing, that's what they're going to see. Handling has not really been that huge of an issue here; it's always been about how fast your car was. Now, for sure it's going to be that much more grip, and handling will be even less of an issue, so that three- and four-wide racing - that's what it's going to be all day long."(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-21-2006)

Talladega repaving update: Paving crews continue to apply the asphalt level-up course of asphalt to the frontstretch and tri-oval of Talladega Superspeedway. The finished project will result in asphalt repaving of the entire track, skid pad and pit road, and will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. The level-up course is a layer of material constructed directly on the existing pavement surface to eliminate irregularities before placing an overlay course.(TSS PR)(7-15-2006)

.38 Special & Shooter Jennings To Perform at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that the rock band .38 Special will headline this year's Miller Lite Rock'n Racing Concert in the track's infield Saturday evening, Oct. 7 during the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend. Universal South recording artist Shooter Jennings will open the show. The concert will begin tentatively at 7 p.m, and will be located in the southern portion of the infield near the intersection of the interior roads known as Talladega and Eastaboga Boulevards. The concert is free to all guests in the infield. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342).(Talladega Superspeedway)(7-15-2006)

Talladega repaving update: Paving crews continue to apply the 2-inch asphalt base to the turns of Talladega Superspeedway, in addition to paving pit road. The pit road paving will widen the asphalt portion of pit road by 10 feet, while the new concrete pit stalls will give drivers and teams an additional 2 feet in width per stall. The finished project will result in asphalt repaving of the entire track, skid pad and pit road, and will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. For more information on Talladega Superspeedway, repaving and tickers, please visit talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(7-4-2006)

Fans May Monitor Talladega Superspeedway's Paving Progress: Talladega Superspeedway fans can log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com this summer to stay up to speed on the progress of the track's monumental paving project. A special section of the track's website has been dedicated to Talladega Paving Project 2006, and is accessible by viewing the track's homepage. On the right side of the page, three links will direct fans to photo galleries containing images from each week since the project's May 2 kickoff, an equipment guide detailing the various pieces of machinery used in the paving process, and a graphic depicting the various areas of the track and the changes being made to each of them. To order tickets for events in October, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(TSS PR)(6-29-2006)

Few Overnight Parking Spaces Left For UAW-Ford 500 Weekend at Talladega: Few reserved overnight parking spaces are left for the highly anticipated fall race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, which will feature 1,000 miles of racing in three days including the debut of the track's Craftsman Truck Series 250 on Saturday and the first competitive laps on the track's new asphalt. The following select reserved spaces are still available for the 2006 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend:
* A small number of reserved spaces for tents and automobiles in the Infield's Blue and Yellow Zones * A small number of reserved spaces outside the track in West B Park, East Park and Legends Lane.
For more information on Talladega Superspeedway, please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR(6-22-2006)

Talladega Paving Progress: Crews have begun the process of applying the stone CTB (cement treated base) layer in the turns of Talladega Superspeedway, in preparation for the 2 " asphalt base that will be applied next. While Caterpillar D9 and D8 bulldozers support the paver and rollers, respectively, as they operate on the 33-degree banking of the turns, workers are also completing concrete pit stalls on pit road in preparation for its resurfacing. The entire project includes the asphalt repaving of the entire track, skid pad and pit road, and will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6- 8. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.(Talladega Superspeedway PR(6-6-2006)

Talladega Superspeedway Paving Progress Report: Crews have removed the old asphalt from all four turns of Talladega Superspeedway, and grading work continues in these areas to prepare the base for a new surface. Workers are also in the process of widening pit road prior to its resurfacing. The project will be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(see images at Talladega Superspeedway site)(5-22-2006)

Talladega Superspeedway's Repaving Project Kicks Off: Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch used a trackhoe excavator to dig into the existing asphalt on the track that must be removed before it is resurfaced this summer. It has been 26 years since the 2.66 mile track was paved, and the ambitious undertaking officially began on Tuesday, May 2nd. The project is scheduled to be completed by the track's fall UAW-Ford 500 event weekend, set for Oct. 6 - 8. Tickets are available now by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(Talladega Superspeedway PR)
AND Workers began removing the catch-fence and SAFER barriers in the early morning hours. By mid-morning, a track hoe had begun to rip into the asphalt in turn 3 of the 2.66-mile speedway. The Justin, Texas-based Sunmount Corporation will head the project. Officials said crews will work seven days a week to make sure the project is completed in time. The Sunmount Corporation specializes in track resurfacing and its resume includes Miami-Homestead, Texas, Atlanta, Richmond and Charlotte. Pit road will be resurfaced with three inches of new asphalt and will be widened by 10 feet. The track's skid pads - the paved areas on both sides of pit road on the front-stretch and adjacent to the apron exiting turn two - will have the top 1½ inches ground down before repaving.(Alabama Live)(5-3-2006)

No Agressive Driving allowed at Talladega: NASCAR race director David Hoots told drivers before the Aaron's 499 that the entire track - not just the turns - will be monitored for aggressive driving during Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. NASCAR had extra officials in the turns at the season-opening race at Daytona to watch for aggressive driving after criticism that bump-drafting had escalated to an unacceptable level. "The aggressive driving zone has been expanded," Hoots said during the pre-race drivers meeting. "It will start at the start of the race as soon as you go across the start-finish line and will conclude when you complete the race - for all 2.66 miles around this race track and all 188 laps of the race. It will be considered all the way around the track." Hoots asked the drivers to err on the side of caution. "Remember drivers, it doesn't mean that you're given more latitude on the straightaway," Hoots said. "If you think you're getting ready to be too close to or crossing over that line, you need to throttle back and be on the conservative side and don't place yourself in the position of opening it up to our judgment of aggressive driving."(SceneDaily.com)(4-30-2006)

Earnhardt Commemorative Poster at Talladega: On Sunday, race fans that purchase an Aaron's 499 souvenir program will also receive a Collectable Commemorative Poster featuring the special paint scheme on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #8 Budweiser Chevrolet and a tribute to Dale Earnhardt's induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame.(TSS PR)(4-29-2006)

Very Few Aaron's 499 Tickets Remain: The only seats remaining for tomorrow's Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race are located in the Lincoln and Gadsden Grandstands on the frontstretch just out of Turn Four. Fans hoping to attend the race are urged to purchase tickets now, before all seats are gone. Gadsden Grandstand seats are $70 for Sunday and Lincoln Granstand seats are $75. To purchase tickets, call 1-877- Go2-DEGA, log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com, or visit one of our ticket booths on site - - including the main Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office located on Speedway Boulevard at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.(TSS PR)(4-29-2006)

Tragic News UPDATE new track rule: Talladega County Coroner Jerry Castleberry says two men were killed today after being electrocuted at the Talladega Superspeedway. Castleberry says 39-year-old Keith Stell of Birmingham and 42-year-old Ronny Wright of Remlap died instantly. The men were camping at the speedway and were electrocuted after the flagpole they were trying to erect fell into some power lines. Castleberry said witnesses at the scene said gusts of wind caused the flagpole to fall. He said the men had still been holding on to the pole when it touched the power lines and they --quote-- "didn't have a chance."(wtvm.com/AP)(4-24-2006)
UPDATE Track Director of Public Relations Kristi King told Claire B. Lang XM Satellite NASCAR Radio that Talladega Superspeedway will implement a new rule this weekend following the tragic death of two campers there..."What our new policy is that we put in place today...no metal flag poles of any kind will be allowed on speedway property. That does include the infield and all of the overnight parks beginning this weekend and that goes for all future talladega superspeedway events."(XM Satellite NASCAR Radio)(4-26-2006)

Easter Bunny Returns To Talladega, April 15th: the Easter Bunny plans to make a return visit Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to noon for the track's Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt in the infield. The hunt is open to all kids age 1 through 10, and the thousands of eggs hidden at various points in the track's infield will all contain candy or other prizes.
There is no cost to attend the event, which will include:
* Easter Basket Contest: Kids are encouraged to decorate their own Easter baskets and arrive with them ready for judging! Everyone should arrive a little early in order to park, because an Easter Basket Contest will be held immediately as the event begins at 10 a.m.
* Egg Hunts By Age Group: The hunt for prize-filled eggs will begin at 10:30 a.m. for kids age 1 through 3. Then at 11 a.m., kids age 4 through 6 will participate in a hunt, followed by kids age 7 through 10 at 11:30 a.m.
* Visit With The Easter Bunny: As promised, the Easter Bunny will return to visit with eager egg hunters during the event.
* Face Painting: Face painters will be set up ready to create miniature masterpieces on the cheeks of all who visit.
* Refreshments: Two of Talladega Superspeedway's official sponsors, Pepsi and Golden Flake, will provide refreshments and snacks.
* Displays and Games: The Talladega Superspeedway Pace Car, the Talladega On Wheels promotions vehicle, the Talladega Superspeedway Show Car, Ford trucks and cars, and various other special vehicles utilized by the track will be on display. To order tickets for future races, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or for more information on Talladega Superspeedway, please visit talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(4-13-2006)

McCain To Sing National Anthem Prior To Aaron's 499: Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Edwin McCain will perform the National Anthem at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 30 prior to the start of the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race. McCain will be appearing at Talladega Superspeedway in support of his new album released by Vanguard Records today titled "Lost In America," which includes the soon-to-be-released radio single "Gramercy Park Hotel." To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or for more information on Talladega Superspeedway, please visit talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(4-12-2006)

Ferrell To Visit Fans In Pit Tour Experience at Talladega: Race fans who purchase the Pit Tour Experience hospitality package for the Aaron's 499 on Sunday, April 30 will be treated to a visit from the race Grand Marshal Will Ferrell, star of the upcoming comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." The Pit Tour Experience is one of several hospitality packages offered at Talladega Superspeedway, and entitles race fans to a pre-race pit road tour, enabling them to get an up-close-and-personal look at teams' preparations on race day. The Pit Tour Experience also provides a Suite/Hospitality parking pass and a pass to Hospitality Village, where fans can enjoy catering for continental breakfast, lunch, soda, water and four drink tickets for beer. In addition to an event souvenir, the highlight of this package for many is usually a special visit from a NEXTEL Cup Series driver. However for this race, fans will be treated to a visit from established comedian and actor Ferrell, who will participate in a question-and-answer session. He will visit the Pit Tour Experience chalet in the Hospitality Village at approximately 9:45am. Pit Tour Experience packages may be purchased for $145 and must be accompanied by a frontstretch grandstand or tower ticket for the April 30 Aaron's 499. Great seats still remain for the first race weekend at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or for more information on Talladega Superspeedway, please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(4-1-2006)

Three-Day Race Weekend At Talladega Special: Talladega Superspeedway's two-day, $60 seats in the Allison Grandstand are widely known to be one of the best ticket values offered by any racing venue, but this year fans buying two-day tickets will get even more for their money with the addition of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup qualifying on Saturday. The track has announced the new schedule and that it will be opening its grandstands three days instead of four, each series' qualifying event has been moved up one day. Therefore, fans who purchase Saturday tickets will witness The Birmingham News Qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series prior to the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race at no additional cost. Great two-day seats still remain for the first race weekend at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. Two-day Talladega Tower seats offering a spectacular view of the start/finish line are $135 and Allison Grandstand Seats are only $60. Two-day tickets grant admission to The Birmingham News Qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, April 29, then the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sunday, April 30. In addition, while Friday's schedule features the The Birmingham News Qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Series, that day is also the only opportunity to watch NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams practice. Two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practices will be held leading up to the Busch Series qualifying runs. Seats for Friday, April 28 are $12 for adults, and kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge in the general admission grandstands on Friday and Saturday when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For tickets and more information on Talladega Superspeedway, please visit talladegasuperspeedway.com.(3-28-2006)

Will Ferrell To Serve As Grand Marshal at Talladega: Actor Will Ferrell, star of the upcoming Columbia Pictures comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Aaron's 499 NEXTEL Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway set for Sunday, April 30. Both Ferrell and the movie have been embraced by NASCAR since crews began shooting scenes at Talladega last year during the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend and in the weeks following. Fans attending the Oct. 1 ARCA RE/MAX Series race watched and participated as select scenes were filmed on the frontstretch of the 2.66-mile track prior to the start of the event. The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is set for release by Columbia Pictures on Aug. 4. Co-written by Ferrell and director Adam McKay, the film tells the story of NASCAR racing sensation Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell), whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo that thrill their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen -- Ali G), challenges him for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight Girard for the right to be known as racing's top driver.(more info on the movie on my Racing Movies page). To order tickets for all events, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(3-24-2006)

Talladega Fall Race Tix now on sale: Saturday, March 11 will be the first opportunity to puchase prime spots for the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend Oct. 6 -8 for those who have not renewed seats from last year. Between the spring and fall event weekends, the track will undergo its first major repaving since 1979. The project will be completed in time to welcome the ARCA Series for the Food World 250 on Friday, Oct. 6. Then on Saturday, Oct. 7, the track will host its inaugural Truck Series event. Then on Sunday, Oct. 8, critical points positions will be on the line as NEXTEL Cup Series teams battle for the checkered flag in the UAW-Ford 500, the fourth race in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Also get your tickets now for Aaron's Dream Weekend, set for April 28 - 30, 2006. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or log on to talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(3-11-2006)

Portable Asphalt Plant Mobilizes at Talladega: Nearly all the components of a portable asphalt plant are now mobilized on the grounds of Talladega Superspeedway, signaling that preparations are under way for the monumental paving project set to begin this spring immediately following the April 28-30 Aaron's Dream Weekend. In coming weeks, asphalt test strips will be constructed on property. Track officials announced in December that the 2.66-mile tri-oval track, apron and pit road will be completely repaved with asphalt for the first time since 1979. To order tickets for all the April races call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877- 462-3342). For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-24-2006)

Talladega's Bake A Christmas 2005 Exceeds Last Year: Talladega Superspeedway officials joined the staff of local radio station WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM Friday, Dec. 16 to raised more than $12,000 during Bake A Christmas 2005, an annual fundraiser that generates money used to provide Christmas gifts to less fortunate children throughout the track's surrounding region. WTDR 92.7 Owner and Producer Jim Jacobs and his staff welcomed members of Talladega Superspeedway management on-air throughout the day to chat with listeners and keep the auctions rolling while donations of baked goods, racing memorabilia and other items such as gift certificates from local merchants flowed in throughout the day. These items were paired with items donated by the track in advance of the event for truly unique auction packages offered to the listening public. This year's Bake A Christmas marks the ninth consecutive year that the radio station and track have paired for this event, and both were pleased that this year's broadcast efforts exceeded last year's totals.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(12-20-2005)

Talladega to be repaved: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that the racetrack is set to be repaved for the first time since 1979, and the project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2006 UAW-Ford 500, race four in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. The project will include complete asphalt repaving of the 2.66-mile tri-oval track, apron and pit road. A portable asphalt plant will be mobilized to the site in December of this year, and on-site work will begin in February, when trial batches of the asphalt pavement will be produced and asphalt test strips will be constructed on superspeedway property. Engineers are expected to begin formulation of asphalt mix designs and designing the required equipment modifications in December. The repaving project will begin immediately following the April 28-30, 2006 Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega.
This will be the fourth paving project for Talladega Superspeedway, with the first being the actual construction of the track for its opening in September 1969, which was followed by a repaving project completed in time for the 1970 season. The third and most recent paving was completed at the conclusion of the 1979 racing season. Plans are in the works for the most exciting year of racing yet at Talladega Superspeedway in 2006, and don't forget that the holidays are just around the corner! Cross your favorite race fans off your shopping list first by purchasing them race weekend gift certificates to NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. The first opportunity to use the certificates will be for the 2006 Aaron's Dream Weekend set for April 28-30. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342). For news and other information on Talladega Superspeedway, check out the track's web site at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(12-15-2005)

Talladega Debuts New 3-Day Race Weekend Format in 2006: Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey announced that the track plans to pack all the excitement of NASCAR's Most Competitive Track into a new 3-day race weekend format for both major events in 2006. In the spring, grandstands will be open Friday - Sunday, April 28-30 for Aaron's Dream Weekend featuring the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race and the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race. In the fall, grandstands will be open Friday - Sunday, Oct. 6-8 for the ARCA RE/MAX Series race, the track's first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the UAW-Ford 500, race four in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. One of the biggest changes in 2006 will be that all the major events will be considered "impound races," with teams allowed only two practices prior to qualifying their machines. Then after the field is set, no adjustments will be allowed before the race without penalty. This will apply to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, the NASCAR Busch Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series. To order tickets, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342). For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available online at www.racetickets.com, or in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office.(TSS PR)(10-18-2005)

Southern Sports Awards Nominates NASCAR tracks/teams/drivers...where is lugnut [LMS Mascot]?: The Daytona 500 and August night race at Bristol Motor Speedway have been nominated in the "Best Sports Experience" category in the inaugural Southern Sports Awards which recognizes and honors the athletes, fans and the traditions that "set the South above the rest in the sports world."(DIS PR)
Talladega The Talladega Superspeedway Infield is among select nominees for the first ever Southern Sports Awards (SSA), a two-hour special awards show that will recognize and honor the athletes, fans and traditions that "set the South above the rest in the sports world." Talladega Superspeedway's nomination is to the "Best Place To Tailgate" category.(TSS PR)
Roush Racing: Roush Racing [#'s 6,16,17,97,99] have been nominated for Best Management.
Dale Jr. vs Jeff? Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Jeff Gordon have been nominated for the Biggest Rivalry category.
Coach of the Year: among the nomiee's are Chad Knaus, #48 Crew Chief for Jimmie Johnson and Greg Zippadelli,(#20 Crew Chief for Tony Stewart.
Fan Favorite nominee's include Dale Earnhardt Jr. and #11, #18, #20 team owner Joe Gibbs, not for racing but for being the headcoach of the NFL's Washington Redskins.
Newcomer of the Year: surprise! Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Ford [4 wins] is nominated along with #5-Kyle Busch, winner at California as a rookie.
AND finally for the The "Style" Award...nominated from NASCAR are Kyle Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Fans can vote to determine the winner by logging on to www.southernsportsawards.com until Nov 23rd and completing the 13-category ballot. The awards will be presented Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA.(11-10-2005)

Red Cross Reps to Accept Donations at Talladega: American Red Cross Representatives will staff entry gates at Talladega Superspeedway all four days of this weekend's race activities, accepting monetary donations from race fans who wish to join the track in its effort to raise funds for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Donations will be accepted at the entry gates all four days of the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.(TSS)(9-30-2005)

Kim Miller Selected For 'Fan of the Race' Honors at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Holder Kim Miller of Gulfport, Miss. has been selected for 'Fan of the Race' honors for next Sunday's Oct. 2 UAW-Ford 500, race three in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Starting with the Oct. 2 UAW-Ford 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, one ticket holder per event weekend at Talladega Superspeedway will be randomly selected for "Fan of the Race" honors, according to Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey. As Fan of the Race, Miller will be brought on stage during pre-race ceremonies on Sunday and will be treated to a prize pack for two race weekend that includes pace car rides and several Talladega Superspeedway souvenirs. Miller said she has chosen to bring along her father, Jim Miller, for the experience.(Talladega Superspeedway)(9-28-2005)

Race Weekend Traffic Alert: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced that race fans should take note of the traffic plan for the upcoming UAW-Ford 500 event weekend just less than two weeks from now, particularly plans for the flow of vehicles on Speedway Boulevard that runs parallel to Interstate 20. "Starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, all traffic coming onto Speedway Boulevard from the west will be routed one way. Then on Sunday, starting at 7 a.m., all lanes of traffic coming onto Speedway Boulevard from the east and west will be routed one way to the track's main entrance," said Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey. "We have been routing traffic this way on Speedway Boulevard for the past several races, but now we have established exact times when it will start so that fans can better prepare their travel routes. Ultimately we hope it will get them onto the property more quickly and conveniently, resulting in an overall improvement to their experience here." When traffic begins to flow out of the property following each day's events, vehicles will be sent outbound in the same manner. For helpful traffic tips and information during race weekend, listen to WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM, which will broadcast regular updates.(Talladega Superspeedway)(9-28-2005)

American Idol Star to Sing National Anthem at Talladega: American Idol star Bo Bice will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the Oct. 2 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, race three in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Before taking the nation by storm as a contestant in the fourth season of the hugely popular television show, Huntsville-born Bice kept busy managing a Pelham guitar store and playing gigs with his band, SugarMoney. Bice eventually finished American Idol as runner-up to Carrie Underwood, but has since released his first single, the double-A sided "Inside Your Heaven/Vehicle," which debuted this summer on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart at No. 1. Great seats are still available to the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at Talladega Superspeedway by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). The weekend includes Alabama Beef Producers Qualifying Day for the ARCA RE/MAX Series on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on Friday, Sept. 30, which also features an ARCA RE/MAX Series driver autograph session. The Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race is Saturday, Oct. 1, and the UAW-Ford 500, race three in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, is set for Sunday, Oct. 2. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted into the general admission grandstands on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of race weekend. Tickets to all of these events also are available online at www.racetickets.com. To purchase tickets in person, visit the Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office from 8 a.m.(Talladega Superspeedway)(9-27-2005)

Alabama Governor To Proclaim Sunday "Rusty Wallace Day": Alabama Governor Bob Riley will proclaim Sunday, Oct. 2 as "Rusty Wallace Day" in the state, joining Talladega Superspeedway in special recognition of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver during pre-race ceremonies before the start of the UAW-Ford 500. Wallace will officially retire from full-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition at the end of this year, with this 2005 final season in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge titled "Rusty's Last Call." In addition to Gov. Riley's proclamation, Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch will present Wallace with a framed, one-of-a-kind print thanking him for the many memories he's created over the course of his 25-year career. Also, Wallace and his wife, Patti, will be granted lifetime passes to Talladega Superspeedway. The UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will be start #699 in the series for Wallace, his 45th here. Great seats are still available to the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend Sept. 29-Oct. 2 at Talladega Superspeedway by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-27-2005)

Want To Be In A Movie? at Talladega: Race fans who attend the Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, Oct. 1 will not only catch a great race, but also may find themselves making a collective cameo appearance in the NASCAR-themed movie starring Will Ferrell to be released next year. Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey said that producers want to showcase the track's thousands of supportive fans in one of the movie's most pivotal scenes, to be filmed just prior to the start of the Food World 300 at the start/finish line of the track. ARCA RE/MAX Series driver introductions begin at 12:15 p.m., followed by the shooting of the movie scene and then the start of the Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series season finale at 1:05 p.m. The evening will end with musical entertainment provided by recording artists Pat Green and Shooter Jennings in the Miller Lite Rock'n Racing Concert in the track's infield, which starts tentatively at 7 p.m. Any guest with an infield ticket for that evening or proper track-issued crendentials may attend the concert free of charge. To reserve your spot in the Talladega Superspeedway grandstands - and among the cheering crowd that will be captured on film for a blockbuster comedy, call the track's ticket office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA for tickets and also are available online at www.racetickets.com.(Talladega Superspeedway)(9-26-2005)

Tix still available at Talladega: Time is running out to reserve a spot at next weekend's UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, but as of today, great seats are still available to witness race three in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup here on Sunday, Oct. 2. Tickets that are still available include select frontstretch tower seats, including one-day Sunday seats in the Gadsden Tower near turn four and a handful of two-day tickets in the Tri-Oval and Talladega Towers, located at the center of the 2.66-mile track's tri-oval and approaching turn one, respectively. Also available are two-day Allison Grandstands seats for only $60. Starting outside of turn two and running along the east side of the track. To take advantage of this opportunity call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office today at 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available online at www.racetickets.com. To purchase tickets in person, visit the Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-23-2005)

Talladega weathers Katrina storms successfully: Talladega Superspeedway successfully weathered the high winds and torrential rain spinning out from Hurricane Katrina as outer bands of the storm made their way through Central Alabama Monday afternoon and Tuesday, track officials announced today. "We are very saddened to hear the continued reports of devastation across the Gulf Coast and throughout the Southeastern states that has been caused by this storm," said Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey. "We've received numerous calls inquiring about our personal welfare and the status of the facility, and we are relieved to report that all of our employees and the facility itself are okay. Our neighbors in surrounding areas who were not as fortunate certainly are in our thoughts right now." The track's staff continues to make preparations for the UAW-Ford 500 Event Weekend Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, which is now less than five weeks away. Tickets are available by calling 1-877- Go2-DEGA.(Talladega Superspeedway)(8-30-2005)

Talladega Superspeedway Gift Certificates: Treat someone special today with a Talladega Superspeedway gift certificate! NASCAR's Most Competitive Track offers gift certificates redeemable for race tickets, fan hospitality packages and overnight park reservations. And since there is no expiration date, the recipients may redeem the certificates at their own convenience. The certificates may be purchased in any denomination and may be redeemed for race tickets, hospitality packages and overnight park reservations for any of the track's events that are currently available for sale. Talladega Superspeedway gift certificates may be redeemed in person at the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office. Although gift certificates are not redeemable for cash, they should be treated as money by the holder. Talladega Superspeedway is not responsible for lost or stolen gift certificates and they cannot be replaced. Tickets to all of these events are available by calling 1-877- Go2-DEGA or online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(7-28-2005)

The 'biggest' announcement in Talladega history UPDATE: no idea what this is about but Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL says they will hold the biggest announcement in Talladega Superspeedway history in the past two decades at Talladega Superspeedway on Tuesday, July 26 at 11:00am/local.(7-21-2005)
UPDATE: hearing the track will be repaved...not sure if before the race in October or for the first 2006 race. AND/OR have heard it could be a Truck Series race to run next Oct 2006.(7-26-2005)
UPDATE 2: Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey announced that in 2006, the 2.66-mile Alabama racetrack will welcome the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the first time in history! The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7 during the 2006 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend set for Oct. 5 – 8. The 2006 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend slated for Oct. 5 – 8 will include Discount Food Mart Qualifying for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series as well as qualifying for the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Food World 300 ARCA RE-MAX Series race will be held on Friday, Oct. 6, with Talladega Superspeedway’s newest addition to its spectacular fall schedule – the track’s first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race – held on Saturday, Oct. 7. The UAW-Ford 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race is set for Sunday, Oct. 8. Race fans that purchase a Saturday, Oct. 1 ticket to the 2005 Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race will be allowed to renew that seat to the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event in 2006.
Currently, the staff at Talladega Superspeedway is preparing to welcome fans for the second time this year, with the 2005 UAW-Ford 500 event weekend set for Sept. 29 – Oct. 2. The weekend includes Alabama Beef Producers Qualifying Day for the ARCA RE/MAX Series on Thursday, Sept. 29; Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on Friday, Sept. 30, which also features an ARCA RE/MAX Series driver autograph session; the Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race on Saturday, Oct. 1 and the UAW-Ford 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 2. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets for the UAW-Ford 500 are available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA or purchase your tickets online today! More information on reserving a spot in Talladega's overnight parks and reserved infield area is also available online or by calling the Ticket Office. You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday.(Talladega Superspeedway Site), nothing mentioned about repaving.(7-26-2005)

Reserved Infield, Overnight Park Spots Filling Quickly at Talladega: Fans wishing to reserve a spot for overnight accommodations on Talladega Superspeedway property for the UAW-Ford 500 event weekend Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 should act quickly, as there are few spaces left throughout the track's hundreds of acres of reserved infield and park areas. The only remaining reserved spaces outside of the track are for RVs only, and are within Legends Lane and East Park. Call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office today for tickets and overnight park reservations to the UAW-Ford 500 weekend Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, featuring race three in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Tickets to all of these events are available by calling 1-877- Go2-DEGA, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway)(7-14-2005)

Talladega Taps Talent Of Artist Garry Hill To Thank Loyal Aaron's 499 Ticketholders: Race fans who renew their seats for the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway will recieve limited-edition prints featuring the work of renowned racing artist Garry Hill. For the past three years, fans who meet the deadline to renew their Aaron's 499 seats for the next year's event receive a special edition Garry Hill print. Each year's topic for the artwork is a scene from the most recent Aaron's 499, commemorating the glorious moments of victory for drivers fortunate enough to take a win at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. Account holders meeting the July 29 deadline to renew their Aaron's 499 seats for the 2006 event will receive a new print this year. This year's print features Jeff Gordon in the #24 crossing the finish line in front of a sold-out crowd and taking the checkered flag ahead of Tony Stewart and Michael Waltrip to claim victory in the May 1, 2005 Aaron's 499. The 2004 Aaron's 499 print also features Gordon in his #24, this time edging Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in his #8 just as a caution is displayed - a critical moment that established Gordon the winner. The print commemorating Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s win the year prior features another critical moment that led to victory. This was the first painting in the series, titled "Victory Pass," which captures the image during the 2003 Aaron's 499 of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. completing a pass on Matt Kenseth that led to his record-setting fourth consecutive victory at the legendary Alabama racetrack. Over the past twenty-plus years, Garry Hill's original paintings, prints and designs have appeared within the most respected areas of the sport, from board rooms and suites to race car paint designs on the track. As an artist working only with racing subjects, Garry has created paintings for the motorsports community at the corporate level as well as for private collectors. Many of these works have been published as limited edition fine art prints and are available in over 70 galleries internationally. His art has been featured on television, radio and in major racing publications. More information about Garry Hill can be found at www.garryhill.com.
While the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office is currently taking renewals for next year's Aaron's 499, orders are being filled at a rapid pace for the UAW-Ford 500 weekend Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, featuring race three in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. The weekend includes Alabama Beef Producers Qualifying Day for the ARCA RE/MAX Series on Thursday, Sept. 29; Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on Friday, Sept. 30, which also features an ARCA RE/MAX Series driver autograph session; the Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race on Saturday, Oct. 1 and the UAW-Ford 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 2. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets to all of these events are available by calling 1-877- Go2-DEGA, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. More information on reserving a spot in Talladega's overnight parks and reserved infield area is also available online or by calling the Ticket Office. For the hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday.(TSS PR)(7-6-2005)

Talladega's Fast Day For Father's Day This Saturday: Father's Day is this weekend, and what better way is there to treat Dad than with quality time with his kids, giveaways of great prizes like CD's, coolers and Talladega Superspeedway gear, and perhaps most rewarding - a chance to prove his child looks more like "a chip off the old block" than anyone else's? These things and much more will be featured during "Fast Day For Father's Day" this Saturday, June 18 at Quintard Mall in Oxford. The event is presented through the coordinated efforts of Talladega Superspeedway, Quintard Mall, CableOne and Thunder 92.7 WTDR-FM. In addition to the prize giveaways and father-child look alike contest, there will be a trivia competition, video game racing at the Thunder Racing Station for a chance to win an X-BOX donated by EB Games, free balloons, face painting and a Moon Bounce for kids. The first 100 people to visit the Talladega Superspeedway booth will get a FREE commemorative print, and the track's pace car and show car will both be on hand for photos (bring your own camera, or our staff will be glad to snap your picture with our camera and e-mail it to you). More info at the talladegasuperspeedway.com site.(6-15-2005)

Talladega Pole Day Ticket Features Fast Fords: Eleven fast Fords flash across Talladega Superspeedway's new commemorative pole day ticket for the Sept. 30 Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day. In honor of the track's recent partnership with UAW-Ford as the Oct. 2 UAW-Ford 500 race title sponsor and Ford as the Official Car and Truck of Talladega Superspeedway, the limited-edition collectible tickets feature Fords competing in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The tickets are only $10, which is the same price as general admission grandstands seating for Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day Commemorative Tickets showcase the #38 Ford driven by Elliott Sadler, the #17 Ford driven by Matt Kenseth, the #6 Ford driven by Mark Martin, the #97 Ford driven by Kurt Busch, the #99 Ford driven by Carl Edwards, the #14 Ford driven by John Andretti, the #88 Ford driven by Dale Jarrett, the #21 Ford driven by Ricky Rudd, the #16 Ford driven by Greg Biffle, the #27 Ford driven by Kirk Shelmerdine and the #66 Ford driven by Hermie Sadler. The glossy, colorful tickets also feature the logos of Talladega Superspeedway, UAW-Ford 500, Discount Food Mart, International Speedway Corporation and NASCAR. Tickets to all of these events are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA or see www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway)(6-6-2005)

Repaving and Night Racing at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway will become the 11th NASCAR race track to get lights and'Dega fans could see their first night race as early as the fall race of 2007, Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch said Sunday. While repaving the track is in the works now, the installation of lights will begin once that project is finished, Lynch said. NASCAR spokesperson Denise Maloof, who would not comment on any plans for illuminating Talladega Superspeedway for night racing, said the reasons for running night races are simple. "Our TV partners like racing in prime-time," she said. "You can't beat prime-time. It's a marquee time for racing to be on the air." NASCAR does not enter into the expensive task of lighting speedways blindly, she said. "The numbers we see from Nielsen Media Research are good," Maloof said. "The fans like it, too. It's a new experience. At Daytona when they flipped the switch for the first time it was electric - no pun intended. It's a different atmosphere. It can also be more comfortable for fans and drivers."(Alabama Live)(5-2005)

Aaron's and Talladega Extend Agreement: Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership (Aaron's) of Atlanta, Ga. and Talladega Superspeedway (TSS) of Talladega, announced the continuation of the Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Aaron's and Talladega Superspeedway partnered for their first event in 2002. Today's extension announcement marks a new, multi-year agreement ensuring that Aaron's will remain as title sponsor of the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race and the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race traditionally held in the spring of each year.(Talladega Superspeedway)(5-2-2005)

Seats at the Aaron's 499 at Talladega sold out: Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch announced that the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race is sold out. The track, which has a seating capacity of 143,000, one of the largest capacities on the NASCAR circuit, has sold all available grandstand seats and all infield overnight parking spaces for tomorrow's race. "Thanks to our loyal fans, Talladega Superspeedway continues to be one of the most popular venues and sought-after tickets in motorsports," Lynch said. "We have the most exciting, competitive races in NASCAR and we are thrilled that tomorrow we will have a capacity crowd." Fans who do not have tickets can still purchase one day infield admission tickets for the Aaron's 499.(Talladega Superspeedway)(5-1-2005)

Heavy Winds at Talladega predicted/Weather warning from EMA: Campers and race fans have a lot more speed to watch out for this weekend than just what’s happening at the Talladega Superspeedway. A warning from the National Weather Service in Birmingham has predicted 20 to 30 mph winds during the day Friday and some gusts up to 60 and 70 mph late that afternoon until midnight. There’s also a slight chance for severe thunderstorms Friday and early Saturday morning. "The Talladega County Emergency Management Agency will sound the three nearest outdoor warning sirens that surround the speedway with the normal test siren tone followed by a public address to advise those camping of the approaching weather should winds begin to gust as high as predicted," according to a press release from the EMA. The speedway has advised campers to secure awnings, trash cans, tents, barbecue grills and other items that could become airborne by tying down such objects or putting them away. "Do not wait until the storm arrives to try and secure items," the press release states. "Please make your preparations to day or this evening for your safety and the safety of all citizens and race fans." Because the predicted winds are so severe, tornadoes and straight-line winds are a threat. Campers, keep your ears tuned in for the sirens and to weather radios in case warning severe weather.(Daily Home via Catchfence)(4-29-2005)

Talladega Introduces Pepsi/Winn-Dixie Kids Zone: Talladega Superspeedway officials recently annunced the latest free perk for this new generation of NASCAR fans - a brand new Pepsi/Winn-Dixie Kids Zone to be open for the first time on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 of the upcoming Aaron's Dream Weekend. The Pepsi/Winn-Dixie Kids Zone will be located in Talladega Superspeedway's new corporate display area close to the North Tunnel of the track. The area is dedicated exclusively to kids and will feature four inflatable rides, entertainment from clowns and face painting. The new area will be open both Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until the start of the race each day.
Tickets to the 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway April 28 - May 1 are available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday.(Talladega Superspeedway)(4-28-2005)

Bob Riley, Governor of the State of Alabama, has proclaimed April 29, 2005, as Race Fever Day in the State of Alabama.(4-27-2005)

Water boy? Opera Man? Adam Sandler Grand Marshal at Talladega: Adam Sandler, star of the upcoming comedy "The Longest Yard," which will be released nationally on Memorial Day weekend, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the May 1st Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Sandler will participate in pre-race activities at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track and then issue the most famous words in racing, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines." The former Saturday Night Live star has portrayed roles in over a dozen movies, but has made a name for himself starring in blockbuster comedies such as "Happy Gilmore," "The Wedding Singer," "50 First Dates" and "The Waterboy" to name just a few. In his new movie, "The Longest Yard," Sandler will play a pro quarterback doing time in the same prison with a former college football champion and coach portrayed by Burt Reynolds. In this remake of the 1974 original, the pair takes on the task of putting together a football team comprised of inmates to take on the guards at the facility. Co-starring in the film will be Chris Rock, James Cromwell, Nelly and William Fichtner.
Tickets to the 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway April 28 - May 1 are available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday.(Talladega Superspeedway)(4-20-2005)

New 'Talladega On Wheels' Makes Its Way Through Region: Race fans are now able to taste the excitement of Talladega Superspeedway in their own hometowns with the recent introduction of a new promotional vehicle dubbed "Talladega On Wheels." The 43-foot trailer has already been spotted on the highways and at various locations throughout Alabama and Georgia in the past couple of weeks - not surprising because it's hard to miss. The massive promotional unit is splashed with images of the exhilarating racing action at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. When the vehicle stops, out come the loudspeakers, two television screens airing race footage and interactive racing video games, Talladega Superspeedway merchandise, and informational materials on the track and ticket availability. In many cases, Talladega On Wheels also brings along the track's No. 24 Jeff Gordon Pepsi show car and the tire changing machine, enabling fans to get an up-close look at a real race car as well as to test their pit crew ability in changing tires.
Talladega Superspeedway named Ty Gardner of Oxford, AL as its new Group Sales and Promotions Coordinator, with Talladega On Wheels appearances chief among his duties. Gardner is a 2000 graduate of Jacksonville State University, where he earned a degree in marketing. Gardner has worked with the team at Talladega Superspeedway for the past several years, first as an intern with the marketing department, and then as a seasonal employee assisting during race time.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-29-2005)

Talladega Scoring Tower Work starts: Construction began recently on Talladega Superspeedway's new 148-foot scoring tower, set to be completed in time for the 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend April 28 - May 1 at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. The tower is centrally located in the track's infield, providing fans with a state-of-the-art tool to keep up with the high volume of lead changes for which the track is widely known.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-27-2005)

I Wanna Easter Egg: Approximately 1,500 people took advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday to gather in the northern section of Talladega Superspeedway's infield, enjoying an Easter egg hunt and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Prior to the hunt, parents and children enjoyed snacks and refreshments provided by Golden Flake and Pepsi, checked out displays of Ford, New Holland and John Deere vehicles and had their faces painted with both seasonal and racing themes. Others played racing video games and watched race footage broadcast on the track's new Talladega On Wheels promotions vehicle and took pictures with the No. 24 Jeff Gordon Pepsi show car. Many tested their skill on the tire changing machine, as well. Parents registered for a free track ride with The Racing Experience, one of several driving schools that periodically visit Talladega Superspeedway. The highlight of the day for many children was a visit from the Easter Bunny. The bunny mingled with the crowd throughout the afternoon, stopping often to take photos with those who brought cameras to capture the excitement of the day. Small gifts were given to every child who participated, as well. The hunt was divided into two age groups, with children ages 1 to 5 and children ages 6 to 10 separated into two different areas. Of the many eggs hidden, all contained candy - yet some contained slips redeemable for prizes ranging from plush Easter bunny toys to race tickets for the Aaron's Dream Weekend set for April 28 - May 1, 2005 at Talladega Superspeedway.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-27-2005)

Tickets Available for First Ever UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega: Tickets are available to everyone for the first ever UAW-Ford 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. Returning fans have had the opportunity to renew and upgrade their seats, and now the opportunity is open to all race fans to claim their spots for race three in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. UAW-Ford 500 Weekend on-track action kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 29 with Alabama Beef Producers Qualifying Day for the Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race on Saturday. On Friday, Sept. 30, the stars of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will zoom around the track during Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day, setting the field for Sunday's UAW-Ford 500. On Saturday, Oct. 1, fans will see the rising stars of the ARCA RE/MAX Series duke it out around the 2.66-mile tri-oval seeking a win of the series season finale, the Food World 300. On Sunday, Oct. 2, racing enthusiasts will be treated to the unparalleled excitement of the fierce competition in the first ever UAW-Ford 500, race three into the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Call the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office for more information or to order at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT, or visit online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. More information on reserving a spot in Talladega's overnight parks and reserved infield area is also available online or by calling the Ticket Office.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-17-2005)

Additons at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway Vice President/General Manager Rick Humphrey announced the recent addition of Catie Christian and Jody Weldon to the track's Marketing Department. Christian has been named Hospitality Sales and Operations Coordinator, and Weldon has been named Marketing Coordinator. As Hospitality Sales and Operations Coordinator, Christian will be responsible for the sales and operations of suites, the hospitality village and corporate display area of the track. Weldon will be responsible for individual hospitality sales and operations as well as various organizational tasks within the marketing department. A native of Pinson, Ala., Weldon will graduate from The University of Alabama in May 2005, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and information sciences with a major in advertising and a dual minor in marketing and English. Weldon returns to the marketing department at Talladega Superspeedway after a successful internship at the track in the summer and early fall of 2004.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-17-2005)

Talladega Easter Hunt: This Easter weekend, Talladega Superspeedway will host an Easter Egg Hunt that will have the infield hopping with kids big and small! From 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, NASCAR's Most Competitive Track and the Easter bunny will welcome children into the infield to search for eggs containing a variety of prizes - from candy to an Easter treat that is hard to beat - race tickets to the 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway set for April 28 - May 1. A sweet surprise for parents will be a drawing for a free ride with Racing Experience, one of several driving schools that periodically visit Talladega Superspeedway. Perhaps one of the best parts of the day is that every child who participates in the hunt will get a small prize, so no ambitious egg hunter will leave empty-handed! The search will be separated into two age groups with one egg hunt for children ages 1 to 5, and a separate egg hunt for children ages 6 to 10. In the meantime, there will be plenty to see and do with the John Deere tractors and various Ford vehicles on display, as well as the track's #24 Jeff Gordon Pepsi show car. The new Talladega On Wheels unit will also be on site, with interactive racing video games and the chance to test your pit crew skills on the tire-changing machine. And if the need to re-fuel arises, refreshments will be provided by Golden Flake and Pepsi, the Official Salted Snack and Official Soft Drink of Talladega Superspeedway. And the Easter Bunny himself will be hopping around the whole time, helping kids search for eggs and posing for photos with visitors who have brought cameras to the event. All children between ages 1 through 10 are encouraged to participate in the hunt, and kids of all ages are welcome to witness the fun as it unfolds.(Talladega Superspeedway)(3-15-2005)

New Scoring Tower at Talladega Superspeedway: A giant, state-of-the-art scoring tower will rise soon from the infield at Talladega Superspeedway, just in time to enable fans here for the Aaron's Dream Weekend April 28-May 1 to keep up with the high volume of lead changes for which NASCAR's Most Competitive Track is widely known. The mammoth, 148-foot tower will be centrally located and will display scoring in a format standard to stock car racing, with the length of the tower emphasizing in bright lights the lap number and the numbers of the top 10 cars contending for the lead each lap. At the bottom of the row, the positions of the remainder of the field will progress in sets within two additional spaces. Flood lights will shine brightly atop the tower, showcasing rotating signage emblazoned with select sponsor logos. "We hold the record for having the most lead changes in a race, and we had more than 100 of them combined from our two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races last year," said Talladega Superspeedway Vice President/General Manager Rick Humphrey. "Racing here is so close, tracking the field is especially important. This new scoring tower will allow fans to do that, so it will be a particularly useful improvement at our facility." Talladega Superspeedway holds the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series all-time record for most lead changes in a race (75 in the spring of 1984) and most leaders in a race (26, most recently in the spring of 2001), establishing it as NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. NASCAR.COM fans recently voted Talladega Superspeedway the Track with the Most Exciting Racing Action in 2004, and it's a standard the track will no doubt uphold throughout the exciting 2005 racing season as well. The season kicks off with the 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend, set for April 29 - May 1. The 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend includes Winn-Dixie Qualifying Day Presented by Pepsi for the NASCAR Busch Series on April 28, The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on April 29, the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race on April 30 and the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on May 1. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, children age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Tickets to these events are available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. More information on reserving a spot in Talladega's overnight parks and reserved infield area is also available online or by calling the Ticket Office. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday (Talladega Superspeedway PR)(3-9-2005)

Talladega Superspeedway Unveils New Web Site Design: Although Talladega Superspeedway is steeped in 35 years of rich history and tradition, its presence on the World Wide Web has enabled it to progress within a technological age that seems to evolve as quickly as cars zipping around the legendary track. Now that presence has been remarkably enhanced through a new, cutting-edge web site design launched Tuesday, March 1 at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. The redesigned www.talladegasuperspeedway.com features a new layout, color scheme and dynamic navigation, making it easier to locate important track information. The home page is more streamlined, focused on providing easier access to tickets, maps of the facility's many overnight parking options and other important information for race fans planning to visit during our two major event weekends. In addition, historical information and statistics, expanded color photo galleries and new, downloadable wallpapers will be available for fans to view. The new site also incorporates an improved "search" function, putting fans just one click away from just about everything they could ever want to know about NASCAR's Most Competitive Track.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(3-4-2005)

NASCAR.COM Fans: Talladega Superspeedway Has Most Exciting Racing Action: Talladega Superspeedway already holds the distinction of being NASCAR's Most Competitive Track, and now a legion of NASCAR fans have voted it the "Track With the Most Exciting Racing Action" for 2004. The accolade is a result the 2004 NASCAR.COM Fan's Voice Awards, which consisted of 19 separate categories. Historically, Talladega Superspeedway holds records for both the most lead changes in a race (75 in the spring of 1984) as well as the highest number of leaders in a race (26 on two separate occasions, most recently in the fall of 2001.) Last year, the two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway produced over 100 lead changes and 31 different drivers led at least one lap at the world-famous 2.66-mile tri-oval. The track's 35th Anniversary Celebration as well as the fall event's status as race three in the inaugural 10-race Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship format only compounded the electric energy of competition at Talladega Superspeedway in 2004. Talladega Superspeedway has yet another season of out-of-your-seat and on-your-feet racing action planned for race fans with the Aaron's Dream Weekend set for April 28 - May 1 and the UAW-Ford 500 Weekend set for Sept. 29 - Oct. 2. The 2005 Aaron's Dream Weekend features Winn-Dixie Qualifying Day Presented by Pepsi for the NASCAR Busch Series on Thursday, April 28, The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series on Friday, April 29, the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday, April 30 and the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on Sunday, May 1. Tickets to these events are available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342)(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-25-2005)

Talladega gets a race sponsor for fall race:Leaders from the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Ford Motor Company joined today with Talladega Superspeedway to announce that the fall NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway will be known as the UAW-Ford 500, beginning in 2005. The race entitlement is part of a multi-year agreement between the entities that also establishes Ford as the official car and truck of the historic Alabama racetrack. The natural relationship between Ford Motor Company and the racing industry can be traced back to the automobile's origins, for as soon as men could create cars it seemed they wanted to race them. Before company founder Henry Ford became a household name for designing the affordable Model T in 1908, he had already been winning races for several years prior in other models he'd designed, starting with a 1901 victory on a one-mile oval at the Detroit Driving Club in Grosse Pointe, MI. Ford's history in NASCAR can be traced back to the very first Grand National (now NEXTEL Cup) Series event, when Jim Roper drove his Lincoln to victory in Charlotte on June 19, 1949. Ford also holds a special place in Talladega Superspeedway history as the vehicle in which Bill Elliott set an all-time 212.809 mph NASCAR qualifying speed record here. The all-time NASCAR race speed record was also set in a Ford at Talladega, when Mark Martin won the 1997 Winston 500 at an average speed of 188.354 mph.
Tickets to the Oct. 2 UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, race three in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, go on sale March 7 and may be purchased by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. More information on reserving a spot in Talladega's overnight parks and reserved infield area is also available online or by calling the Ticket Office. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway's Ticket Office 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-22-2005)

Kids Free at Talladega Race Weekend, Thurs-Fri-Sat: Talladega Superspeedway will admit children absolutely free of charge for three of the four days of its race weekends. Kids age 11 and younger will be admitted to the grandstands at no cost when accompanied by a ticketed adult Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30. That means that kids 11 and younger can witness - for free - Winn-Dixie Qualifying Day presented by Pepsi on Thursday, which sets the field for the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race, The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day on Friday, which sets the field for the Aaron's 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race on Sunday, and the Saturday Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race. Kids age 11 and younger will again be admitted free of charge to the bulk of on-track events when the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series returns in the fall along with the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Tickets to the Aaron's Dream Weekend April 28 - May 1 are available by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) or by visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway)(2-15-2005)

Talladega honors Labonte, Martin, Wallace: When three veteran NASCAR drivers announced last year their intentions to bring their full-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series careers to a close, Talladega Superspeedway officials immediately sought a way to honor them appropriately. Terry Labonte, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace all have played significant roles in the 35-year-old track's rich history, and now race fans will have the opportunity to purchase collectible qualifying day tickets honoring their impressive careers, Talladega Superspeedway Vice President/General Manager Rick Humphrey announced today. Only 5,500 of the tickets will be printed, with each granting admission to The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day on Friday, April 29, during which the field will be set for the May 1 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron's 499. These colorful, limited-edition souvenirs feature current and retro photos of each of the drivers, and cost $10 - the same price as a regular walk-up grandstand admission ticket for qualifying day.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(1-25-2005)

TSS Honors Larry Johnson for 35 Years of Service: Before the first sounds of roaring engines filled the air and the first green flag fell at Talladega Superspeedway, Larry Johnson was hard at work at the now legendary track. The entire staff of Talladega Superspeedway gathered Thursday to honor Johnson, who has been employed at the facility for all of its historic 35 years of existence. Johnson, who today works in the Superspeedway's Maintenance Department, officially began working for TSS on Sept. 2, 1969. Prior to that day, he played a part in bringing NASCAR founder William H.G. France's ambitious 2.66-mile dream to reality as an employee with Moss-Thornton, the Alabama construction firm that built the track. Johnson was hired by then-superintendent Red Pugh, who came from Daytona to oversee maintenance at Talladega Superspeedway. Twelve days after he was hired, Johnson witnessed the first NASCAR race at the new facility on Sept. 14, 1969 - the inaugural Talladega 500. At the surprise presentation, Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch introduced Johnson by first recalling several signs of the times in 1969, from popular music to the cost of the average automobile 35 years ago. Lynch read a letter sent by International Speedway Corporation President Lesa D. Kennedy in which Kennedy personally thanked Johnson on behalf of ISC management as well as the France family. Lynch then thanked Johnson, asking him and his wife, Alice, to join him and Talladega Superspeedway Vice President/General Manager Rick Humphrey before the assembled employees for the presentation of gifts, a special holiday bonus and a cake commemorating his service. Johnson received a standing ovation. Johnson, who served as superintendent during part of his tenure here, said he never dreamed he'd experience such a long and fulfilling career in one place, adding that it has been the people surrounding him that have made it happen. He said the special presentation was not only an honor but a complete surprise, with his suspicion raised only when he arrived at what he thought was a facility-wide holiday meeting and saw that his wife was there, too. The Johnsons reside in Talladega County and have five children: sons Lonnie Herrington and Larry Dale Johnson, and daughters Renee Perley, Dana Phillips and Vicki Johnson.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(12-19-2004)

Talladega helps raise funds:Talladega Superspeedway joined forces with local radio station WTDR Thunder 92.7 Wednesday for the annual Bake A Christmas fundraiser, ultimately raising more than $12,000 to provide Christmas gifts for less fortunate children in the station’s immediate listening area. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, officials from the track joined forces with on-air personalities at the station in a special live auction broadcast led by WTDR 92.7 Owner and Producer Jim Jacobs. For the eighth consecutive year, Jacobs and his staff welcomed track officials as special guests throughout the day, chatted with listeners and offered to the highest bidders spectacular racing memorabilia coupled with delicious donated baked goods. Among the standout auction items was a crew shirt donated by Evernham Motorsports signed by the organization’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series drivers Kasey Kahne, Bill Elliott and Jeremy Mayfield and three checkered flags from Talladega Superspeedway emblazoned with the autographs of the biggest stars in racing over the years.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(12-18-2004)

Races looking for sponsors: at least four race tracks are looking for a title sponsor for their Nextel Cup races in 2005:
Chicagoland [Tropicana left, will miss the big orange]
Michigan [DHL lasted one year, will they be involved in NASCAR ?}
California [Pop Secret moved from the Rock for a year, General Mills
Talladega [EA Sports gone]
California is looking for $2 million for the labor day prime time race
(NASCAR Scene Print)(11-26-2004)

Talladega Ticket Holders Get Ultimate Stocking Stuffer: Just in time for the holidays, Talladega Superspeedway offers a gift that will knock race fans' socks off. Hopefully they'll re-hang them from the chimney with care, in place to hold the ultimate stocking stuffers - certificates entitling ticketholders to the May 1 Aaron's 499 to dash through the turns of Talladega in their own four-wheel open sleighs. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 22, fans who purchase a ticket to the first Talladega race of the new NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season will receive a special Talladega Superspeedway Track Ride Voucher. The ticket holders may redeem the certificates on one of three dates early next year for the thrill of taking their personal vehicles for a spin around the legendary 2.66-mile tri-oval. The glossy, specially-designed vouchers are the perfect size to be placed in a festive envelope stuffed into a holiday stocking or carefully placed in a very large box - that is, if it is possible to package the excitement of driving the sweeping lines of the famed Talladega Superspeedway. The possibilities are endless when it comes to ways of presenting what every race fan would see as the experience of a lifetime. Those who have experienced it say it is a memory they will cherish forever. Fans may choose between Feb. 27, March 5 or April 16, 2005 to redeem the vouchers. One track ride constituting one vehicle and as many occupants as there are seatbelts in that vehicle, so it's a gift that can be enjoyed by several fans at once.
Tickets to the May 1 Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway may be purchased by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CDT, or by going online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(11-27-2004)

Tornado Hits Talladega: A line of tornadoes Wednesday that destroyed dozens of Alabama homes, killing one woman and injuring at least two other people, left survivors to rummage through the destruction on Thanksgiving Day. Scattered damage also was reported in Dallas, Clay, Etowah and Talladega counties. A huge scoreboard was flattened at the Talladega Superspeedway, and three airplanes were blown over at the adjacent Talladega Municipal Airport. The storms, spawned by an advancing cold front, also caused flooding and power outages from central Alabama north to the Tennessee Valley region of north Alabama. On the coast, a water spout was reported over Mobile Bay.(more at Alabama Live)(11-25-2004)

What used to be a scoreboard at Talladega Superspeedway?
Thanks to Mike Wilson of Birmingham, Alabama for the image.

Talladega Not Planning on Going to 2-day format: Count Talladega Superspeedway among the tracks holding out on NASCAR's new plan to shorten race weekend schedules during the 2005 Nextel Cup season. Several tracks are not buying into the plan, which would move qualifying from Fridays to Saturdays at most tracks. Most of the holdouts are tracks that have sponsored qualifying days or typically draw large crowds for the runs for the pole. "Right now, we have no plans to change anything," Kristi King, director of public relations at Talladega Superspeedway, said. "We're sticking to what we have scheduled. We'll continue to look at it and talk with NASCAR as we go forward." The Friday qualifying days for both Talladega race weekends are sponsored, in the spring by The Birmingham News and in the fall by Discount Food Mart.(Alabama Live)(11-17-2004)

Talladega names Director: Talladega Superspeedway Vice President/General Manager Rick Humphrey announced today that Patrick Barfield has been named Director of Operations at the facility. Barfield has served as Manager of Gate Operations and Guest Services at Talladega Superspeedway since 1999. Among Barfield’s many duties will be managing facility event traffic and overseeing track rentals as well as continuing a variety of tasks directly tied to guest services, from facilitating the operations of the track’s tram system to overseeing the operations of its information booths. Prior to joining Talladega Superspeedway, Barfield worked in International Speedway Corporation’s Public Affairs Department from February 1998 to September 1999, further developing experience gained the year prior serving in various capacities at Daytona International Speedway. An Alabama native, Barfield graduated from Brooks High School in Killen, Ala. in 1991. He is a 1996 graduate of the University of Alabama, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human environmental sciences. He will officially begin his new role as Director of Operations at Talladega Superspeedway Dec. 1 as the facility continues its preparation for the 2005 racing season. Tickets are available for another year of out-of-your-seat and on-your-feet racing action at Talladega, starting with the Aaron’s Dream Weekend April 28 – May 1. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA (1-877-462-3342) Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CDT, or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(11-3-2004)

Inspection Process at Talladega: NASCAR pulled a little switch this week for Talladega inspections when they opened the garage a day earlier than usual. The effort, being heralded as a success by NASCAR, took a lot of the frantic movement out of the speedway inspection process. The idea was to get the cars on the ground, inspected and ready to go early Friday morning; and with the efforts of both NASCAR and the competitors the plan worked fairly well. The added bonus of an extra half-hour of practice time for the teams was the reward for the head start in the exacting and very involved speedway inspection process. NASCAR’s reward was a “friendlier schedule to deal with.” NASCAR opened the garage Thursday, with the promise that each team could make one pass through the inspection gauntlet that speedway cars must endure. The extra time made for a more casual inspection, and left most of the crew chiefs with extra pre-practice time to work on their cars. NASCAR sources said they didn’t find anything out of the ordinary in inspections here, but some teams had to grind edges off their cars to fit templates. There was also a curious set of rear spring buckets that were found on one of the DEI entries [#1], forcing NASCAR inspectors to check the other DEI cars that had already gotten their cleared for competition stickers.(Team Ford Racing)(10-2-2004)

Steps to Avoid an April repeat: Talladega Superspeedway officials have taken quiet steps to quell the possibility of a riot such as occurred at the end of the April race here. Fans, frustrated by a confusing finish under caution (with Jeff Gordon beating local favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.) erupted, throwing cans and garbage onto the track as the race ended. Track VP Rick Humphrey said two proactive steps had been taken. First, security will be increased, with added police and private security personnel, in uniform, in the grandstands. Second, the track sent out letters to all ticketholders noting that such behavior will not be tolerated and encouraging fans to report offenders.(Speed Channel site)(10-2-2004)

Helen Keller School Trio ‘B-Boys’ To Perform National Anthem: Three young men from the Helen Keller School in Talladega are slated to perform the National Anthem during the EA SPORTS 500 weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Helen Keller School is one component of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB), which serves students who are blind or have multiple disabilities. Brian Helton, 12, of Fruithurst, Ala., Ben Meredith, 18, of Dothan, Ala. and Timmareo Woods, 15, of Auburn, Ala., are all students at the school and form the vocal trio known as ‘B-Boys.’ They will perform before both the Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race on Oct. 2 and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series EA SPORTS™ 500 on Oct 3. Helen Keller School teacher Stephanie Gaddis brought the group together for an assembly program at the school. She wanted a singing group for the pageant, and asked Helton and Woods if they were interested performing. They agreed and quickly came up with a name for themselves and added Meredith to become a trio. Teacher’s Aide Mrs. Janet Williams offered her assistance and within no time, B-Boys began stunning audiences with their beautiful vocal harmonies. They have performed for assemblies at the school, as well as for several community groups, according to Lynne Hanner, Director of Institutional Advancement for AIDB. “The B-Boys also performed for more than 1,200 people earlier this year at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, during our Race Fever annual fund raiser.”(TSS PR)(10-2-2004)

Tickets still available for Talladega: The ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300 begins at 1 p.m. Saturday., Oct. 2. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series EA SPORTS™ 500 begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. Two-day tickets to Saturday and Sunday’s events start at $60 in the Allison Grandstand. For one $60 ticket, fans can catch all the action of the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the final practices and preparation of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams on Saturday, then enjoy EA SPORTS 500 on Sunday. This week, the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office is open Monday through from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets also are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA, or by logging onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(10-2-2004)

Talladega Media Center Re-named for Patterson: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that the Infield Media Center wil be renamed the Ken Patterson Media Center. Patterson, who served as director of Public Relations for Talladega Superspeedway from 2000 until his untimely death, passed away April 2 fr m complications of myelo dysplasia syndrome. “Ken was an integral part of the Talladega Superspeedway family and one of the most respected individuals in this sport,” said Grant Lynch, President of Talladega Superspeedway. “We wanted to honor Ken and renaming the Media Center seemed a natural way to make sure his dedication to the NASCAR community lived on. He will forever be part of Talla dega Superspeedway.” Since his death, several memorials have been established to honor Patterson, who made an impact on so many lives. Talladega Superspeedway’s White Flag Club awarded scholarships to students in Talladega County, St. Clair County and Calhoun County schools. A $500 scholarship was awarded to selected students in each county in Ken’s honor. The Ken Patterson Memorial Golf Tournament was held in late July and all proceeds from the event benefited the Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund, which was set up for Patterson’s children, Zachary, 5, and Brady, 8 months. Contributions may be sent to Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund, Attn: Efie Russell, PO Box 370, Anniston, AL 36202. Contributions may als o be made at any Colonial Bank. In addition, beginning in January, the NMPA will present Ken Patterson Helping Others Award to a deserving public relations representative in motorsports. Voting for the award will be done by the NMPA members and will be given to the representative who has exhibited the qualities of excellence Patterson always strived for. Talladega Superspeedway will donate $1,000 in the name of the winner each year to the Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund. Patterson is survived by his wife Jenny and sons Zachary and Brady.(Talladega Superspeedway)(10-1-2004)

Orange County Choppers Grand Marshal's at Talladega: Members of the Orange County Choppers organization will sign autographs for fans this Saturday, Oct. 2 at Talladega Superspeedway prior to the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300 and Sunday, Oct. 3 prior to the EA SPORTS* 500. The OCC gang will sign on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the track's display area, where they will also have on display several of the gleaming custom-built motorcycles for which they have gained international fame. OCC members expected to appear for the sessions are the Orange County Choppers Owner Paul Teutul, Sr. and Chief Fabricator and Designer Paul Teutul, Jr., Cody, Vinny and Mikey. Custom OCC motorcycles that will be on display are The Talladega Superspeedway Bike, the Fire bike, the Vinny Bike, the Mikey and Vinny Bike, and the Black Widow. The sessions precede the highlight of OCC's involvement in the EA SPORTS 500 weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, which will be during pre-race activities on Sunday when they unveil a chopper that not only commemorates the track's 35th anniversary celebration, but also benefits a wonderful cause - Victory Junction Gang Camp. Talladega Superspeedway commissioned the motorcycle and will auction it on eBay following the race with proceeds going to the camp. Orange County Choppers Owner Paul Teutul, Sr. and Chief Fabricator and Designer Paul Teutul, Jr. will serve as Grand Marshals for Sunday's Oct. 3 EA SPORTS* 500 and will give the command "Gentlemen, start your engines" for the third race in the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(10-1-2004)

Raceway Ministries To Offer Worship Sites: Raceway Ministries will offer several activities for race fans during the EA SPORTS 500 weekend Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 at Talladega Superspeedway, including three ministry sites throughout the grounds, live music and pinewood car racing for children. One-hour interdenominational worship services will be held throughout the weekend at three ministry sites and in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame Pavilion Four. Ministry Site One is located by the security building in the North Park. Ministry Site Two is located near the first security area in the triangle of the Family Park. Ministry Site Three is located in the infield, near the middle of the back straightaway. All worship services will be held at 9 a.m. Ministry Sites Two and Three will hold Timothy Cup pinewood car races for children one hour after the checkered flag drops on the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300 Saturday afternoon. Painting of the pinewood cars will take place at these sites all weekend leading up to the Saturday races. Site One will host music groups offering performances Saturday morning and afternoon. In addition, Raceway Ministries expects to distribute 8,000 bottles of water to race fans, each bottle bearing a “living water” sticker, as well as more than 200,000 tracts as a means of outreach. Raceway Ministries began its fan outreach program at Talladega Superspeedway in 1982 and is now affiliated with National Raceway Ministries, an interdenominational group that serves several major race tracks in the country.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-28-2004)

35th Areo Warrior Reunion: The big 35th Areo Warrior Anniversary Reunion / Daytona Superbird Auto Club 2004 at Talladega is scheduled for September 30th through October 3rd, 2004. The cars will make a parade lap around 9:30am/ct [10:30am/et] on Sunday, Oct 3rd. Some of the drivers attending who have driven or had something to do with one of the Winged Cars include Charlie Glotzbach, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Buddy Baker, George Wallace [former race engineer with Chrysler Corporation], Charlie Gray [formerly of Ford], Larry Rathgeb [Chrysler], Bill Holbrook [Ford], John Bach [Former Holman-Moody and Wood Brothers crewman], and Steve Lehto who has just written a book on Bobby Isaac. More info at either: superbirdclub.com or aerowarriors.com.(9-28-2004)

Talladega Escapes Major Damage from Ivan: Talladega Superspeedway escaped major damage from Hurricane Ivan’s punishing winds and torrential rainfall that devastated many areas of Alabama Thursday. “Fortunately, the only damage sustained by Talladega Superspeedway was the loss of some signage, and the roof of one of the facility’s greenhouses was destroyed,” Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch said. “Race fans should know everything will be in perfect order here at the end of the month as we welcome them for the EA SPORTS 500 weekend. Our major roads are all clear and traffic will flow as usual. We’re ready to go racing.” Talladega Superspeedway issued a statement over the weekend welcoming people from the southern Alabama and Florida areas to its campgrounds for refuge, but warned the arriving evacuees to go further north Wednesday morning as the track of Hurricane Ivan became more clear and the weather threat became more imminent for the area. Superspeedway staff also took necessary precautions Wednesday to secure the facility prior to the hurricane hitting land on the Gulf Coast early Thursday morning. TSS offices were closed throughout the day Thursday, and reopened mid-morning on Friday. “As reports of the destruction continue to mount, we become more and more aware of how fortunate we are to have escaped with as little damage as we had. Our thoughts are with the many people affected by this terrible storm as they begin the process of recovery and rebuilding,” Lynch said.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-18-2004)

Hurricane Ivan and Talladega Update: Earlier this week Talladega Superspeedway was working with FEMA on setting locations for campers and tents to get away from Hurricane Ivan. With the track of Ivan now headed across Talladega County, we are encouraging folks to seek shelter in designated areas.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-15-2004)

Hurricane Ivan Evacuees are Welcomed in Talladega County The Talladega County Emergency Management Agency at the request of the Alabama State Emergency Management Agency contacted Talladega Superspeedway to request that the speedway make available certain campgrounds and parking areas for possible hurricane Ivan evacuees. Talladega Superspeedway has graciously agreed and is on standby for anyone needing to use specified camping and / or parking facilities for refuge from hurricane Ivan and its dangers. All Talladega county local municipalities and volunteer responders have been notified of the possible arrival of evacuees. Each agency is on standby to assist if the need should arise. The combined statement of the Talladega County Commissioners is “We are grateful to Talladega Superspeedway for their hospitality and we are willing to assist where or if needed”. A map for travel assistance to the speedway can be requested from The Talladega County EMA at (256) 761-4705, (256) 761-2125 or (256) 223-2367.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)
AND Talladega Superspeedway's infield will be abuzz with activity from 1 to 5 p.m. this Sunday [9-12] when fans are welcomed for a free, fun-filled event to thank them for their perennial loyalty to the track as it celebrates it 35th anniversary. Anyone who has purchased or purchases a ticket to the Oct. 3 EA SPORTS 500 will have the experience of a lifetime this Sunday, when they may take their personal vehicle for a lap around the famed 2.66-mile tri-oval.(more info at the Talladega Superspeedway site)(9-11-2004)

#20k raised for Ken Patterson Educational Trust Fund: Ken Patterson will always be remembered for his bolstering laugh and making others smile. And yesterday he did just that. Over 160 golfers turned out for the Ken Patterson Memorial Golf Tournament held at Silver Lakes Golf Course. More than $20,000 was raised for the Ken Patterson Educational Trust Fund that was set-up to assist his two children four-year-old son Zachary, and six month old son Brady. Patterson passed away April 2, following a battle with myelo dysplasia syndrome. He served as Director of Public Relations at Talladega Superspeedway from June 19, 2000 until his death. “Ken was not only an employee, he was a friend,” said Talladega Superspeedway Vice-President/General Manager Rick Humphrey. “I will remember him most for his trademark laugh. His laughter lessened worries, calmed situations and brightened all of our days. We miss him tremendously.” The tournament was hosted by Talladega Superspeedway and the White Flag Club. Representatives from the racing community, sponsors, business associates and friends of Patterson’s donated prizes, food, beverages, and trophies for the event. A commemorative poster was signed by each golfer in attendance and presented to Patterson’s wife, Jenny during the awards ceremony. “Our family is overwhelmed by today’s turnout,” Jenny said. “I never knew how many people Ken touched until he passed away. We are extremely grateful for the support we have received from everyone.” To make donations to the Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund that has been set up for Zachary and Brady Patterson, contributions may be sent to: Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund, Attn: Effie Russell, PO Box 370, Anniston, AL 36202.(TSS PR)(7-30-2004)

Talladega names new PR Manager: Talladega Superspeedway Vice-President/General Manager Rick Humphrey announced the addition of Lisa Battles to its staff as public relations manager. A native of Decatur, Ala., Battles is a 1998 journalism graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. She returns to Alabama after living the past six years in the Nashville area, where she has been working at award-winning newspapers in Wilson County, Tenn. Battles most recently served as copy editor at The Lebanon Democrat, the daily newspaper in Lebanon, Tenn. Prior to that, she served as editor and news editor at the daily’s sister newspaper, Mt. Juliet News in Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Her role at both newspapers included extensive coverage of motorsports, including a weekly column on racing.(TSS PR)(7-21-2004)

2nd Talladega race looking for a sponsor: Talladega Superspeedway officials are searching for a new sponsor for the track's fall race because this October's EA Sports 500 will be the last to carry that name. Electronic Arts, which markets numerous electronic sports games, has notified the track that it will not extend its contract for naming rights beyond October. Rick Humphrey, the track's vice president and general manager, said the search for a title sponsor for the fall race in 2005 is ongoing. EA Sports took over sponsorship of the fall race in 2001 with a three-year contract. Then the company extended the contract a year to include the upcoming race on Oct. 3. EA Sports used the Talladega race to promote new editions of the game, but the company also had to enter licensing agreements with race teams, drivers, tracks and NASCAR. Humphrey said Electronic Arts "concluded sponsorship of a single event was not as necessary as other elements to market their game successfully." Aaron's, a rental company, sponsors Talladega's spring race. Its contract goes through 2005, and discussions have already begun about extending the contract. "We are comfortable with the way those negotiations are going," Humphrey told The Birmingham News.(Macon Telegraph/AP)(7-7-2004)

Pit Passes at Talladega: Back by popular demand, Talladega Superspeedway is once again offering Pre-race Pit Passes for individual sales to the Oct. 3 EA SPORTS 500, the third race into the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Fans who have purchased a ticket to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series EA SPORTS 500 in the Tri-Oval Tower, O.V. Hill South Tower extension and Birmingham Tower extension by Sunday, July 4, will have the opportunity to purchase a Pre-race Pit Pass on a first-serve basis on Tuesday, July 6 for $50. Only a limited number of Pre-race Pit Passes will be available. Ticket holders in those sections must call 1-877-Go2-DEGA on July 6 ONLY, to purchase their Pre-race Pit Pass for the EA SPORTS 500 at NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track. A Pre-race Pit Pass allows fans to enhance their experience, putting them on the track, at the Start/Finish Line, onto Pit Road and up close and personal with all the activities surrounding the pre-race entertainment. Pre-race Pit Passes are good beginning at 8 o’clock on the morning of the EA SPORTS 500 and will last until one hour prior the start of the race. These times are tentative as track schedule and weather permit. There is no age restriction and no dress code during pre-race festivities. Fans who purchase tickets in the Tri-Oval Tower, O.V. Hill South Tower extension and Birmingham Tower extension by July 4 are allowed to buy one Pre-race Pit Pass for each tower seat purchased. Tower seats in those sections are two-day tickets allowing fans to watch both the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300 on Oct. 2 and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series EA SPORTS 500 on Oct. 3. The 2004 EA SPORTS 500 Weekend starts with the Alabama Beef Producer’s Qualifying Day for the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300 on Thursday, Sept. 30. The Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day is Friday, Oct. 1 to set the field for the NEXTEL Cup EA SPORTS 500. Cost of admission to each qualifying day is $10 with children 11-and-under allowed admission for free. The “Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup” is on as Talladega Superspeedway celebrates it’s 35th Anniversary with the running of the Oct. 3 EA SPORTS 500. Get your tickets today by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA, for our hearing-impaired guests call TDD # 1-866-472-8725 or log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(7-1-2004)

Talladega Tix Available: Now that fans have had the chance to renew their seats or make upgrade requests from last fall’s weekend of racing at Talladega Superspeedway, tickets for the EA SPORTS 500 Weekend are now available simply by calling the track’s ticket office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA or online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. The EA SPORTS 500 Weekend is the 35th Anniversary of Talladega Superspeedway and on-track action kicks-off on Thursday, Sept. 30, with the Alabama Beef Producers Qualifying Day for the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300. On Friday, Oct. 1, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams return to Talladega Superspeedway to set the field for the EA SPORTS 500 in the Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day. Saturday’s events begin with the two final practice sessions for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The Food World 300 begins on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m. The green flag drops on the EA SPORTS 500 at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3. Fans can watch both the Food World 300 and the EA SPORTS 500 for one $60 ticket. The Allison Grandstand, located out of Turn 2, is a two-day $60 ticket and offers a bird’s-eye view of Turns 1 and 2 and all the passing that takes place heading down the longest backstretch on the NASCAR circuit. In 2004, Talladega Superspeedway began offering Pre-race Pit Passes for individual sales. Only a limited number of Pre-race Pit Passes will be available. Fans who have purchased a ticket to the EA SPORTS 500 in the Tri-Oval Tower, O.V. Hill South Tower extension and Birmingham Tower extension by Sunday, July 4, will have the opportunity to purchase a Pre-race Pit Pass on a first-serve basis for $50. Ticket holders in those sections must call 1-877-Go2-DEGA beginning on Tuesday, July 6, to purchase their Pre-race Pit Pass for the EA SPORTS 500. A Pre-race Pit Pass allows fans to enhance their experience, putting them on the track, at the Start/Finish Line, onto Pit Road and up close and personal with all the activities surrounding the pre-race entertainment. The chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series is on as Talladega Superspeedway celebrates it’s 35th Anniversary with the running of the Oct. 3 EA SPORTS 500. Get your tickets today by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA, for our hearing-impaired guests call TDD # 1-866-472-8725 or log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(6-14-2004)

King named Director of PR for Talladega: Kristi R. King has joined Talladega Superspeedway as the Director of Public Relations, track president Grant Lynch announced today. King comes to Talladega after serving as Director of Public Relations for North Carolina Speedway. “Kristi spent some time with us this spring and really fit in well with our team here at Talladega,” Lynch said. “We are excited she has decided to take this opportunity. I think she will quickly become an asset not only to our facility but to our community as well.” A 10-year veteran of the sport, King’s duties at Talladega will include all aspects of public relations including advertising and promotions as well as media relations. She will begin her duties in early June. “I am excited about this new opportunity at Talladega Superspeedway and remaining a part of the International Speedway Corporation family,” said King. “Talladega is known for its competition and tradition and has the greatest fans in world. I am honored to be joining their team and look forward to the EA SPORTS 500 Weekend.” King, an Ellerbe, NC native, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. King and her husband of three years, David, will relocate to Alabama next month.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(5-19-2004)

A New 'NASCAR' Track in Alabama? A group of Alabama investors is exploring opening a new NASCAR speedway in Baldwin County [on the Gulf], an estimated $350 million venture in one of the state's popular tourist areas. The group plans to approach NASCAR officials in June with the proposal. The group has hired a Raleigh, N.C.-based consultant to help with the development process, according to Rick Edwards, one of 10 businessmen from around the state involved in the venture. The group either owns or has an option to buy five sites on the Foley Beach Express, ranging from 500 acres to 1,000 acres. "Nothing is definite with NASCAR," Edwards, a developer based in Point Clear, told the Mobile Register in a story Sunday. "We got a group together and said, `Let's make a run at it.' Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway hosts NASCAR events in the spring and fall. The newspaper's efforts to reach NASCAR President Mike Helton were not successful. The plan is to incorporate a speedway with other entertainment venues that could take advantage of the 500 to 600 acres of parking that would be needed on race days, Edwards said. The sites also include extra land to serve as a buffer for the noise. "We're hoping that what we've got will be a little different than anything done in the past," Edwards said. "Our biggest concern is whether it will affect the Talladega race. We don't feel like it will. It's an entirely different market down here."(Alabama Live)(5-10-2004)

Fall Talladega Race Tix on Sale: Get your tickets today for the Sept. 30 – Oct. 3 EA SPORTS 500 Weekend by calling the track’s ticket office at (877) Go2-DEGA. The EA SPORTS 500 Weekend begins on Thursday, Sept. 30, with qualifying for the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300. On Friday, Oct. 1, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series teams return to Talladega Superspeedway to set the field for the EA SPORTS 500 in the Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day. Saturday’s events kick-off with two practice sessions for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. The Food World 300 ARCA RE/MAX Series race begins at 1 p.m. The green flag drops on the EA SPORTS 500 at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go-2-DEGA. For the hearing impaired, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (866-472-8725). For more information about Talladega Superspeedway, including seating charts and overnight Park maps, please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. The track’s official website includes a 3D Virtual Tour where fans can choose a particular grandstand section and get a view from those seats.(TSS PR)(4-30-2004)

Future changes at Talladega? NO Cooler Ban planned: Talladega Superspeedway officials will examine ways to prevent fans from littering the track as they did Sunday, spokesperson Kristi King said. Fans threw cans, containers and other trash onto the track after series officials put Jeff Gordon ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and did not restart the race after a caution with four laps to go, giving Gordon the victory. King said track officials will begin studying what to do in the next couple of weeks as they prepare for the Oct.3 race there. A ban on coolers, though, seems unlikely.(Roanoke Times)(4-28-2004)

Crowd at Talladega Pretty Well Behaved: Although the negative fan reaction to Jeff Gordon's victory in the Nextel 499 at the Talladega Superspeedway may not have presented the face most people would like to associate with Talladega, as a whole the consensus seemed to be that the weekend went well. "It was really a great weekend. We had four good days, and the weather cooperated, although I am disappointed in how the fans behaved at the end of Sunday's race," speedway general manager Rick Humphrey said. Humphrey added that he had not seen any solid numbers, but said the Associated Press was estimating Sunday's crowd at 155,000. Talladega County Chief Deputy Jimmy Kilgore said the Sheriff's Department made "about 80 arrests" total during the weekend. "For the most part, the fans were very well behaved. Although they didn't seem to like Gordon winning very much." No one was charged with throwing anything on to the track Sunday, but various arrests were made for disorderly conduct, minor domestic arguments, public intoxication, public lewdness and driving under the influence. "We also arrested a couple of people for carrying pistols without a permit," Kilgore said. Lincoln Police Chief Dennis Surrett said it was a “typical race weekend” for his officers. “We had five DUI arrests, and others for various charges, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines,” he said. “There were no arrests for public intoxication or disorderly conduct. For the most part, the crowd was well behaved. Most of the incidents were contained at the race track,” he said. The Alabama State Trooper Post in Jacksonville, which covers all of Talladega County, reported no accidents with injury in its jurisdiction Sunday.(Daily Home)(4-27-2004)

Award to Honor Ken Patterson: Talladega Superspeedway and National Motorsports Press Association Announce Ken Patterson Helping Others Award. A colleague. A newspaper editor. A husband and father. A man’s man. A friend. Everyone knew him simply as Ken, and he was regarded as one of the best in the business. Ken Patterson, director of Public Relations for Talladega Superspeedway, died April 2 from complications of myelo dysplasia syndrome. Since his untimely death, several memorials have been established to honor Patterson, who made an impact on so many lives, and today Talladega Superspeedway president Grant Lynch announced another as a joint effort with the National Motorsports Press Association. Beginning in January, the NMPA will present Ken Patterson Helping Others Award to a deserving public relations representative in motorsports. Voting for the award will be done by the NMPA members and will be given to the representative who has exhibited the qualities of excellence Patterson always strived for. Talladega Superspeedway will donate $1,000 in the name of the winner each year to the Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund. “Ken was a respected, exceptional person who was taken from us far too soon,” Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch said. “He will be deeply missed and we want to make sure his memory and his work within NASCAR and the community lives on. “This is just a start as we look for ways to permanently honor and remember Ken Patterson.” The Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund has been set up for Patterson’s children, Zachary, 4, and Brady, 3 months. Contributions may be sent to Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund, Attn: Effie Russell, PO Box 370, Anniston, AL 36202. Contributions may also be made at any Colonial Bank.
This year, Talladega Superspeedway’s White Flag Club will award a $500 scholarship to students in Talladega County, St. Clair County and Calhoun County schools in Ken’s honor. Additionally, some 500 purple and yellow ribbons will be worn throughout the weekend by speedway staff and members of the motorsports industry. The purple and gold ribbons signify Ken’s alma mater, Louisiana State University where he played baseball. A large arrangement of purple and gold flowers as well as a framed Anniston Star tribute will be on display in the media center throughout race weekend.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-24-2004)

Tix still available for Talladega Races: Tickets for the Aaron's 499 Cup race and Aaron's 312 Busch Series race can be purchased by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA or by visiting online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. For the hearing impaired, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway’s Ticket Office located at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.(4-23-2004)

Alabama Gang Member To Serve as Grand Marshal at 'Dega: NASCAR legend and one of the original members of the famed “Alabama Gang” Bobby Allison will serve as grand marshal for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. The Hueytown, Ala., driver and 1983 NASCAR Cup champion had 84 NASCAR victories – four of them at Talladega Superspeedway – will say the most famous words in motorsports when he commands drivers to start their engines prior to the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race.(TSS PR)(4-23-2004)

Talladega Honorary Starter: An Aaron’s employee will serve as honorary starter for Sunday’s race and wave the green flag. The yet-to-be-named honorary starter is a winner of a nationwide contest conducted with employees of Aaron’s during its “PT Rodeo” – a contest among Aaron’s product technicians. Product technicians are the last point of contact with customers, and the best of the best.(TSS PR)(4-23-2004)

Talladega National Anthem: Mercury recording artist and 1999 ACM Top New Male Vocalist Mark Wills will sing the national anthem prior to the Aaron’s 499. Wills gained national attention in 1996 when his self-titled debut album produced “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Places I’ve Never Been.” He followed up with ‘90s radio staples like “Wish You Were Here,” “She’s In Love” and “I Do (Cherish You),” and “Don’t Laugh At Me.” Wills’ latest album, “And the Crowd Goes Wild,” is in stores now.(TSS PR)(4-23-2004)

Talladega Busch Race, Grand Marshal, National Anthem: On Saturday, Atlanta Falcons running back Warrick Dunn will serve as grand marshal for the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Busch Series race. An Aaron’s employee will serve as honorary starter for the race and wave the green flag. Holli Marie Mosley of Mobile, Ala., will sing the national anthem prior to the Busch Series event on Saturday. The 17-year-old junior at McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile is missing her school prom to attend Saturday’s race.(TSS PR)(4-23-2004)

Intimidator’s 2000 Win Tops Website Poll As Fan Favorite: No one thought he could do it. The driver aptly nicknamed “The Intimidator” was way back in 18th place with only five laps to go. A perennial fan favorite at Talladega Superspeedway since his first victory there in 1983, no one thought Dale Earnhardt could pull it off to win the 2000 Winston 500. Amazingly, he did. Earnhardt said of the win then: “To think anybody could come from as far back in the field as we were and win this race is beyond me. You saw it. I couldn't believe it." Earnhardt had 10 wins at Talladega Superspeedway – the most of any driver. Some say he could see the draft. Others thought his driving style was perfectly suited to the track’s high-baked, wide corners. One thing’s for sure – Earnhardt’s win that day was voted by visitors to the track’s Web site as the No. 1 Motorsports Moment at Talladega Superspeedway. For the past four weeks, fans have voted for the “Five Best Races at Talladega Superspeedway” on the track’s official website. These five races will be depicted on a limited-edition collectible pole day ticket for the Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day on Friday, October 1. This ticket will allow the bearer to access qualifying day at the track and can be purchased for $10. Christened in 1969 as Alabama International Motor Speedway, “NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track” was built for $4 million at the intersection of a soybean field and World War II-era runways. For 35 years, Talladega Superspeedway has thrilled and excited drivers and millions of race fans as the biggest, fastest and most competitive speedway in the world. To commemorate the anniversary, Talladega Superspeedway officials conducted a poll on the track’s official Web site to determine the Top five motorsports moments at the track.
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 1 – Dale Earnhardt charges from 18th position to first in the final 5 laps to win the 2000 Winston 500. (685 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 2 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. captures a record-setting fourth straight Talladega victory in NASCAR’s top division, winning the 2003 Aaron’s 499. (261 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 3 – Bill Elliott comes from nearly two laps down under green to win the 1985 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. (170 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 4 – Rookie Davey Allison scores his first NASCAR win with a victory in the 1987 Winston 500. (99 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 5 – Mark Martin wins fastest 500- mile race in NASCAR history, averaging 188.354 (2 hr. 39 minutes, 18 seconds) en route to winning the 1997 Winston 500. (55 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 6 (tie) – Bill Elliott sets qualifying speed record with a lap of 212.809 mph during time trials for the 1987 Winston 500. (44 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 6 (tie) – A record-setting 75 lead changes occur in the 1984 Winston 500. In the race won by Cale Yarborough, there was an average of one lead change every 2.51 laps. (44 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 8 – Darrell Waltrip breaks the string of 13 different winners of Talladega’s second event of the season, now known as the EA SPORTS 500, with a victory in 1982. (22 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 9 – Rookie Ron Bouchard stuns the crowd and his competitors, by beating veterans Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte to become the 13th different winner of Talladega’s summer event in August 1981. (17 votes)
Talladega Superspeedway Moment No. 10 – Richard Brickhouse takes the lead at lap 180 and goes on to win Talladega’s inaugural NASCAR event, held in September 1969. (7 votes)
The Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway is this weekend, Thursday through Sunday. Who knows? A new motorsports moment could top next year’s list. Winn-Dixie Qualifying Day is Thursday and will set the field for the Aaron's 312 NASCAR Busch Series race. A one-day general admission for Busch Series qualifying is $10. Birmingham News-Birmingham Post Herald Pole Day on Friday sets the field for the NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron's 499. A one-day commemorative pole day ticket for Cup qualifying is $10. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (866-472-8725), Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT. You may also purchase tickets in person at Talladega Superspeedway’s Ticket Office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday.(TSS PR)(4-21-2004)

Sad News: Ken Patterson, who served as director of public relations for Talladega Superspeedway, died early Friday morning. Patterson, 38, suffered from myelo dysplasia syndrome, a disease in which the body's bone marrow stops making healthy blood cells. Patterson has served as Director of Public Relations at Talladega Superspeedway since June 19, 2000. "We are very saddened by the passing of Ken Patterson," Grant Lynch, president of Talladega Superspeedway. "Ken was one of the most well respected individuals in our sport, and his dedication, enthusiasm and creativity helped set him apart from others."
"Ken was a major part of the Talladega Superspeedway family and one of the most compassionate people in the sport today," said Rick Humphrey, Vice-President/General Manager of Talladega Superspeedway. "He will forever be part of Talladega Superspeedway an d he will be missed tremendously."
Patterson is survived by his wife, Jenny, and two sons, Zachary, 4, and Brady, who is 2½ months old. Funeral arrangements were incomplete Friday.(ThatsRacin.com)
ARRANGEMENTS: Funeral arrangements and memorial information for Ken Patterson have been set and are as follows.
Visitation:
Saturday, April 3, 2004
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Brown & Kughn Funeral Home
620 Golden Springs Road
Anniston, AL 36207
Funeral
Sunday, April 4, 2004
3:30 pm
Forestlawn Gardens
730 Golden Springs Road
Anniston, AL 36207
Memorials
The Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund has been set up for Zachary and Brady Patterson and contributions may be sent to:
Kenneth Patterson Educational Trust Fund
Attn: Effie Russell
PO Box 370
Anniston, AL 36202.
Contributions may also be made at any Colonial Bank.(4-2-2004)

Talladega Superspeedway Celebrates 35TH Anniversary with Online Voting For Five Best Races: Talladega Superspeedway has launched a website vote to determine the five most memorable races in the track’s history. The voting will last four weeks and conclude on Friday, April 16. The five winning races will be announced during the Aaron’s 499 Dream Weekend, April 22 – 25. A photo depicting each of the five races chosen will appear on a Collectible Pole Day Ticket for Discount Food Mart Qualifying Day on October 1, 2004. This collectible ticket is available for $10. Fans may choose from the following ten races at Talladega Superspeedway and cast a vote for their favorite:

Richard Brickhouse takes the lead at lap 180 and goes on to win Talladega’s inaugural NASCAR event, held in September 1969 ·
Rookie Ron Bouchard stuns the crowd, and his competitors, by beating veterans Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte to become the 13th different winner of Talladega’s summer event in August 1981
Darrell Waltrip breaks the string of 13 different winners of Talladega’s second event of the season, now known as the EA SPORTS 500, with a victory in 1982
A record-setting 75 lead changes occur in the 1984 Winston 500. In the race won by Cale Yarborough, there was an average of one lead change every 2.51 laps
Bill Elliott comes from nearly 2 laps down under green to win the 1985 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
Bill Elliott sets qualifying speed record with a lap of 212.809 mph during time trials for the 1987 Winston 500
Rookie Davey Allison scores his first NASCAR win with a victory in the 1987 Winston 500
Mark Martin wins fastest 500-mile race in NASCAR history, averaging 188.354 (2 hr. 39 minutes, 18 seconds) en route to winning the 1997 Winston 500
Dale Earnhardt charges from 18th position to first in the final 5 laps to win the 2000 Winston 500
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. captures a record-setting fourth straight Talladega victory in NASCAR’s top division, winning the 2003 Aaron’s 499

To vote for your favorite race at Talladega Superspeedway, please visit our website www.talladegasuperspeedway.com and follow the instructions online.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(3-23-2004)

SAFER Installation underway at Talladega: Installation of SAFER Barriers is currently underway at Talladega Superspeedway, speedway officials announced today. Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barriers are scheduled to be in place around the 2.66-mile tri-oval in time for the April 22 – 25 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. The SAFER barrier at Talladega Superspeedway will be installed in Turns 1 & 2, Turns 3 & 4 as well as the tri-oval and inside retaining wall on the backstretch. The SAFER wall at Talladega Superspeedway will be 40 inches high, and extend through the turns and tri-oval about 30 inches from the wall. In 2002, SAFER barriers were erected in the inside retaining wall at the exit of Turn 4 and the entrance of Turn 1 at Talladega Superspeedway.
The Aaron's Dream Weekend, April 22-25, marks the return of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series to Talladega Superspeedway for 2004. You may purchase tickets by calling the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office at 1-877-Go2-DEGA Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (CT), Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (CT) or by visiting us online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. For our hearing impaired guests, call TDD # 1-866-ISC-TRAK (866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets at the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CT).(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(3-23-2004)

Talladega Tix: Ticket sales for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, April 22-25, are outpacing last year’s sales so track Vice-President/General Manager Rick Humphrey is encouraging race fans to buy seats before it’s too late. “Talladega Superspeedway continually offers some of the best, most competitive racing in all of motorsports,” Humphrey said. “And I’m proud to say that the track also offers some of the most competitive and affordable ticket bargains in racing.” Ticket packages in place for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend at “NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track” include: Two-day Talladega Tower tickets for $135; Two-day Allison Grandstand tickets for $60; Two-day event tickets include admission for the NASCAR Busch Series Aaron’s 312 on Saturday, April 24, and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron’s 499 on Sunday, April 25. A Sunday-only race ticket is also in place to the Aaron’s 499. Sunday tickets for Anniston, Moss-Thornton, Lincoln, Talladega and Gadsden grandstands for $70 and Sunday tickets for the Lincoln Tower and Gadsden Tower for $115 An easy-to-use three-dimensional map of Talladega Superspeedway is available online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(3-16-2004)

Talladega adds new park: Already home to NASCAR's Most Competitive races, Talladega Superspeedway is clearly home to the largest gathering of fans staying on a track's property during an event weekend. And with each passing event, the opportunities continue to grow for fans staying at Talladega Superspeedway. Talladega's newest addition is the East Reserved Park, located on the trackside of Speedway Boulevard. The East Reserved Park is an RV-only, gated-community. There are gravel roads within the East Reserved Park, which is located outside the track beyond Turn 3. Fans can reserve one of the approximately 400 spots before leaving home for $100 a space. Fans can call toll free to claim their spot at 1-877-Go2-DEGA.
"Probably one of the biggest feedbacks we get from our fans concerns our parks," said Rick Humphrey, vice president and general manager of Talladega Superspeedway. "Not only do many fans express their appreciation of the nearly 500 acres of free sites we have on our property, but many fans request more spaces that can be reserved so they claim their home site before they arrive. "Talladega's newest addition is going to quickly become one of the prime parks," said Humphrey. "Over the years fans have requested a reserved park located on the north or east side of our facility that was trackside of Speedway Boulevard. That's exactly where the East Reserved Park sits. I think fans will love its location and the fact that it is a gated-community as well."
The East Reserved Park is now available for the Aaron's Dream Weekend, April 22-25. Fans can enjoy the NASCAR Busch Series 312 and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron's 499 during the weekend. For event tickets or to reserve a park site, fans can call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. With all the fans choosing to stay on property at Talladega Superspeedway during race weekends, the track becomes one of Alabama's largest cities overnight. Fans can choose between approximately 500 acres of free spaces to call home during a race weekend or claim one of the spaces in the track's reserved parks. "Two winters ago, we added approximately a thousand reserved spaces and now we have added some 400 more reserved sites," said Humphrey.
"But with Talladega's nearly 1,000 acres available for people who stay overnight on track property, half of that land is still free to ticket holders during an event weekend." Spaces also remain in the Legends Lane Family Reserved Park, one of the newer parks on Talladega Superspeedway's property. Legends Lane is a gated-community located on the southwest side of the facility beyond Turn 1 near the Reserved Family Parks I & II. There are approximately 275 spaces in the Legends Lane Family Reserved Park, with each space having access to water. Legends Lane is also located close to two Shower Houses within the Family Parks. Fans can reserve a space in Legends Lane for $250 each. The 2004 Aaron's Dream Weekend starts with Busch Series Qualifying Day on Thursday, April 22, to set the field for the Busch Series Aaron's 312. The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day is April 23 to line up the field for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Aaron's 499. Cost of admission to each qualifying day is $10 with children 11-and-under allowed admission for free. Fans can call the track's new ticket hotline number at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (877-462-3342) or visit the track's official web site at talladegasuperspeedway.com to purchase tickets.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-9-2004)

Five days left: Fans who wish to be among the first to purchase individual Pre-race Pit Passes at Talladega Superspeedway have five days left to get in line. For the first time in history at Talladega, Pre-race Pit Passes are available for individual sales to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Aaron’s 499, which is run on April 25, 2004. Fans who have longed to walk out of the grandstands and onto the famed 2.66-mile tri-oval now have that opportunity. Fans who have purchased a ticket to the Aaron’s Dream Weekend in the Tri-Oval Tower, O.V. Hill South Tower extension and Birmingham Tower extension by Sunday, Feb. 8, will have the opportunity to purchase a Pre-race Pit Pass on a first-serve basis on Monday, Feb. 9 for $50. Ticket holders in those sections must call 1-877-Go2-DEGA beginning on Monday, Feb. 9, to purchase their Pre-race Pit Pass for the Aaron’s 499. Only a limited number of Pre-race Pit Passes will be available. Fans can call the track’s new ticket hotline number at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (877-462-3342) or visit the track’s official web site at talladegasuperspeedway.com to purchase tickets.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-4-2004)

SAFER at More Tracks - Daytona and Talladega UPDATE not Lowe's: NASCAR officials said they hope to have the SAFER barrier - Steel and Foam Energy Reduction system - installed on most of their Nextel Cup tracks by January 2005. Five tracks have it on their outside walls, and Talladega Superspeedway will join Daytona as the sixth and seventh. Talladega already has the barrier on an inside wall. Daytona will put up the barriers in all of its turns. ``It's been a long process in working with NASCAR and the University of Nebraska,'' Talley said. ``As soon as we got the thumbs up, we were going to do it.'' A team at Nebraska headed by Dean Sicking developed the SAFER barrier, which absorbs some of the energy in a crash, lessening the impact for a driver. The barrier is made up of steel tubes and pads of hard foam and is affixed to the concrete wall. Even though Indianapolis Motor Speedway has had the barrier for a few years, NASCAR asked track operators to delay installation until enough testing could be done to ensure that the application was safe for the various types of tracks. Richmond, New Hampshire, Phoenix and Homestead put up the barriers last year. ``Our goal is to have the SAFER barrier up at every track where it's recommended by the experts by 2005,'' said Gary Nelson, NASCAR's managing director of research and development. ``The next step is to get the experts together with the track operators.''(Tampa Tribune)(1-23-2004)
AND Energy-absorbing barriers will be installed in time for races at Talladega Superspeedway in April and at Daytona International Speedway in July, but installation of the "soft walls" is not imminent at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. Lowe's Motor Speedway has another type of barrier, of a design using incapsulated polystyrene, along inside walls at key points on its 1.5-mile trioval. But track president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler said Friday there is still work to be done on adapting the SAFER barriers for application at high-banked intermediate-length ovals. "We are not dragging our feet," Wheeler said. "We are going to do it, and we are looking at it now." Homestead-Miami Speedway is closest to the Charlotte track, as well as to similar 1.5-mile tracks in Atlanta, Texas and Las Vegas that also are owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. The SAFER barriers were installed last year when the 1.5-mile Homestead was reconfigured with banking that varies from 18 to 20 degrees in its turns. Lowe's Motor Speedway has 24-degree banking in its turns. Wheeler said Las Vegas, a 1.5-mile track with 12-degree banking in its turns, will likely be the first SMI track to get SAFER barriers, but that won't happen in time for the track's Cup date this year on March 7. "The physics are different in a high-banked 1.5-mile track," Wheeler said. "One thing we have to be sure of is where to start with the barriers and where to stop them as they come out of the turn." NASCAR president Mike Helton announced in December that it wants SAFER barriers to be installed at all tracks where their designers recommend them in time for the 2005 season.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-24-2004)

Talladega Pit Passes: For the first time in history at Talladega Superspeedway, Pre-race Pit Passes will be available for individual sales. The first chance for fans to purchase Pre-race Pit Passes at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track will be for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Aaron's 499 on April 25, 2004. Only a limited number of Pre-race Pit Passes will be available. Fans who have purchased a ticket to the Aaron's Dream Weekend in the Tri-Oval Tower, O.V. Hill South Tower extension and Birmingham Tower extension by Sunday, Feb. 8, will have the opportunity to purchase a Pre-race Pit Pass on a first-serve basis on Monday, Feb. 9 for $50. Ticket holders in those sections must call 1-877-Go2-DEGA beginning on Monday, Feb. 9, to purchase their Pre-race Pit Pass for the Aaron's 499. Pre-race Pit Passes are good beginning at 8 o'clock on the morning of the Aaron's 499 and will last until 45 minutes prior the start of the race. These times are tentative as track schedule and weather permit. There is no age restriction and no dress code during pre-race festivities. For Tickets or more info on the Pitpasses, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or purchase online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(TSS PR)(1-11-2004)

Talladega's New Pricing Structure: Talladega Superspeedway's pricing structure for the 2004 season will make it easier for fans to claim some of the best seats for NASCAR competition. Fans can claim seats in the tri-oval area of NASCAR's Most Competitive Track while also claiming a savings off of 2003 ticket prices. Seats in the nearly one-mile stretch of grandstands at Alabama's 2.66-mile tri-oval for NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events are $70 each. For fans who have always wanted to sit across from pit road or at the Start/Finish Line, this translates into a savings of $5 to $15 per ticket from 2003 prices. For fans who set their sites on tower seats at Talladega, prime two-day tower sections in the tri-oval portion of the track have been reduced from $5 to $25 per ticket for the 2004 season. Two-day tickets in the O.V. Hill South and Birmingham extensions and the Tri-Oval Towers have been reduced this season. The two-day Talladega Tower sections, located closest to Turn 1 has also been reduced $15 per ticket from 2003 prices.
First up at Talladega in 2004 is the Aaron's Dream Weekend, April 22-25, 2004 with the NEXTEL Cup Aaron's 499 and the Busch Series Aaron's 312. One ticket price unchanged for the 2004 season is the popular two-day ticket in the Allison Grandstand, considered by many fans to be the best deal in all of motorsports. For one $60 ticket in the Allison Grandstand, fans get all of the action on the track for Saturday and Sunday of the Aaron's Dream Weekend, April 24-25, 2004. The $60 ticket includes the two final NEXTEL Cup practice sessions and the Busch Series Aaron's 312 on Saturday, April 24, and the NEXTEL Cup Aaron's 499 on Sunday, April 25. New to the Aaron's Dream Weekend in 2004 is the opportunity for fans to upgrade their experience by enjoying the surroundings of a private chalet located behind the Allison Grandstand. The Superstretch Club will offer a continental breakfast, buffet lunch and beverages on Sunday. The offer also includes a pre-race pit tour on Sunday morning before the start of the Aaron's 499 and live entertainment throughout the morning. Fans can call 1-877-Go2-DEGA to purchase Superstretch Club passes.
Fans interested in purchasing single-day Sunday seats can also save money on Saturday admission tickets. Fans can save $5 on each general admission grandstand ticket and reserved tower seat for Saturday if purchased by April 9. Saturday general admission tickets are $35 with reserved tower seats at $45 through April 9. Children 11-and-under are admitted free in the general admission grandstands on Saturday. Fans can call the track's new ticket hotline number at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (877-462-3342) or visit the track's official web site at talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(12-20-2003)

Special Dale Jr Ticket for Talladega Qualifying Day:When Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his #8 Budweiser Chevrolet team rolled into Talladega Superspeedway in the spring of 2003 for the Aaron's Dream Weekend, most of the talk was centered on the driver's chance to win an unprecedented fourth straight race in NASCAR's top division at Alabama's famous 2.66-mile tri-oval. Dale Jr. had other plans. Not only did he set a new record with his fourth straight win at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track in the Aaron's 499, he also swept the weekend at Talladega, claiming the trophy in the NASCAR Busch Series Aaron's 312. To celebrate Dale Jr.'s Aaron's Dream Weekend Sweep, officials at Talladega Superspeedway have created an oversized Limited Edition Commemorative Ticket for The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day on April 23, 2004. The special ticket measures 3.5 inches X 8.5 inches and features pictures of Dale Jr. in the Gatorade Victory Lane after the Aaron's 312 and the Aaron's 499 as well as pictures of the cars he drove in the wins. Each Limited Edition ticket is numbered with the printing held to 5,500 tickets. The price of the ticket is $10, the same price as a roll ticket sold at the gate the day of The Birmingham News/Birmingham Post-Herald Qualifying Day. It was only the second Cup-Busch sweep at Talladega. Mark Martin completed the feat in 1997, albeit a week later due to rain and the postponement of the Cup race. With his sweep of the 2003 Aaron's Dream Weekend, Dale Jr. is now tied for third for the most wins at Talladega Superspeedway. His five wins at Talladega puts him in the same league as Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and Grant Adcox. Fans can call the track's new ticket hotline number at 1-877-Go2-DEGA (877-462-3342) or visit the track's official web site at talladegasuperspeedway.com.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(12-20-2003)

Talladega Tix Available: Tickets for the Aaron's 499 and EA Sports 500 Cup 2004 races are available, for Tickets Call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or purchase online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.(11-20-2003)

True Heroes: in part from a column at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The 1975 Talladega 500 was only seven laps old when a multicar crash began to unfold on the backstretch. Tiny Lund spun around and came to rest with the driver's side of his car exposed to oncoming traffic. As Lund sat in his disabled car, it was hit in the left door by the car of Terry Link.
Lund died instantly, while Link's car, its driver unconscious, came to rest near the inside wall on the backstretch.
Flames began to show under the hood of Link's car, but there was no rescue team in sight.
David Garmany and Richard Simpson, two brothers from Rossville, Ga., were watching the race from the infield near the spot where Link's car came to rest.
"When we saw the car on fire and nobody helping [Link], we jumped over the fence and started getting him out of car," Garmany, now 58, said this week from his home in Lakeland, Fla. But a track worker, apparently upset that the two fans had scaled the fence, began beating them with a stick as thousands of horrified spectators looked on. "He hit me on the shoulder and the back of the head, so I took that stick out of his hand and threw it over next to the dirt bank," Garmany said.
Then driver Walter Ballard, who also had slammed into the wall, staggered to Link's car and persuaded the track worker to let Simpson and Garmany continue their work. Ballard said the two fans were Link's only hope. "I had to have some help because I wouldn't have been able to get [Link] out of the car by myself," Ballard, the 1971 rookie of the year, said this week from his home in Charlotte. Garmany said Ballard, staggering from his own injuries, pleaded with the track worker to leave them alone.
"Walter Ballard said, 'He's trying to save the man's life, for God's sake,'" Garmany said. Finally, Garmany and Simpson were able to cut Link's seat belts and remove him from the car. Still, the only official rescuers in the area were attending to Lund.
"We stood there a long, long time," Ballard said. "They finally got another ambulance back there, but it was quite a while."
Garmany burned his hands in the rescue, so he was carried to the track's infield care center in the same ambulance as his hero, Lund. "We tried to massage his chest in the ambulance, but there was no response," Garmany said. "At that time I was just focused on Tiny, hoping he'd live through that." Simpson, who is now 59 and living in Chattanooga, and Garmany never received any formal recognition for their heroics. "We asked one of the policemen to take us back to where we were," Simpson said at the time. "He told us we would have to get back the best way we could." An unidentified racer overheard the conversation and offered the brothers a ride in his personal car. "I don't even remember who he was," Garmany said. "But he apologized for the ignorance of the people we'd dealt with and said he hoped that if he ever got in a bad crash that someone like us would be there for him."(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), all I can say is wow.(9-28-2003)

Miss America 2004 Named Grand Marshal of EA SPORTS 500; plus National Anthem; RJR Tribute: Newly crowned Miss America Ericka Dunlap and country music sensation Collin Raye are heading to Talladega Superspeedway along with the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series for the EA SPORTS 500 Weekend. Once they arrive, special tributes to RJ Reynolds and its Winston Brand and to Davey Allison, Bobby Allison and Terry Labonte await them and the fans. Miss Florida Ericka Dunlap was crowned as Miss America 2004 this past weekend in Atlantic City, NJ. Among her first stops is at Talladega to serve as the Grand Marshal of the EA SPORTS 500. She is the first Miss America to serve as Grand Marshal at a NASCAR event. Country music recording artist Raye, who recently released Can't Back Down, has had 15 top hits with 23 of 25 singles making the Top 10. As part of the festivities, special tributes will be made during pre-race festivities celebrating the memories of Davey Allison and of RJ Reynolds and its Winston Brand's involvement at Talladega through the past 33 years. Winston Cup Championships won by Bobby Allison and Terry Labonte will also be remembered. Moments before the start of Sunday's EA SPORTS 500, Krista and Robbie Allison - the children of Davey and Liz Allison - will give the invocation. Additional information about the Miss America Organization can be found at www.MissAmerica.org.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-23-2003)

Military at Talladega: The 203rd Marine Attack Training Squadron of Cherry Point, N.C., will provide the flyby each day at Talladega Superspeedway, with AV-8B Harriers used before Sunday's EA SPORTS 500 and a TAV-8B aircraft used before start of the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300. On Sunday, the 4th Battalion 14th Marines Artillery Unit out of Bessemer, Ala., will provide colors for Sunday morning with the Alabama National Guard bearing colors on Saturday.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(9-23-2003)

New at Talladega: Mary Ann Martin has joined Talladega Superspeedway to better position the track within the corporate community, track vice president/general manager Rick Humphrey announced recently. As manager of business development, Martin’s efforts will focus in Alabama and specifically in Birmingham, the state’s largest city sitting less than an hour west of the track. Each of Talladega Superspeedway’s event days were sponsored in 2003, including the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Aaron’s 499 and EA SPORTS 500. Martin will assist in the growth of those sponsor relationships as well as build new partnerships in the corporate world.(TSS PR)(9-10-2003)

Changes for Talladega UPDATE: According to NASCAR Winston Cup director John Darby, there will be an adjustment to the speedway formula when the tour arrives at Talladega, Ala., to contest the Sept. 28 EA Sports 500. Darby told TFR the change would come in the throttle response area. “We’re going to increase the plate size and also increase the spoiler so that we can still keep our control on the speeds. We’ll put a taller spoiler on it so we’ve still got a handle on the speeds but essentially it’s a matter of putting a little more drag on the car and a little more horsepower underneath the hood.” The goal, Darby explained, is to keep the drag horsepower ratio the same as it was the last time the Cup cars ran at Talladega, which will keep the speeds from escalating to beyond the comfort level of the sanctioning body. Asked if NASCAR considered again working with the roof blade on the speedway package Darby replied in the negative, “They may be back some day or a different version of it."(Ford Racing)(9-4-2003)
UPDATE: When the Winston Cup circuit returns to Talladega Superspeedway for the Sept. 28 EA Sports 500, drivers should feel a little more pep when they step on the gas pedal. That's because NASCAR is opening the holes in the restrictor plates used on superspeedways from 7/8 inch to 29/32. That allows more fuel to the engine's combustion chamber and therefore more response when the throttle is opened. To compensate for the increase in power and speed, the rear spoiler, which causes speed-reducing aerodynamic drag, is being raised from 6 1/4 inches high to 6 3/4 inches. Winston Cup director John Darby said the changes were based on results of wind tunnel tests of cars following the Brickyard 400. He said top speeds, which are limited at Daytona and Talladega to keep cars from becoming airborne, shouldn't change much. "They'll probably be a little faster, if anything," Darby said.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(9-5-2003)
MORE NASCAR released a four-page bulletin to teams at Richmond that included, among other items, changes to the cars for Talladega. All cars' rear spoilers will now measure 6 3/4 inches high and 57 inches wide, and restrictor plates will open up to 29/32-inch, which should boost the engines by 15 horsepower. "Any time we get more power at a plate track it's going to be better," says Sterling Marlin, who has seven poles and five wins at restrictor-plate tracks. Marlin also believes the new configuration will promote more passing.(FOX Sports/Sporting News)(9-8-2003)

Talladega's Legends Lane to open: Talladega Superspeedway continues to be the leader in offering fans plenty of places to call Home Sweet Home during race weekends. Already home to NASCAR's most competitive races, Alabama's 2.66-mile tri-oval is clearly home to the largest gathering of fans staying on a track's property. The latest addition to the list of Parks at Talladega Superspeedway is Legends Lane Family Reserved Park and spaces are on sale now for this fall's EA SPORTS* 500 Weekend. It is located adjacent to the Coleman Family Reserved Parks I & II on the southwest (Turn 1) side of the facility. Located just west of Coleman Family Reserved Park II, Legends Lane offers approximately 275 spots. The gated community is $250 per spot and includes access to water. Legends Lane is also located close to the two shower houses within the Family Parks. Legends Lane Family Reserved Park spaces can be reserved today for the EA SPORTS* 500 Weekend by calling (256) 362-RACE. With all the fans choosing to stay on property during race weekends at Talladega, the track becomes one of Alabama's largest cities overnight. Fans can choose between approximately 450 acres of free spaces to call home during a race week, or from one of the spots in the track's Reserved Parks. The EA SPORTS 500 Weekend is Sept. 25-28, 2003. Two-day tickets start at $60 for the EA SPORTS 500 and the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300. Fans can call (256) 362-RACE or visit the track's official website at talladegasuperspeedway.com. The three roads in Legends Lane are named after three NASCAR legends who won races at Talladega - Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty and David Pearson. Waltrip recorded four wins at Talladega Superspeedway during his career. Pearson visited Victory Lane three times at Talladega and Petty won twice. The roads are named Darrell Waltrip Way, Richard Petty Circle and David Pearson Drive. Even with the newest Reserved Park on track property, half of the nearly 1,000 acres of Parks remain free to ticket holders. "Many of the fans who come to Talladega have expressed their appreciation for the nearly 500 acres of free spots we have on property," said Rick Humphrey, the track's vice president/general manager. "One of the main responses we receive after each event weekend is about our Parks. Not only do many appreciate the free Parks, but we also have many fans requesting more spaces that can be reserved so they can claim their space before they arrive. "Last winter we added approximately a thousand reserved spaces, and now have an additional 275 in the Legends Lane," said Humphrey. "But with all the acres we have at Talladega for people who stay overnight on property, half of that property is still free to ticket holders." Tickets are on sale now for the entire EA SPORTS 500 Weekend. Fans can call (256) 362-RACE or 1-800-PITSHOP to purchase tickets for all events or visit talladegasuperspeedway.com. Fans can also go online for a 3D Virtual Tour of the grandstand and tower seats as well as the infield spots for those who wish to stay overnight inside the track.(Talladega Superspeedway PR/Site)(7-24-2003)

Talladega 2004 Spring date: been told by some readers who have gotten their Talladega spring ticket renewals that the Cup race will run on April 25th, 2004.(7-16-2003)

Sad News: The Auburn family lost a true friend Thursday when lead announcer Jim Fyffe passed away from a brain aneurysm at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery. He was 57. He is survived by his wife, Rose, five children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association in the name of Jim Fyffe. Fyffe spent 22 seasons as the play-by-play announcer for Auburn football and men’s basketball games. Fyffe, who called games for the Auburn Network, was employed by WACV-AM in Montgomery. He also served as the play-by-play voice for the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions and Columbus Steeldogs arena football team. He was also public address announcer at Talladega Superspeedway.(Sand Mountain Reporter)(5-18-2003)

Talladega Crowd Down: Susan Schandel, vice president and chief financial officer for International Speedway Corp., said Talladega's ticket sales were off. A few pockets of empty seats could be seen in part of the grandstands among the 150,000 at Sunday's race won by Dale Earnhardt Jr. "We had frankly disappointing results," Schandel said in a conference call this week with financial analysts. She also said sales for the fall Talladega race are behind. Schandel said that ISC saw a drop-off in its ticket sales after war with Iraq began.(Roanoke Times)(4-12-2003)

Bruton wants Talladega 'fixed' UPDATE: After a cut tire on his No. 12 Dodge triggered a 27-car wreck in Sunday's Aaron's 499, Winston Cup driver Ryan Newman offered his solution for preventing The Big Wreck in races at Talladega Superspeedway. "Don't come here," Newman said. "We've got other tracks we can go to." After a weekend that also included a 21-car crash in Saturday's Busch Series race, Newman isn't alone in questioning the 2.66-mile track with its 33-degree banked turns. "It was so destructive it just kind of makes you sick to watch it," rival track owner Bruton Smith said Tuesday. "Something should be done. I just really believe the track should be redesigned. Those dates would be moved quickly if Speedway Motorsports owned that track. NASCAR, the two people who own it, I think their conscience would say `We're not going back. You're going to have to do something to reconfigure this speedway or we're not coming back.' You're destroying too much equipment."
"Bruton's comments are obviously based on his primary objective, the financial betterment of himself. We believe his comments reflect his perspective," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president for communications. "I am just very, very concerned for our sport because of what could happen there," Smith said of Talladega. "You see that violent wreck on Sunday, and after it was over all of the drivers walked away. That was fantastic. But what if one of these days four or five of them don't walk away. What happens then? What happens to our sport? To me, it endangers the sport when we're putting all of these drivers' lives on the line when we drop that green flag down there. If I owned the speedway, I assure you I would change it. I would tear down the turns. I would shorten it and change it and I would hope the fans would like it. I just don't think stock-car fans are that blood-thirsty."
Grant Lynch, president of Talladega Superspeedway, said he feels his track is safe. "I think we've probably had as many caution-free races as any track, maybe more, in the past 10 years," Lynch said. The spring races in 1997 and 2001 and last year's fall race were run without yellow flags. "I think the quality of racing on the track certainly excites the fans," Lynch said. "Sunday's race was tremendous with 43 lead changes. There was a lot of drama and excitement. Talladega is a controversial place, you know, but we seem to have continued to bring the fans in. We're kind of happy with what goes on here."(see full story at the Charlotte Observer)
UPDATE: Smith offered $1 million to help get the track 'fixed' during an interview on XM Satellite- NASCAR Radio (Subscription Required)(4-9-2003)

Talladega Rules: The aerodynamic rules package that was used for the Daytona 500 remains in place for Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, the season's second restrictor-plate race. Those rules (for 2003 model cars): rear spoilers must by 6¼ inches tall and 57 inches wide; rear spoiler angles must be minimum of 55 degrees and maximum of 65 degrees; restrictor plate openings must be 7/8 inch. There is one slight modification: rear spoilers must have a minimum thickness of 3/16 inch. Also, the approximate 13.5-gallon fuel cell will again be used.(NASCAR PR)(4-2-2003)

NFL Great Jim Kelly Grand Marshal of the Aaron's 499: Talladega Superspeedway officials on Wednesday have named former National Football quarterback standout and recent NFL Hall of Fame inductee Jim Kelly as its Grand Marshal for Sunday afternoon's Aaron's 499 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Kelly, a part owner of a new NASCAR Busch Series race team with veteran NASCAR car owner Frank Cicci that makes its debut on Saturday at Talladega in the Aaron's Rents 312, played his entire NFL career (11 seasons) with the Buffalo Bills. He guided the Bills to four Super Bowls before retiring after the 1996 campaign. During his brilliant professional football career, Kelly completed 2,874 of 4,779 passes for a completion percentage of 60% and 35,467 yards. He tossed 237 touchdowns. Prior to his rookie season in the NFL in 1986, Kelly played two years in the old United States Football League (USFL) for the Houston Gamblers. He was named the league's Player of the Year in 1984. At the University of Miami, the Pennsylvania native gained fame and national recognition during a brilliant collegiate career in which he was a Heisman Trophy candidate as a senior. In his four seasons piloting the Hurricanes, Kelly completed 406 of 646 passes for a lusty 62.8%, 5,233 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was the first in a long line of touted quarterbacks at Miami that helped dub the school "Quarterback U". "I am both honored and thrilled by being named Grand Marshal for a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race on one of its most exciting and competitive race tracks," Kelly said after being notified of the honor. "I was coming to Talladega to help our new race team make its debut on Saturday with Mike McLaughlin in the car, so being asked to hang around for another day to help start Sunday's race made it easy to say yes and thank you", Kelly added. Kelly and his wife, Jill, have a 6-year-old son, Hunter, who is afflicted with the terminal illness Krabbe disease, a leukodystrophy. One of Kelly's objectives with getting involved with NASCAR is to help raise awareness for the disease and to raise funds for the Hunter's Hope Foundation. The organization founded by the Kelly's is named for their son and raises funds to help the families of individuals stricken with Krabbe.(Frank Cicci Racing with Jim Kelly PR)(4-3-2003)

DW Grand Marshal of the Aaron's 312 Busch race: hearing Darrell Waltrip will be the Grand Marshal of the Aaron's 213 Busch Series race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.(4-3-2003)

Quite a Patriotic Theme at Talladega this weekend: Moments before the start of the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 6, fans in the Allison Grandstand will have a special opportunity to show their support for U.S. troops. At the same time, everyone at the Alabama track will be asked to sing “God Bless America” as the U.S. Army Band provides the musical backdrop. More than 23,000 hand-held cards will be used to spell out the message “God Bless Our Troops” in the full Allison Grandstand as part of a patriotic pre-race show. Jacob Davis Productions, of Orlando, Fla., will help pull off the special message presented by Aaron’s and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. and its Winston brand. A yellow ribbon already hangs over the North Tunnel entry into the infield in honor of those troops at war and American flags now wave from every flag pole leading down the main entrance to the track off Speedway Blvd.
The weekend will begin with a Blue Star Mothers of America presentation by the U.S. Marine Corps and the American Legion during pre-race festivities of the Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race. The presentation will be made to the mother of an Alabama soldier currently serving in the war against Iraq. On Sunday, before the start of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Aaron’s 499, fans will be a part of something new at the Alabama track but will also recognize a familiar part of the Talladega Tradition. During pre-race festivities that morning, the U.S. Army Golden Knights will parachute into the track’s 212-acre infield for the first time. Moments later, during the singing of the national anthem, John Ray, a local businessman and longtime friend of Talladega Superspeedway, will bring his familiar semi-truck through the tri-oval proudly flying a huge American flag on a custom-made. On Sunday, Air Force Staff Sargeant Derrick Percival of the 42nd Contracting Squad at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., will sing the national anthem. Great seats still remain for the entire Aaron’s Dream Weekend. Fans can call the track’s ticket office (256) 362-RACE Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat urday and Sunday.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-2-2003)

Talladega Purse Increases: When the NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers take the green flag in the Aaron’s 499 on Sunday, April 6, a Talladega Superspeedway-record purse of $5,082,015 will be there for the taking. The NASCAR Winston Cup Leader Bonus is now worth an a dditional $80,000 for the Aaron’s 499, should the winner of Sunday’s race also be the series points leader. That’s just the Sunday Winston Cup event. The NASCAR Busch Series Aaron’s 312 purse is a track-record $1,118,799 for a total of $6.2 million on the line this weekend. The International Race of Champions has a purse of $1,065,000, which will be handed out at the end of the four-race series. Fans can call (256) 362-RACE to purchase tickets for all events. Great seats still remain for the entire Aaron’s Dream Weekend. Children 11 and under are admitted free into the general admission grandstands with a paying adult Thursday through Saturday.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-2-2003)

Talladega: Tickets for April and Fall race; No Golf Carts; and With the Aaron’s Dream Weekend less than a month away at Talladega Superspeedway, there is still time to purchase tickets to Super Saturday at 2002 prices. Fans can save $5 a ticket by purchasing seats for Saturday's events before Monday, March 17. Combine the $5 savings on each ticket with free admission to children 11 and under, and Super Saturday on April 5 at Talladega Superspeedway becomes a real treat for the entire family. Children 11 and under are admitted into the general admission grandstan ds at no charge. A ticket to Saturday's events at Talladega Superspeedway allows fans to watch two NASCAR Winston Cup Series practice sessions, the NASCAR Busch Series Aaron's 312 and the 27th running of the International Race of Champions. Fans who purchase Saturday tickets before March 17 will pay 2002 prices – $35 for general admission and $45 for reserved tower seats. On March 17, general admission and tower seat ticket prices will increase $5 each. Fans can purchase tickets to the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, April 3-6, by calling the ticket office at (256) 362-RACE or visiting the track’s official website, talladegasuperspeedway.com. Plenty of great seats remain for the entire Aaron’s Dream Weekend, including select tower seats for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Aaron’s 499 on April 6. Fans can get a 3D Virtual Tour of the grandstands on the track’s official website.
AND Now that fans have had the chance to renew their seats or make upgrade requests from last year’s second weekend of racing at Talladega Superspeedway, tickets for the EA SPORTS 500 Weekend are now available simply by calling the track’s ticket office at (256) 362-RACE. The EA SPORTS 500 Weekend is one week earlier this year, falling in the last week of September. Fans can watch both the Food World 300 and the EA SPORTS 500 for one $60 ticket. The Allison Grandstand, located out of Turn 2, is a two-day $60 ticket and offers a bird’s-eye view of Turns 1 and 2 and all the passing that takes place heading down the longest backstretch on the NASCAR circuit.
AND Fans heading to Talladega Superspeedway for either of the two race weekends in 2003 should note the new golf cart policy put in place by International Speedway Corporation. Golf carts used on track property are permitted for business purposes only. No personal use of a golf cart is allowed for any reason. Physically impaired, disabled or handicapped persons are permitted to use commercially-manufactured, single-person electric convenience vehicles (ECVs). These vehicles will not require insurance certification or a registration credential. This policy was put into place due to the risks golf carts pose to both the occupants of the golf cart as well as other patrons on property. This new policy will be strictly enforced. Violation of these regulations will result in the golf cart being impounded for the remainder of the event weekend. Any approved business-use golf carts or other vehicles must be registered with Talladega Superspeedway and must display either the yearly ISC or official event registration credential on the golf cart at all times. Any request to register a golf cart must also include a provision of insurance. Permitted golf carts must be driven by a licensed person over the age of 19. No one under the influence of alcohol may operate a golf cart. No consumption of alcohol is permitted in the cart. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any powered vehicle, except for outside commercial delivery purposes only. As has been the rule in t he past, ATVs, dirt bikes, scooters and dune buggies are not allowed on track property, either.(Talladega Superspeedway PR's)(3-11-2003)

IROC back at 'Dega in 2003: The International Race of Champions [IROC] will return to Talladega Superspeedway next season, track officials announced Monday. The IROC race, which will be held during the speedway's April Winston Cup race weekend, returns after a one-year absence. Next season will mark the 13th IROC event at the track since 1984. "We're thrilled with the return of the IROC series at Talladega," said Grant Lynch, the track's president. "Talladega Superspeedway's knack for delivering competitive races is a perfect fit for the IROC series and its group of world-class drivers. We are also thrilled for our fans who will get to watch one of the most action-packed hours in auto racing." IROC is a four-race series composed of 12 drivers from various forms of motorsports. Winston Cup driver Kevin Harvick won the 2002 IROC championship. In 2002, IROC races were held at Daytona, California, Chicagoland and Indianapolis.(ThatsRacin.com)(10-29-2002)

SAFER installed at Talladega: According to track personnel, Steel and Foam Energy Reduction Barriers have been installed on the inside walls of Turns 1 and 4 for this week’s EA Sports 500 event at Talladega Superspeedway. The SAFER barrier was developed for, and used this year at, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The barrier is credited with severely reducing injuries in the Indy Racing League’s Indy 500 during the month of May, and showed promise with the limited exposure that the Cup cars had when they visited Indy to contest the Brickyard 400 in early August. The SAFER barrier is being looked at for widespread use in NASCAR sanctioned events, but there is still some work being done on the tight radius outside wall installations that many, many NASCAR tracks feature.(Ford Racing)(10-1-2002)

Crow to sing, Little Big Town to sing Anthem, Stabler the Grand Marshal at 'Dega: Sheryl Crow and her band will put the morning at Talladega Superspeedway into high gear just moments before the green flag falls on the EA SPORTS 500 on Oct. 6, 2002. Crow, who just kicked off her C’mon, C’mon Tour after the release of her most recent platinum album, will play a few songs with her band before the start of the race, including one song which will be telecast live on NBC during its pre-race show. Legendary quarterback Ken Stabler has been hand picked by EA SPORTS to give the command for the drivers to start their engines, serving as the day’s Grand Marshal at Talladega Superspeedway. Before Crow and Stabler turn up the volume during pre-race festivities, one of country music’s powerful new groups, Little Big Town, will provide fans with a concert as they begin to fill the massive grandstands during the morning hours. Moments before Stabler gives the command, Little Big Town will sing the National Anthem. Plenty of seats remain for the entire EA SPORTS 500 Weekend. Fans can call the ticket office at (256) 362-RACE or purchase online at talladegasuperspeedway.com. Tower seats remain as well as seats in the Allison Grandstand, a two-day $60 ticket.(TSS PR)(9-30-2002)

Driver Portraits at Talladega: A rare treat will be awaiting the NASCAR Winston Cup Series stars when they return to Talladega Superspeedway for the EA Sports 500 Weekend, Oct. 3-6, 2002. Alabama artist Kevin Criswell (www.kevincriswell.com) has taken on the improbable task of drawing each driver attempting to qualify for the EA SPORTS 500. Once the team haulers arrive inside the Winston Cup garage on Friday, Oct. 4, each team will be presented a signed portrait of their driver, framed and matted and ready for display throughout the weekend. "This is a unique way for Talladega Superspeedway to say thank you to the world's greatest drivers and to let them know we appreciate the wonderful show they put on for our fans year after year," said Grant Lynch, the track's president. "Kevin has a passion and a talent that is instantly recognizable. He donated several of his drawings for the Race Fever Night auction in April and we began discussing this possibility then." Criswell, who lives in Centre, Ala., was diagnosed with a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis in the mid-1990s and was forced to leave his job. He uses his artistic abilities to strengthen his spirits and help his fingers from becoming stiffer. Because of the painful bouts with arthritis, Criswell is not able to draw as much as he would like. Criswell's passion for drawing NASCAR's brand of racing and its stars quickly erased any doubts this task could be achieved. The biggest obstacle in this challenge is time. But Criswell is ahead of schedule. Not only has he drawn all of the regular Winston Cup drivers, he's kept up with driver changes and late entries, too. He has already sketched Kenny Wallace in the 1-800-CALLATT Chevrolet and Kerry Earnhardt with the RacingUSA.com Chevrolet. Criswell has already presented some of his works to drivers, including Rusty Wallace. Kevin Criswell and his wife, Debbie, have been married 21 years and have two daughters, Kirsten and Madison.(Talladega PR)(9-19-2002)

SAFER walls to be installed at Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today the first phase of SAFER (Steel & Foam Energy Reduction) barrier system construction on the inside retaining walls at the 2.66-mile track is under way. Plans are to have sections of the track inside retaining wall equipped with the SAFER barrier in time for the EA SPORTS 500 Weekend, Oct. 3-6, 2002. On-site construction will begin Sept. 16. The SAFER system has been approved by NASCAR for use on Talladega’s inside concrete walls where there is no banking. Dr. Dean Sicking, the lead developer of SAFER from the University of Nebraska, is continuing to adapt the system to outside walls of high-banked tracks like Talladega. The SAFER system was used for the first time this year in a NASCAR event in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This came after several years of development, including simulated crash tests by Sicking and others at the University of Nebraska’ s Midwest Roadside Facility. Representatives of Sicking’s group met with speedway and NASCAR officials earlier this summer to explain the possibilities of installing the current SAFER system in non-banked areas on the inside concrete walls of the track, just as they did at Indianapoli s Motor Speedway. “We appreciate the efforts of Dr. Sicking’s group in helping us implement this system on the inside walls,” said Grant Lynch, President of Talladega Superspeedway. “Talladega will continue its ongoing commitment to safety improvements. We’re hopeful that t echnology will be available for high-banked walls in the near future.” Talladega will have the SAFER system installed on the inside retaining walls at the exit of Turn 4 and the entrance of Turn 1.(Talladega Superspeedway PR), see past news on my Softwalls page.(9-12-2002)

Talladega Memorial: On Wednesday morning, Talladega Superspeedway along with local law enforcement agencies, fire and rescue units, politicians, clergymen and the citizens of the surrounding communities held a memorial service on the one-year annivesary of 9/11/01. The half-hour memorial service was broadcast live on WTDR 92.7-FM. We ask that on this day everyone pause for a moment to remember those lost in the Attack on America. God Bless America.(TSS PR)(9-11-2002)

Thanks to Talladega Superspeedway for the image

SAFER at Talladega - Inside walls UPDATE 2: NASCAR officials are to be at Talladega Superspeedway later this month to approve installation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's impact-absorbing SAFER barrier on the track's inside retaining walls. The system could be in place for the Oct. 6 EA Sports 500 race. Most racing crashes involve the outside wall, but a barrier on the inside wall would help protect drivers from secondary impacts. NASCAR hasn't approved the system for Talladega's outside walls. Dean Sicking, SAFER's lead developer, is working to adapt the barrier, which was developed to fit Indianapolis Motor Speedway and introduced there in May, to high-banked tracks and short tracks with tight turns.(USA Today Print Edition)(8-16-2002)
UPDATE: Ken Patterson, PR director for Talladega Superspeedway, say it's not likely that the SAFER wall, similar to the one installed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will be installed in time for the October 6 EA Sports 500 Winston Cup race. "Dr. Dean Sickling of the University of Nebraska and NASCAR were out to assess the situation about a month ago," said Patterson, "but unless they have come up with a way to install it very quickly, It's unlikely that it will happen by October. We have testing and other things going on. No one has said a word to us about installing the SAFER wall. I don't know for sure about what NASCAR would have in mind and I don't know where that story came from, but I don't believe they would just show up one day and start working on the project, but I've also learned to never say never."(Insider Racing News)(8-17-2002)
UPDATE 2: Talladega Superspeedway is expected to announce this week that it is lining about 3,000 feet of its inside retaining walls with the SAFER impact-absorbing barrier system. The project should be complete in time for the Oct. 6 EA Sports 500. The barrier system, which debuted on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's outside retaining walls in May, is designed to absorb some of the forces generated in a crash. Although the majority of racing crashes involve the outside wall, the barrier needs further development before it can be used on high-banked tracks. Installing the barrier on Talladega's inside walls could help absorb energy from secondary impacts. Testing of a modified version of the barrier suited to hang on the outside walls of high-banked tracks might begin this week.(USA Today)(9-10-2002)

Talladega Fuel Cell Filler: When NASCAR decided to cut the size of the fuel cells for the Talladega race in October, they decided to leave the fuel cell area the same size so that the teams wouldn't have to make changes to that area. Problem was the extra space around a smaller fuel cell. That area, on both sides of the cell will be filled with a combination of aluminum and foam mixture. The foam block will measure approximately 17 x 9 1\4 x 9 91\4 inches. The aluminum mixed with the foam will give it strength and also keep it light in weight, said John Darby, NASCAR's Competition Director.(Insider Racing News)(8-18-2002)

Smaller Tanks Official: NASCAR announced that teams will be required to use smaller fuel cells for the EA Sports 500 on Oct. 6 at Talladega Superspeedway. The new fuel cell will reduce the 22-gallon cells used in Winston Cup by about 9 gallons. NASCAR is counting on the change to increase pit stops during the 500-mile race. By spreading out the field, the move is expected to reduce the tight packs that frequently foster big wrecks at Talladega and Daytona, where restrictor plates on the carburetor are used to harness horsepower.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(8-10-2002)
UPDATE: NASCAR confirmed Saturday that it would experiment with a smaller fuel cell in the race at Talladega Oct. 6th, in an attempt to break the full-field drafting pack seen at that track in recent races into smaller groups. Customary fuel-box size is 33in by 17in by 9.25in, enclosing a bladder and foam sponge, for a total liquid capacity of 22gal. At Talladega, the tank will be reduced to 20 by 17 by 9.75, giving a capacity of 12.5gal. Teams could go approximately 50 laps between stops at Talladega with the standard size. Under this regulation, teams can expect to go 25 to 30 laps before pitting. The idea is to force teams to pit more often in the hope of breaking the field into smaller cells. Many doubt that will happen, as all cars pit together under green in order not to lose the all-important draft -- regardless of how many times they are pitted. Track position is not important at Talladega, as long as a car can stay with the draft. The fueling cans are 11gal, so the new rule still will require use of two cans. For now, the regulation is for the Talladega race only.(Speed Channel)(8-11-2002)

Talladega Test in two weeks? UPDATE: NASCAR officials reportedly have scheduled a major test at Talladega within the next two weeks, a test that is being described by some NASCAR sources as a mandatory test for stock-car tour teams. NASCAR officials could not be reached last night for confirmation or comment. It is unclear just what might be on the testing agenda. According to one source it could be the proposed smaller fuel cells, holding 11 to 13 gallons of gas instead of the regular 22; smaller tanks would force teams to make more pit stops, presumably spreading out the field. However, according to another source it could be a new smaller cubic inch engine, something like the 3.5-liter normally aspirated V-8 used in the Indy 500 and other Indy Racing League events. Such an engine would be half the size of the current 358 cubic inch behemoths, which produce over 750 horsepower unrestricted. NASCAR has been using restrictor plates on its Talladega and Daytona motors since 1988 to cut that horsepower back to about 420.(Winston Salem Journal)(8-3-2002)
UPDATE:NASCAR offered no official word on the proposed Talladega test later this month, and many teams were unaware the plans. It's still unclear what's going on, but one NASCAR source indicated the test had tentatively been set for Aug. 13. Teams are five races in to a stretch of 20 in a row, and they are expected to be less than enthusiastic about any such test. NASCAR tried to schedule a Daytona-Talladega test, as a Daytona 500 preview, last December, but received such a negative response from teams that the test was cancelled.(Winston Salen Journal)(8-4-2002)

Smaller Fuel Tanks at Talladega? UPDATE 3: NASCAR officials are considering requiring smaller gas tanks for the season’s final restrictor-plate race, at Talladega Superspeedway in October. The idea is that, by requiring tanks with a capacity of 13 gallons instead of 22, additional pit stops will create greater space between the cars and reduce the likelihood of multi-car pileups.(Gaston Gazette)(7-29-2002)
UPDATE: As expected, earlier this week a NASCAR bulletin informed teams that the teams would have to equip their cars with 13-gallon fuel tanks for the October race at Talladega Superspeedway. The tanks normally hold 22 gallons, and officials apparently think more pit stops – they will seem to be happening constantly — will allow the field to string itself out and lessen the potential for crashes. One question: Why not save the teams some expense and force them to put only one can of fuel, not two, in during stops?(Gaston Gazette)(8-1-2002)
UPDATE 2:NASCAR said reports that it would require teams to switch from a 22-gallon gas tank to 13 gallons for the EA Sports Thunder 500 at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway were "not true." Some teams felt the sanctioning body wanted more pit stops during the race to break up the huge pacts of traffic and avoid the 20-car pileups that have become all-too-familiar at the speedway.(Augusta Chroncile)(8-3-2002)
UPDATE 3: NASCAR has not mandated any changes in fuel tank capacity for Winston Cup cars in the October race at Talladega, spokeswoman Danielle Frye said Saturday. No bulletins regarding such a change have been issued to Winston Cup teams, Frye said. She called such a change is “an idea” that was being discussed by NASCAR officials. The change, reducing the size of fuel tanks, would apparently help to keep the field more spread out by increasing the number of pit stops. It is hoped that the change would reduce the multicar accidents common in the closely packed racing at Talladega under NASCAR's restrictor-plate rules.(ThatRacin.com)(8-3-2002)

Talladega getting SAFER? NASCAR is considering using energy-absorbing walls at Talladega Superspeedway, but installation is not likely to occur before the series races there in October. "There are a couple issues there, one is the high banking," NASCAR president Mike Helton said Sunday before the New England 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. We need to continue researching it and looking at it, but I don't know that's its a possibility to get them in for October." A committee of NASCAR officials went to Talladega earlier this week to meet with the developers of the SAFER barriers and discuss the viability of using them at the 2.66-mile track. Winston Cup director John Darby said the sanctioning body wants the walls in Talladega's turns but must first figure out how to overcome the 33 degree banking at the track during the installation process.(Sporting News/AP)(7-22-2002)

Record Crowd: Sunday’s race set a record at Talladega for attendance. Every one of the 143,500 seats were sold and, with the fans in the 212-acre infield, the attendance was estimated at 170,000. The extra capacity comes from the fact that the O.V. Hill South Tower at the track was expanded by 5,200 seats.(Montgomery Advertiser)(4-22-2002)

Talladega Safety: As preparations begin for events at Talladega Superspeedway next week, fans should be reminded that safety policies put into place last fall, remain in place. Fans attending events at Talladega Superspeedway may continue to bring food and beverages into the grandstands – as well as soft-sided coolers. “Despite the rumors, we haven’t banned coolers,” said Grant Lynch, president of Talladega Superspeedway. “Our fans are welcome to bring in just about everything they’ve been able to bring into the grandstand areas in the past with the exception of hard coo lers. We are limiting the size of coolers and bags to help with the inspection and avoid congestion at the entrance gates.” Each ticketholder is allowed to bring in: * one soft-sided cooler or insulated bag no larger than 6-inches X 6-inches X 12-inches. * And one clear plastic bag no larger than 18-inches X 18-inches X 4-inches. Fans may carry ice or freezer packs in the soft cooler or insulated bag, but ice and freezer packs are not allowed in the clear plastic bag. “We are limiting entry to one soft cooler and one clear plastic bag per ticketholder,” said Lynch. “That may be less than what our fans are used to bringing in, but we haven’t said, ‘You can’t bring anything in at all’ like some other sporting venues. We’r e doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our fans and make sure they get to their seats in time for our events.” Scanners, cell phones, radios, cameras, binoculars and headsets are all allowed, but will either need to be placed on the ticketholder’s body or in one of the two bags allowed per person. Seat cushions may be carried separately. For more information on Talladega’s security policies, please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. To help with security and the flow of ticketholders through the gates, Talladega Superspeedway now has 95 entrance lanes along the frontstretch. At each entrance plaza is a specially built box for fans to measure their soft cooler and insulated bags. Fans can place their cooler or bag into this box to check if it meets the requirements. These check spots will also be located at various spots outside the facility in parking lots and at pickup points of Talladega’s tram service. Fans are asked to check their coolers and bags before they reach the entrance plazas. Any items left unattended at the gates will be removed and disposed of. Talladega Superspeedway assumes no responsibility for those items.(Talladega Superspeedway)(4-18-2002)

Aaron's to sponsor Talladega: Talladega Superspeedway announced an addition to its four-year partnership today with Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership, naming the spring 500-mile Cup race the Aaron’s 499. Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership becomes only the fourth Winston Cup-event sponsor at Talladega Superspeedway in the track’s 32-year history. When the NASCAR Winston Cup Series returns to Talladega Superspeedway for its race on April 21, the series will be marking its 500th 500-mile event. The NASCAR Winston Cup Series sponsor agreement is a natural fit between Talladega Superspeedway and Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership, which announced a four-year deal in March to bring fans the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Aaron’s 312. Talladega’s spring event will be known as “Aaron’s Dream Weekend,” borrowing a line from Aaron’s, “We Make Dreams Come True.” The Aaron’s 499 will be the 66th 500-mile (188 laps) event held at Talladega Superspeedway, which opened in 1969. During the 1970s there were 15 500-mile races on a 30-race schedule in Winston Cup. Today, there are only 11 500-mile events on the 36-race schedule.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(4-8-2002)

Talladega BGN Sponsor: Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership in Atlanta, GA recently announced their new association with Talladega Superspeedway and will sponsor the "Aaron's 312 at Talladega" April 20, 2002. The "Aaron's 312 at Talladega" marks the second 312-mile race sponsorship by Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership, and compliments thiur sister race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, coming October 26, 2002. The idea of the 12 additional miles was the creative idea of Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership President Ken Butler. "It makes perfect sense for us," said Butler. "Because there are 3 great reasons to get furniture, appliances, electronics and computers at Aaron's: Everyone gets the guaranteed lowest price, everyone is automatically pre-approved, and our 12-month lease ownership plan is available to everyone. That's 3-12!" Adding a second 312 race to the schedule, and continuing our multi-year sponsorship of Michael Waltrip in the #99 Aaron's Dream Machine, increases our involvement in one of the premier series in NASCAR, and we are excited to have the opportunity to expand our participation with NASCAR and the BGN. The "Aaron's 312 at Talladega" is a 4-year agreement between Aaron's and Alabama's famed 2.66-mile tri-oval, Talladega Superspeedway. "We at Aaron's look forward to bringing the "Drama of 12 Extra Miles" to NASCAR's Most Competitive Track." said Butler. "After the success we've experienced with the 'Aaron's 312 at Atlanta' over the last two years, I believe NASCAR fans can expect exciting races and sensational finishes. Adding the 12 extra miles changes the way teams and drivers plan their race strategies and, as in the past, bring unexpected results that fans will remember."(Aaron's PR)(3-28-2002)

Talladega Promotions: Talladega Superspeedway has promoted Rick Humphrey to vice president and general manager. As vice president and general manager of the 33-year-old facility, Humphrey will be responsible for all operations, public relations, marketing, sales and governmental relations with his additional duties at the track. Humphrey was named director of operations in January of 2001 after serving as the track’s director of public relations since 1997. Humphrey, 33, is a native of Jacksonville, N.C. He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC in 1990. Prior to arriving at Talladega, Humphrey worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Sports Marketing Enterprises. During his two-year stint at Reynolds Tobacco, he handled media relations for the company’s involvement in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, NHRA Winston Drag Racing and company-sponsored race teams. Prior to joining SME, Humphrey was a team public relations representative in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and spent several years as a sportswriter before joining the public relations field. Also announced was that Mike McWilliams has been promoted to senior director of facility operations and that Troi Hayes has been promoted to senior director of marketing at Talladega Superspeedway.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(1-29-2002)

Special Allison Ticket: April 2002 marks the 15th Anniversary of Davey Allison's first NASCAR Winston Cup Series win – a win that came at his hometown track, Talladega Superspeedway in the spring of 1987. To celebrate that anniversary, Talladega Superspeedway has created an oversized Commemorative Ticket for Advance Auto Parts Qualifying Day on April 19, 2002, during the Talladega 500 weekend. The oversized ticket measures 3.5 inches by 8.5 inches and is $10, the same price as the standard roll ticket sold at the gate the day of the event. The ticket bears images of Davey’s famous #28 Texaco-Havoline Ford Thunderbird owned by Harry Ranier, and of Davey in Victory Lane showing off that grin.(more info at the Talladega Superspeedway site/PR)(1-24-2002)

Talladega Concession Prices: Since coolers and backpacks were banned for Sunday's 500, fans were forced to buy most of their refreshments from the track. Talladega officials had said they would be cutting their concession prices by almost 50 percent, but fans were shaking their heads when they lined up to buy a hamburger and a drink. ''I don't remember the hamburgers costing $8 in April,'' Jahnson Stone of Huntsville said as he purchased a $4 cheeseburger. ''I really don't think there was that much difference in the prices from what they charged in the spring race.''(Alabama Live), Jayski Note: have heard a bunch of complaints about the prices(10-23-2001)

Talladega - What is allowed and was in not: With new safety policies in place for the EA SPORTS™ 500 weekend, Talladega Superspeedway has received several inquiries into what is allowable to bring through the admission gates – and what is not. Simply put, any items that have been allowed inside the gates in the past will be allowed, with the exception of coolers, backpacks and large bags. Talladega Superspeedway – along with its parent company, International Speedway Corporation – implemented these safety policies after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Instead of coolers and backpacks, fans will be allowed to bring in one bag that is no larger than 6-inches X 6-inches X 12-inches. A bag is defined as “a container of flexible material, such as paper, plastic or leather that is used for carrying or storing items.” Any items that have been allowed in the past – whether it be food, beverage, binoculars, a camera or a scanner – will be permissible to pass through admission gates at Talladega Superspeedway. Fans can attach their scanners to a belt or hold onto it and put headphones, cameras and binoculars around their neck. Talladega Superspeedway is working to minimize any inconvenience that its new safety policy may cause its fans. For example, ISC’s concession company has reviewed its menu and has reduced prices on beer, beverages, candy and other snacks – some by as much as 50 percent. Talladega Superspeedway has also added 25 percent more concession points and increased the number of employees working at those and all concession points to reduce any long wait in line. The number of drink vendors walking the grandstands during the event have also been increased. Fans who visit the souvenir village will also be allowed to bring those bags inside the gates with their purchased merchandise. “We’re recommending that our fans return purchased merchandise to their vehicles before entering our gates, but we understand with the size of our facility that might not be easy to do,” said Lynch. “Considering the location of the souvenir village in rela tion to parking areas, we will allow those souvenir bags though the gates provided there is only merchandise inside. And all bags are subject to search.” All items brought through the gate area are subject to inspection. Those fans who wish to arrive early at Talladega Superspeedway will be allowed to enter the grandstands a half hour earlier than usual. All grandstand gates will now open at 7:30am on Sunday, Oct. 21. Parking lots will open at 5:00am on Sunday, Oct. 21. Grandstand gates will open at 8:00am on Thursday, Oct. 18. Grandstand gates will open at 7:30am the rest of the race weekend. ALSO - Because the infield at Talladega Superspeedway offers fans the opportunity to stay overnight, they are allowing coolers to be brought in for those entering the infield. They are asking those fans to understand that all vehicles and all items on board are subject to search once on track property.(Talladega Superspeedway PR/Site)(10-11-2001)

Ask A Question: Wonder what it will take to bring home Winston’s No Bull 5 Million Dollar Bonus at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 21 in the EA SPORTS™ 500? Well, fans can ask that very question to the five NASCAR Winston Cup Series stars eligible for Winston’s No Bull 5 bonus on that weekend. See the Talladega Superspeedway site for more and the email addess(10-9-2001)

Talladega Race Date: Originally earmarked for the first weekend in April of 2002, Talladega Superspeedway’s “Track Attack Weekend” has been moved back to its traditional slot on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule. As NASCAR continues to fill out the 2002 Winston Cup Series schedule, one of the results was moving the 2002 Talladega 500 to the third weekend in April. Talladega’s “Track Attack Weekend” is now scheduled for April 18-21.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-16-2001)

Talladega Sponsor? UPDATE 2 Yep it's Official: hearing EA Sports will be the title sponsor for the Talladega Winston Cup race on October 21st(8-7-2001)
UPDATE: The Birmingham, AL NBC station reported on it's Wednesday 6:00pm news that Talladega Superspeedway has secured EA Sports in a multiyear deal as a sponsor for their October Race. The official new conference is scheduled for Thursday, Aug 9th at 10:30am/ct at the track
UPDATE 2: Electronic Arts today announced a three-year deal with Talladega Superspeedway, naming the legendary NASCAR Winston Cup Series fall race the EA SPORTS™ 500. EA SPORTS becomes just the third NASCAR Winston Cup Series sponsor in Talladega’s 32-year racing history. Tickets remain for October’s EA SPORTS 500 and can be purchased by calling (256) 362-RACE Monday through Friday or online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Electronic Arts, entering its fifth year of involvement with NASCAR, has created and published award-winning NASCAR video games for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®, Nintendo® 64 and PC. The company is also currently devel oping NASCAR Thunder 2002 titles for the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox™ video game console from Microsoft and the PlayStation scheduled for release this fall. The EA SPORTS 500 weekend begins on Thursday, Oct. 18 with Alabama International Auto Show Qualifying Day for the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 300. Bud Pole Qualifying Day is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19 to set the lineup for the NASCAR Winston Cup Serie s EA SPORTS 500. The final Winston Cup practice is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20 followed by the Food World 300. The EA SPORTS 500 is scheduled for a Noon (Central) start on Sunday, Oct. 21.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-9-2001)

Talladega Rules? There are whispers that thought is being given to a larger roll cage and body configuration for cars in the October race at Talladega(Sporting News)(7-30-2001)

Talladega Sponsor? Don't be surprised if an announcement is made shortly by Talladega Superspeedway officials confirming a new corporate sponsor for the upcoming Alabama 500 in October. Sources say a deal is close to being sealed to bring a new long-term sponsor on board for the fall race. That sponsor would replace R.J. Reynolds, which elected in the offseason to pull its Winston brand name from the race after 30 years. No word yet as to the identity of the new sponsor, but it is not expected to be the United Parcel Service, KFC or any of several other possibilities that have been speculated on in recent months(Anniston Star)(7-19-2001)

Talladega Tix: To celebrate Talladega’s storied history of competition, a commemorative NASCAR Winston Cup Series Pole Day Ticket has been prod uced for qualifying on Oct. 19. Only 5,000 of the Collectors Series will be produced. The price of the ticket is $10, the same price for the walk-up ticket issued at the gate the day of qualifying. The Cup drivers return to Talladega for the Alabama 500 weekend, Oct. 18-21. The top three most competitive races in NASCAR’s modern history took place at Talladega Superspeedway. The 1984 spring event – then called the Winston 500 – leads the way with 75 official lead changes, a lead change every 2.5 laps. The race was won by Cale Yarborough. Yarborough’s #28 Hardee’s Chevrolet is pictured on the front of the Commemorative Pole Day Ticket. On the ticket’s cover, Yarborough’s Chevrolet is joined by Darrell Waltrip’s #88 Gatorade Chevrolet and Terry Labonte’s Budweiser Ford owned by Junior Johnson.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-4-2001)

Talladega Spring Date moves up: Been told by quite a few readers who have receieved tickets renews that the 2002 Talladega spring race will be held on April 7th. It was on April 22nd this year(6-26-2001)

New Asphalt at Talladega/Daytona soon? UPDATE: The Talladega Superspeedway may have a new racing surface as soon as next year. "We're looking at it real hard," said speedway President Grant Lynch. "It does reach a point where the asphalt becomes brittle and you have to do something." Sunday's Talladega 500 will be the 64th Winston Cup race on the 2.66-mile track that opened in 1969 and has been totally repaved only once. The grind of years of pavement pounding have taken a toll. In fact, track owner International Speedway Corp. is considering repaving the tracks at both Talladega and Daytona International Speedway. Officials are talking with contractors and mulling options. Paving the steep banks of NASCAR' two huge superspeedways would require expensive and special equipment. Estimates range between $2 million to more than $6 million, depending on how extensive a job is needed.(Alabama Live)(4-19-2001)
UPDATE: Daytona International Speedway hasn't been paved since 1979 and has become something of the "gray lady" among International Speedway Corp. facilities. During the most recent Winston Cup weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, which is Daytona's sister look-alike track in Alabama, there was talk that both courses may get a facelift in the near future. But Daytona's president John Graham acknowledged that when DIS gets a new coat of pavement so will Talladega. The resurfacing of Daytona's 2.5-mile tri-oval course probably won't happen for at least two more years. "It wouldn't be done before 2003," said Graham. "Maybe even a year or two beyond that."(Daytona Beach News Journal)(4-27-2001)

Talladega Sponsor: United Parcel Service has decided not to buy the title sponsorship for Talladega's 500-mile race in the fall. Sources familiar with the situation have said UPS was the leading candidate to replace long-term title sponsor R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, which dropped its 30-year-long deal. UPS spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg says consideration of the title sponsorship was "more of an afterthought" being considered separately from the Atlanta-based delivery company's hefty NASCAR advertising budget for 2001. UPS sponsors the car driven by racer Dale Jarrett. Next year, UPS will evaluate whether to pursue title sponsorships, she says. Talladega track marketing director Troi Hayes says, "We're moving forward with negotiations for 2002."(Birmingham Business Journal)(4-23-2001)

Tix Available at Talladega: With some of the best racing offered only days away, fans can still claim their seat for Talladega Superspeedway's "Track Attack Weekend." Largely in thanks to Talladega's 5,000-plus seat expansion since last October, fans who have been s hut out in the past can now grab their spot at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track. Fans who head to Talladega will have the opportunity to see three of the year's most exciting races – the 25th Anniversary of the True Value International Race of Champions, the NASCAR Busch Series Subway 300 and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Talladega 500(Talladega SuperSpdwy PR), in other words - Tickets are still available(4-17-2001)

BGN Talladega Sponsor: Subway Restaurants will sponsor the 300-mile NASCAR Busch Series event at Talladega Superspeedway on April 21 and be called The Subway 300(Talladega PR)(4-11-2001)

Drivers skipping Talladega?? UPDATE 2: in part from the Winston Salem Journal - ...But the big story of the day was furious driver reaction to NASCAR's continued inaction on Talladega rules. Bobby Labonte, the Winston Cup champ, said some sponsors have told their drivers if they want to skip the April Talladega 500 they'll support that decision. See the comments at the :Winston Salem Journal in the middle of the article(3-25-2001)
UPDATE: ..Everyone is scared to death over the Talladega race right now. There is even talk, not that anything is likely to materialize, of sponsors telling their teams they will allow them to skip the race, or of some drivers talking about running only a token lap and then parking their cars in protest. They aren’t telling NASCAR that. They’re afraid their car won’t get through inspection, or that NASCAR will start hitting them with arbitrary requirements that make it impossible for them to be competitive.(Gaston Gazette) AND(Stock Car Reporter)(3-25-2001)
UPDATE 2: No one seriously expects any of the stars to pass up the April 22 race(at Talladega). But the fact that sponsors are getting into the safety debate is significant, because NASCAR executives who might dismiss complaints by drivers won't easily write off worries by the companies whose advertising dollars keep this sport running.(Winston Salem Journal)(3-26-2001)

Talladega and UPS? United Parcel Service has discussed title sponsorship of the fall Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR race with track officials. But the track is still without a title sponsor for the April 22 race, billed now as simply the Talladega 500. Winston and Diehard last year pulled out of their longtime title sponsorships for the two annual 500-mile races, citing a variety of reasons. A UPS spokeswoman, Susan Rosenberg confirms the overnight delivery company has had discussions with Talladega officials about title sponsorship. Sources familiar with the situation say UPS is interested in the fall race formerly sponsored by tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds and called the Winston 500. UPS has made a sizable investment in NASCAR this year, sponsoring Dale Jarrett's #88 car and launching a racing Web site (http://www.racing.ups.com.) Last year, UPS signed a five-year deal to become the official express delivery company of NASCAR(Birmingham Business Journal)(3-5-2001)

Rules Change at 'Dega? #99-Jeff Burton said he believes there will be some sort of rules changes by the time the Winston Cup circuit goes to Talladega Superspeedway for the Talladega 500 on April 22. Burton said the crashes in the IROC and Winston Cup races at Daytona --- both of which were run under the aerodynamic rules that have been put in place for races at Daytona and Talladega --- should be enough to convince NASCAR to make a change(AJC)(2-25-2001)

Gordon Ticket: To help commemorate Pepsi's return to the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and honor one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Talladega Superspeedway is offering a special Jeff Gordon Pole Day Ticket for Advance Auto Parts Qualifying Day on April 20. The ticket measures 8.5 inches by 3.5 inches and has a photo of the #24 Chevy with the Pepsi paint scheme as its centerpiece. The car appears to be driving through the ticket with a picture of Gordon celebrating in Victory Lane at Talladega last season directly above the Pepsi Chevy. Each of the Jeff Gordon Pole Day tickets is numbered in a series of 5,000. The ticket is $10 and is good for all of Friday's activities.(more info at the Talladega site)(1-22-2001)

Speedway and Bribes? Court records show the Talladega Superspeedway was among at least 10 businesses or people that paid alleged bribes to fund a race car driven by the son of Alabama's indicted former transportation director. Officials at the Talladega track declined comment on the indictments or the allegations of payments in 1997 and 1998. See full AP story at the Montgomery Advertisor: Records implicate speedway.(1-22-2001)

Talladega Promotion: After serving more than eight years in public relations in motorsports, Rick Humphrey has been named Director of Operations at Talladega Superspeedway. Humphrey, 32, has served as Director of Public Relations at Talladega Superspeedway since 1997. His move to operations is effective immediately(Anniston Star)(1-11-2001)

Talladega Upgrades: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced plans to add more than 5,000 tower seats as well as some new infield amenities for fans all of which will be completed for the April 2001 race weekend. The O.V. Hill South Tower will grow by 25 rows, taking it nine rows higher than the trioval tower and providing 5,200 more seats for April's events. The expansion will push Talladega's permanent seating capacity to more than 143,000 seats. For infield fans, a new shower house will be constructed, which will include more than 35 showers. In addition, the speedway will move to an all-reserved infield(That's Racin')(10-16-2000)

No More Winston 500 UPDATE 2: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco is pulling its Winston title sponsorship of Talladega Superspeedway's October race in 2001, ending a 30-year presence, and leaving the track without title sponsors for both of its annual 500-mile NASCAR races. Sears, Roebuck & Co. last spring withdrew its title sponsorship of the Diehard 500 at the track. Talladega officials, though, see it as an opportunity to grab new sponsors eager for exposure at two of NASCAR's top 10 races. A source close to the situation says UPS and Dodge are leading candidates to replace Diehard and Winston. RJR has had to cull its racing sponsorship in the wake of an historic tobacco industry settlement with state attorneys general. Last fall, RJR ended its 26-year affiliation with NASCAR's Winston Racing Series because the weekly short-track program allows 16- to 17-year-olds to participate, in violation of the settlement(Birmingham Business Journal)(8-7-2000)
UPDATE: a statement for RJR - "As happens every year, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company establishes its brand strategies and objectives for the upcoming year and then evaluates each of its marketing programs against those objectives. We are currently in the process of renegotiating our contracts with several tracks for 2001 including Talladega. Until those decisions and negotiations are complete, it would be inappropriate to discuss the specific nature of any aspect of those negotiations." AND see a column at Alabama Live: Winston to pull its name at 'Dega Winston to quit smoking at 'Dega by Neal Sims; and a story at the Anniston Star: This year’s Winston 500 to be the last by Jimmy Creed(8-9-2000)
UPDATE 2: The longest continuous race sponsorship in the NASCAR Winston Cup series is coming to an end. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. said Saturday it will sponsor its final Winston 500 next week at Talladega, then end the naming-rights relationship that began in 1971. The company said the decision was based on its desire to refocus its marketing division to other programs in NASCAR. RJR is the title sponsor of NASCAR's top series. The company also sponsors The Winston — the annual all-star race — and the No Bull Five program, which awards $1 million to an eligible driver and a fan if the driver wins a pre-designated race. RJR will announce a new sponsorship program with Talladega at next week's race. The new deal will likely make the race part of next year's No Bull program, possibly with a richer purse(AP)(10-7-2000)

Big Rigs UPDATE: Talladega Superspeedway is talking with Jimmy Spencer and other Winston Cup drivers about driving in the Monster truck race on the eve of the Oct. 14 Winston 500(AJC)(7-1-2000)
UPDATE: You might think going around Talladega Superspeedway at 200 mph, four cars wide would satisfy thrill seekers like Jimmy Spencer and Elliott Sadler. In a normal "White Knuckle Weekend" it would, but this October Mr. Excitement and the man with the thick Virginia drawl will square off in a Monster Truck race on the eve of the NASCAR Winston Cup Winston 500. At 8:00pm on Oct. 14 under temporary lights, the two NASCAR Winston Cup drivers will wrap their hands around the steering wheel of a Monster Truck, a vehicle weighing in at more than 10,000 pounds and propelled by engines that generate 2,500 horsepower. These trucks can cover Talladega’s 600-foot course in under 10 seconds(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(8-7-2000)

Talladega 2001 Fall Date: When the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit rolls around to Talladega Superspeedway in October of 2001, it will be a week later than race fans are accustomed. The Cup Series, which will add two points races in 2001, will make its second stop of the season at Talladega Superspeedway during the third week of October. The 33rd running of the Winston 500 is scheduled for Oct. 21, moving "White Knuckle Weekend" back one week from years past. The first round of qualifying for the 2001 Winston 500 is scheduled for Oct. 19. NASCAR's Winston Cup spring visit to the 2.66-mile tri-oval next season is scheduled for April 22, moving the event back to its normal slot in the Winston Cup Series lineup. Talladega Superspeedway's spring race in 2000 was moved up a week to avoid a conflict with Easter. First-round qualifying for the NASCAR Winston Cup event during "Track Attack Weekend" is scheduled for April 20, 2001. Tickets still remain for this October's "White Knuckle Weekend," scheduled for Oct. 12-15.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(7-13-2000)

Talladega Lights? UPDATE NO: from PitNow - Talladega's plans to add lights next season has NASCAR team owners wondering if another night race might be in the cards for the Winston Cup tour(PitNow)(6-19-2000)
UPDATE: PR folks at Talladega tell me that they are going to have night racing at Talladega in the fall, but it's going to be the Monster Trucks, not Winston Cup cars and that the lighting that will be used for the Monster Trucks is going to be temporary. No plans to light the track for Cup. The Monster Truck event will be in the track’s infield along the backstretch and can be viewed from the Allison Grandstand. The Monster Trucks will compete side by side on a 400-foot course, which is the longest the ProMT Series has ever competed(6-20-2000)

DW Honored at Talladega: As a tribute to his 29 years in NASCAR Winston Cup racing, Talladega Superspeedway is honoring Darrell Waltrip with a commemorative pole day ticket for Ricochet Qualifying Day. The ticket is a collage of Waltrip's career dating back to his first Winston Cup start in 1972 at Talladega Superspeedway. In addition to his #95 Terminal Trucking Mercury, some of Waltrip's most noted race cars are on the ticket, including the #88 Gatorade car as well as the #17 Tide-sponsored Chevrolet, and the #11 Budweiser Chevrolet owned by Junior Johnson. Waltrip, the owner of 84 Winston Cup victories, has four wins at the Alabama track, as well as a pair of pole positions. See full story and an image of the ticket at the Talladega Superspeedway site(6-20-2000)

Talladega News: Talladega Superspeedway Director of Marketing Troi Hayes, Columbia Records Vice President of Promotion Ted Wagner and members of Ricochet announced today at NASCAR Café plans for the country music group to sponsor Talladega’s qualifying day Friday, Oct. 13.(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(6-16-2000)

No more Diehard 500? UPDATE yep: I am hearing that UPS has signed on to be presenting race sponsor for the spring race at Talladega, known now as the DieHard 500. No word on what the race will be called. UPS 500??(5-8-2000)
UPDATE: A new name is in store for the spring Winston Cup race at Talladega. Track officials just aren't sure yet what to call it. Sears will no longer sponsor the race, ending a 13-year run with the race named after its Diehard brand of automobile batteries. The nationwide retailer did not renew its latest three-year contract extension, which ended with last month's race. Another title sponsor is not lined up. Speedway officials hope to settle that matter this summer or at least have an announcement when NASCAR returns for the fall race (Winston 500) in October. Talks are ongoing with prospective sponsors about picking up the seven-figure price tag for naming rights to the April race. One is United Parcel Service(Alabama Live)(5-10-2000)

TV Coverage Info: The ABC Sports telecast of NASCAR's DieHard 500 from Talladega on Sunday pulled a 4.5 overnight rating with an 11 share, according to Nielsen Media Research. That was six percent better than 1999(SpeedVision)(4-20-2000)

No Re-paving at 'Dega: A repaving project is not in the immediate plans for Talladega Superspeedway, but track operators are preparing for the time when it does come - even if it's sooner than they think. "At this time, there are no plans on the books to repave the track in the year 2000," said Brett Shelton, the speedway's vice president and general manager(Alabama Online)(4-10-2000)

Talladega Rules UPDATE: NASCAR Saturday amended its rules revision for Talladega next month, informing teams that it would allow them to use frame bumpers on the front ends of their cars. Even smart crew chiefs seemed puzzled as to what this means. See Ben Blakes story at SpeedVision for the explanation: Blake's Bristol Notebook: Saturday(3-26-2000)
UPDATE: The bumpers are small rubber pieces attached to the frame, which cushion body-frame contact when the car body drops closer to the ground(That's Racin'), to see an image of a 'bumper', see the story at Speedway Illustrated(3-27-2000)

Talladega Repaving? UPDATE 2: hearing that Talladega Superspeedway will be repaved after the April Cup race(3-18-2000)
UPDATE: being told by the Talladega folks that this is NOT true(3-19-2000)
UPDATE 2: still getting email on this, so let's make it a little clearer: Was told by the PR people at Talladega that the track will not be repaved this year, tour guides were supposedly erroneously telling folks taking a tour of the track that the repaving would take place after the Cup race(3-22-2000)

Talladega Seats: Construction on a 7,500-seat addition to the frontstretch Tri-Oval Tower at Talladega Superspeedway is nearing completion as workers enter the final stages of the five-month-long project. Currently, workers are installing seats in the 16-row expansion, in addition to building more concession stands to accommodate the increased number of fans in the Tri-Oval Tower when it opens for Talladega’s DieHard 500 race weekend April 13-16. The project is 80 percent complete, and is expected to be finished by March 21, according to speedway manager of facility operations Andy McWilliams. Approximately 1,000 tickets remain in the Tri-Oval Tower for ‘Track Attack Weekend.’(Talladega Superspeedway PR/Site)(3-3-2000)

Talladega Promotion: Brett Shelton has been named general manager of Talladega Superspeedway, in addition to his duties as vice president. Track President Grant Lynch made the announcement. As vice president/general manager of the 31-year-old facility, Shelton will be responsible for all marketing, sales, public relations and governmental relations with his additional duties at the track(Talladega Superspeedway PR)(2-26-2000)

Talladega News: A major construction project to add 7,500 seats to Talladega Superspeedway's Tri-Oval Tower is progressing as workers enter the second phase of installing the steel supports for the 16-row addition. The Tri-Oval Tower project has been underway since mid-November, and is one of several improvements guests will see at Talladega's April 2000 race weekend. Other off-season construction includes the building of four new tram routes that will serve as an added convenience in transporting guests from parking areas to points near speedway entrances(Talladega PR)(1-6-2000)

Talladega Seats: More tower seating and a new tram service are among several improvements that will be made at Talladega Superspeedway in 2000. A 7,500-seat addition to the frontstretch Tri-Oval Tower is under construction, and the 16-row expansion project will be finished in time for Talladega Superspeedway's April 2000 race weekend(Talladega Superspeedway Site)(12-15-1999)

Talladega Sponsor: Coleman Company, Inc., had agreed to become the official outdoor gear provider for Talladega Superspeedway. Beginning in 2000, Coleman will be the name sponsor of the reserved portion of Talladega's family campground. The Coleman Family Reserved Campground features 280 camping spaces at Talladega. Coleman's sponsorship agreement with Talladega is part of a three-year exclusive NASCAR marketing partnership(SpeedNet)(12-12-1999)

Talladega UPDATE: The son of 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Dale Jarrett will be one of four instructors when the Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure makes its inaugural appearance at Talladega Superspeedway Dec. 9-12. Jason Jarrett, who has competed in the NASCAR Busch Series on a limited basis over the last several years, is a third-generation driver(Alabama Online)(12-5-1999) -- UPDATE: Alabama governor Don Siegelman will take a break from the political arena and match wits with the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway behind the wheel of a stock car Thursday morning to kick off the Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure at NASCAR's most competitive track. Gov. Siegelman, who less than one week ago attended the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Awards Banquet in New York, will take command of a Ford Taurus and run at speeds exceeding 150 mph on the 2.66-mile track. More than 700 race fans and thrill seekers will take part in the inaugural Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure at Talladega Superspeedway. The ride-along program, which begins Thursday afternoon and continues through Sunday, sold out early this week. The Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure initially planned to offer its ride-along program at Talladega Superspeedway Dec. 10-11, but fan interest warranted the addition of two days to the schedule. The first rides begin at 1 p.m. Thursday and will conclude at approximately 5 p.m. Sunday. Guests at Talladega Superspeedway for the Jarrett/Favre Driving Adventure will participate in the Qualifier Adventure, a three-lap ride with a professional driver in a fully-loaded stock car that reaches maximum speeds. Jason Jarrett, son of 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Dale Jarrett, headlines the instructor corps for this weekend's event. Jarrett is a third-generation driver and has competed in the NASCAR Busch Series on a limited basis during the past two years(Talladega PR)(12-9-1999)

Winston 500 Stuff: Dale Earnhardt's win was the farthest any driver has ever started at Talladega(27th) an won. It is the 5th time a driver has won both Talladega races in the same season and Earnhardt is the only driver to do it twice(also in 1990). Others: 1982-Darrell Waltrip; 1975-Buddy Baker; and 1970-Pete Hamilton(10-17-1999)

Talladega Old: After 30 years of standing up to the speed of NASCAR racing, Talladega Superspeedway stretches out once again for the Winston 500 and another weekend of pavement pounding. The grind is taking its toll. The asphalt around the 2.66-mile, high-banked superspeedway was capped a year after the track opened in 1969, but it has been totally repaved only once, more than 16 years ago. Patches are evident and particularly rough through turns three and four. But there are no plans to repave next year(Birmingham News)(10-15-1999)

Some Winston 500 stats: 12 of all the 60 Talladega races have been won from the pole starter - 20%. Last Winston 500 won by the pole winner: 1995 by Sterling Marlin. 50 of 60 Talladega races have been won from the Top 10 - 83%. Lowest start of a Winston 500 winner: 24th, 1973 by Dick Brooks, lowest Talladega(TNN Race Stats)

Talladega News: Talladega Superspeedway’s Winston 500 was honored Wednesday night by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel as the event of the year in the state. The announcement was made at a special ceremony during the Alabama Tourism Partnership Governor’s Conference at Marriott’s Grand Hotel in Point Clear. Lesa Kennedy, executive vice president of the International Speedway Corporation, accepted the award for Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Jarrett, the winner of last season’s Winston 500, also helped accept the award through a taped video message. More than 165 nominations were received for the 10 awards presented at Wednesday night’s ceremony(Talladega Superspeedway Site)(7-30-1999)

Allison honored: Talladega Superspeeday will name a new backstretch section of seating the Allison Grandstands, in honor of Hueytown, AL native and tribute to retired racer Bobby Allison, who sacrificed so much for the sport. The new 22,000-seat Allison section will be ready in time for the October race(Tennessean)(7-7-1999)

Talladega 2000: The AP is reporting that to avoid running on Easter Sunday(4-23-2000), Talladega officials plan to move next year's DieHard 500 up one week to April 16. No official announcement is expected to be made until later this summer(GoCarolinas)(6-10-1999)

Talladega: Grandstand construction is underway at Talladega Superspeedway as 27,000 new seats are set to be in place for October's "White Knuckle Weekend." The Allison Grandstand, located on the backstretch, is the track's biggest grandstand project to complete before it opens Thursday, Oct. 14. The Allison Grandstand will replace the 22,000 seats that were previously on the backstretch(NOL) Tickets available via DaytonaUSA(6-2-1999)

Talladega Tickets: Talladega went live Monday at noon/et with online ticketing for the Winston 500 and the ARCA Winn Dixie 300 in October. See www.daytonausa.com for info(5-24/27-1999)

Touchstone Energy, a nationwide alliance of local, consumer-owned utilities, has agreed to sponsor Talladega Superspeedway's April Grand National race for the next two seasons. The 1999 Touchstone Energy 300 is scheduled for April 14.(That's Racin')(10-10-1998)

Talladega's expansion program will result in a new garage area, infield care center, motor-home compound (for owners and drivers), main entrance, a 5,000-seat grandstand in turn one, and an infield media center.(SpeedNet) All of the projects should be completed by March 31, 1999.(That's Racin')(10-10-1998)

IROC will return to Talladega on April 24, 1999, no word on what track it will replace.(RPM2Nite) Tracks ran in 1998: Daytona, California, Michigan and Indy. Also no word on what car they will use.(10-9-1998)

Talladega Superspeedway has always been big. Now a facelift has made the track visually bold as it competes with newer race venues across the country. Armed with a spruced-up logo and the slogan ''Big and Bold,'' track officials splashed a fresh coat of paint through the stands, turning the dull seats into bright red and blue chairs. Landscapers also cleared the land surrounding Talladega, making the sprawling 2.66-mile track visible from Interstate 20 for the first time.(JournalNow)(9-23-1998)

In the 59 NASCAR Winston Cup races run at Talladega, 49 have been won by a driver that started in the top 10. That's 83.1 percent of the races.(10-11-1998)

Here are the stories throughout the week of the 1998 Winston 500 at the Alabama Live website: 1998 Winston 500.(10-8-1998)

Pepsi 400 ticket holders that can't make it to the rescheduled Pepsi 400 can use their tickets at Talledega the week before. Pepsi 400 ticket holders can use their tickets for all "preliminary events" leading up to the Winston 500. A ticket for the postponed Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway will have value back-to-back weekends in October, Talladega Superspeedway officials announced Tuesday. See the story for what the tickets will do for you at: Talladega offers Pepsi 400 promotion - NASCAR Online.(7-14-1998)

Talladega Superspeedway is undergoing a face lift, and part of the procedure is expected to be completed in time for the Oct. 11 Winston 500. Those changes are a part of Phase I. They are: About 11,000 seats in a new tower on the frontstretch, eight new luxury suites in the tri-oval area of the track, a new sponsor-accommodating hospitality village designed to handle 90 tents and 9,000 visitors, and a new restroom and concession stand at the Turn-1 end of the frontstretch. Phase II is scheduled to begin following the fall race. Among the proposed improvements: A new garage area for the Winston Cup teams, a new infield parking lot to handle the motor homes for drivers and owners, and a new infield medical center. (Richmond Times-Dispatch), TNN's Inside NASCAR reports that the track plans to have 210,000 seats in the next few years.(4-26-1998)

In the 57 NASCAR Winston Cup races run at Talladega, 47 have been won by a driver that started in the top 10. That's 82 percent of the races.(Bill Weber ESPN Sportszone)(4-23-1998)

Touchstone Energy will sponsor the BGN Talladega Race on 4-25. It will be known as the Touchstone Energy 300(NASCAR Online)(2-24-1998)

International Speedway Corporation(ISC) to build 23,000 grandstand seats and 24-32 luxury suites. 32 million for capital projects to be completed by February 1999. These summaries of the additional grandstand seats and suite additions included in $32 million additional capital expenditures is as follows: 11,100 premium over-sized seats at Talladega, 6,800 Turn 4 seats and 3 luxury suites at Darlington, 5,000 Turn 1 seats and 5 luxury suites at Phoenix and 16 to 24 luxury suites at Daytona(Nascar Online & Buisness Wire(Phatman)(12-8-1997)

I hear it was reported in the Birmingham News this morning that the Winston 500 and Diehard 500 will change places next year and the the Winston 500 will become the last leg of the Winston Million.(Birmingham News)(9-8-1997)

I hear the track rumor is still alive in Covington, Kentucky and Roger Penske may be involved(9-8-1997)

Talladega Superspeedway officials announced 5-13-97 they will add an additional 7,800 tower seats in time for October's Sears DieHard 500. The addition will give the Superspeedway 109,000 total seats.(5-13-1997)

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