Talladega Superspeedway News

Updated: 2010

Thursday, January 7, 2009

Speedway Presidents make friendly BCS Championship wager: Millions of people from all over the world have at least some kind of a wager riding on Thursday’s BCS National Championship Game between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Add to that list Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage, and Talladega Superspeedway president Rick Humphrey. The two multi-millionaires have placed their bets. However, the wager between the two is less than impressive. The loser has to display the winning track’s flag at their speedway for the weekend, and they have to sport a golf shirt and hat of the winning team as they hang it up. The flag will be left up for the weekend. (Stock Car Spin)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

NASCAR pleased with speeds at Talladega: NASCAR is happy with the speeds of the Sprint Cup cars in practice and there are no plans to change the restrictor plates for qualifying or the race this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said Friday night. Sprint Cup teams are using restrictor plates with holes 59/64ths of an inch in diameter, which is 1/64th of an inch smaller than what was used in April at Talladega. The entry blank for the race specifically states that NASCAR can change the restrictor plates after practice Friday. With temperatures in the 60s but a little wind that possibly slowed down the cars, the top speed in first practice Friday was 195.944 mph and the top speed in final practice was 193.154 mph. Last April, the top speed in first practice was 197.472 while in second practice it was 194.904.(SceneDaily)

Friday, October 9, 2009

NASCAR to shrink restictor plate at Talladega: NASCAR will reduce the size of the restrictor plate and allow teams an optional change as a way to slow the cars and try to keep them from getting airborne at Talladega. Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby [said] Friday at Auto Club Speedway that the restrictor plate will be reduced 1/64 of an inch. The new size will be 59/64 of an inch. Darby estimates it will shave 12 horsepower off the engines. Teams also have been given an option on side wickers, something they hadn't been allowed to use before at Talladega. Darby said that teams "will be able to add the same little side wicker to the end plate (on the rear wing) much like they do at the downforce tracks. If you look at all the cars in the garage right now on that end plate, all the way out on the back edge they've got a little half by half piece of aluminum. That's eight inches long. It helps in yaw or when the cars are turned. It kind of settles the back of the car down a little bit."(Virginian Pilot)

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Talladega raises catchfence: As a safety precaution to protect fans and competitors, Talladega Superspeedway extended the height of its frontstretch catch fence by eight feet, president Rick Humphrey told ESPN.com Monday. The decision was made in reaction to a horrific accident on the final lap of the Aaron's 499 Sprint Cup race on April 29, which sent Carl Edwards' Ford airborne into the previous fencing and sent debris spraying into the grandstands. The fence held up in the crash but was destroyed, creating concern about fan safety at the high-speed 2.66-mile venue. Humphrey and his staff hired an outside engineering firm to survey the damage. It was recommended that the fence height be extended. It stood 14 feet in April. It now stands 22 feet, and the top bows out over the track surface. There are other enhancements to the fence, too, though Humphrey said he is not at liberty to discuss them. "The engineering team we consulted with has that information," he said. "It is proprietary information that they've provided to us. They're okay with the height, that's something to the naked eye you'll certainly be able to see. There are other variables you can't get into."(ESPN.com)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Series Director: Flattening Talladega not the answer: One suggestion this week was to reconfigure Talladega and Daytona and take the banking out. As Sprint Cup Series director John Darby pointed out, such a move would reduce speeds, but the resulting races would be less than desirable. "Flattening the racetrack, sure, that would put us in a situation where you could run without restrictor plates, but I don't see that as a real viable option," Darby said. "You could make that statement or make that suggestion at every racetrack that we race at. If we flattened Lowe's Motor Speedway and reduced the speeds to 70 miles an hour, sure, you could make an argument it would be a safer racetrack. "But at the same time, we are in the racing business, and a lot of what the sport surrounds is professional drivers controlling cars at high speeds. (Chattanooga Times Free Press )

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

NASCAR looking at safety measures: The Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards crash came after Edwards attempted to block Brad Keselowski's winning pass. Keselowski, a 25-year-old with only four superspeedway starts, had pushed Edwards past Ryan Newman and Dale Earnhardt Jr. into the lead on the final lap. But when Keselowski finally tried to pass along the inside, Edwards descended in an effort to cut him off. Instead, he was spun out of the way, his 3,400-pound car shedding metal pieces as it soared toward the grandstand, hit the fence and erupted in flames. "One of our primary goals over the years is to build a retaining fence that keeps the cars and parts and pieces out of the spectator areas. Nothing is bullet proof," NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "The retaining fence did what it's supposed to do. There was some debris that went into the grandstand that fortunately did not invoke serious injury. If there is something we come up with as we analyze this accident . . . we'll make it as safe as we humanly can." (LA Times)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Update on fan injuries: As soon as the race field cleared the finish line, a half dozen ambulances lined up on track and medical personnel went into the grandstands to treat any fans injured by the debris that came flying off Edwards' car. The Speedway's medical director said eight fans suffered minor injuries such as bumps and bruises and perhaps a couple fractures. Two fans were airlifted to a local hospital, one with facial injuries and possibly a broken jaw, the other with a medical problem unrelated to the crash. They were airlifted because of heavy traffic -- not because the injuries were serious. (Fanhouse.com)

No reports of serious injuries to fans after Talladega crash: Carl Edwards, who seemed en route to a win, went to block rookie Brad Keselowski in the trioval on the last lap. They collided and Edwards went airborne. Edwards flew into the catch-fence, reminiscent of Bobby Allison's crash in 1986, then flew into Ryan Newman. Luckily Edwards walked away -- he even jogged toward to the start-finish line -- and there were no serious injuries initially reported in the stands. (Press-Register)

Video: Brad Keselowski & Carl Edwards final lap crash at Talladega

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Miss America to sing National Anthem at Talladega: Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, will perform the national anthem prior to the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, in addition to appearing in the Dodge Speedway Sports Club and Pepsi Pit Tour Experience Zone hospitality areas on April 26. Stam also will make a special appearance at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 23. "We are excited to welcome Miss America to Talladega Superspeedway," Talladega president Rick Humphrey said. "Anyone who heard her sing during the Miss America competition will agree that this should be an excellent rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. (Talladega PR)

Tuesday, August 18, 2008

AMS to swap dates with Auto Club Speedway: 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 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)

May 16, 2006:

Online Voting Begins For 2006 Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame Inductees: Online fan voting began April 3 for this year's Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame honorees, and on Saturday, Oct. 7, two new names will be added to this prestigious list. 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. Fans may vote for their driver of choice through July 15 by visiting www.talladegawalk.com. Voting is limited to one vote per day. Active driver nominees for 2006 include: Michael Waltrip, Jeff Burton, Morgan Shepherd, Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Sterling Marlin, Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart. Inactive driver nominees for 2006 include: Rusty Wallace, Jim Paschal, Bill Rexford, Jack Smith, Rex White and Speedy Thompson. On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005, Kevin Harvick and Herb Thomas became the most recent drivers to be enshrined. For additional information, visit www.talladegawalk.com.(TSS PR)(5-26-2006)

Tuesday, August 18, 2008

Atlanta to swap dates with Auto Club Speedway: 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 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)

May 3, 2006:

Talladega Superspeedway's Repaving Project Begins: Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch uses 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 today. 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); for our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). You may also purchase tickets online at www.racetickets.com or in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday. - (Talladega Superspeedway PR)

April 30, 2006:

West Virginian mine survivor guest at today's race: Randal McCloy Jr., the lone surviving miner from the accident at the Sago mine in West Virginia, is at Talladega this weekend for his first NASCAR race. McCloy was released from the hospital late last month, and he and seven members of his family are guests of Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership President Ken Butler. "Aaron's is honored to have Randy and his family as our special guests," Butler said. "They are wonderful people who obviously have been through a lot, and they seem so thrilled to be here for their first NASCAR event." Butler extended the invitation to McCloy and his family last month when he learned they were NASCAR fans. (Times-Dispatch)

April 29, 2006:

Talladega Nights merchandise on sale now: NASCAR and Sony Pictures will begin selling merchandise this week online and at-track for one of the most anticipated comedies of the year – “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” While “Talladega Nights”, starring television and movie star Will Ferrell, hits theatres August 4, merchandise for the movie goes on sale this Thursday. In addition to being available online at NASCAR.com, NASCAR-licensed film merchandise will be available at track for the first time at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend. Ferrell, who will be playing NASCAR driver Ricky Bobby, will be the grand marshal for Sunday’s Aaron’s 499. Close to 10 different licensees will be selling movie merchandise either on NASCAR.com and/or in a “Talladega Nights”-specific hauler, with Motorsports Authentics, J.H. Design Group, Checkered Flag Sports and Gametime LLC leading the way with several different lines of shirts, jackets, watches and more. As part of this weekend’s merchandise launch, Motorsports Authentics will be running a promotion awarding fans with an opportunity to meet Ferrell and get their movie merchandise signed by the former “Saturday Night Live” star turned mega-movie star and NASCAR fan. All fans purchasing movie merchandise at-track between Thursday and Saturday at 1 p.m. will be entered into a drawing that will ultimately reward 50 lucky fans with a Sunday autograph session with Ferrell. (NASCAR PR)

April 25, 2006:

NASCAR fans killed at Talladega: Two NASCAR fans died in a campground outside Talladega Superspeedway when a flagpole they were erecting touched power lines, electrocuting them. Donny Lynn Wright, 42, of Remlap and Keith Alan Stell, 39, of Birmingham were killed around lunchtime Monday, said track spokeswoman Kristi King. Talladega County Coroner Jerry Castleberry pronounced both men dead at the scene. The Aaron's 499 race will be run at the track on Sunday. Fans commonly use poles to fly flags touting their favorite driver. Witnesses said Wright and Stell were attempting to anchor a flagpole when it was caught by wind and pushed into power lines running along a road outside the track. "They were trying to pull the flagpole back off the lines," said James Snider of Bessemer, who was sitting about 30 yards away from the victims' camp site. "I heard a loud pop that sounded like a fire cracker, and I went running because the power lines fell. They were both lying on the ground, and two women were trying to get to them to get them away from the wires." (FOX News)

April 11, 2006:

Talladega schedule change: Talladega Superspeedway officials issued a scheduling reminder today to race fans planning on attending the upcoming Aaron’s Dream Weekend here April 28-30. Guests should make note of the following information: * Grandstands and Day Parking lots will not be open on Thursday, April 27. (Members of the media covering the weekend’s events will be admitted into the facility.) * The Infield will open at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 27. * Day Parking lots open Friday, April 28 at 7 a.m., then at 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30. * Grandstands will open at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 28, then 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30. The scheduling changes have been made to better accommodate the new 3-day race weekend format this season at Talladega Superspeedway. Another result of the new format is that two-day tickets to NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track for Saturday & Sunday have become an even greater value. Two-day Talladega Tower seats offering a spectacular view of the start/finish line are $135 and Allison Grandstand Seats are only $60. (Talladega SuperSpeedway)

March 20, 2006:

Talladega RV overnight spots sold-out: 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 28-30, Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today. The track’s hundreds of acres of reserved overnight parks outside the track are completely filled, and the only spots remaining in the 212-acre infield are within the Yellow and Blue Zones which are specifically designated for those planning to park overnight with automobiles and tents. 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 28 – 30, 2006. 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 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday. (Talladega SuperSpeedway PR)

Dec..15, 2005:

Talladega to be repaved: Talladega Superspeedway officials announced today that the legendary Alabama 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 next year’s 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. “Twenty-six years has certainly been a long time to go without necessitating a project this extensive, so there is no question that the time has come for us to repave. It will ensure that Talladega Superspeedway continues to uphold its reputation for the most exciting, most competitive racing throughout the entire NASCAR circuit for years to come,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch. “If our track history is any indication, it will increase the level of competitiveness. The first race held here after our last repaving project was one of the most exciting on the record books.” 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. When drivers tested and practiced on the new surface prior to the May 4, 1980 race, they gave it rave reviews - - pointing out how the new, smooth surface greatly enhanced drafting and overall handling ability. The result was one of the most exciting races and dramatic finishes yet at the still-young superspeedway. A dozen drivers swapped the lead 40 times, and Buddy Baker took his fourth Talladega Superspeedway victory in that event, winning by just three feet after crossing the line side-by-side with Dale Earnhardt. (Talladega Superspeedway PR)

Sep. 28, 2005:

Birmingham International Becomes Official Airport of Talladega Superspeedway: Talladega Superspeedway announced today that Birmingham International Airport (BHM) is now the Official Airport of Talladega Superspeedway. Birmingham International Airport is the state's largest airport serving the Greater Birmingham area and surrounding southeastern cities. Birmingham International Airport presently ranks in the country's top 75 airports in terms of passengers served annually, and is expected to serve more than 3 million travelers this year. "We are very happy to announce Birmingham International Airport as an official status partner and look forward to the opportunities this new relationship will provide in reaching both new and existing race fans," Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey said. Birmingham Airport Authority Executive Director Al Denson said he is excited about the airport's role in meeting the needs of racing enthusiasts traveling into Alabama for race weekends. "We are proud to serve as a sponsor and official Airport of Talladega Superspeedway and look forward to welcoming race fans from across the country to Central Alabama," Denson said. Fans in attendance for UAW-Ford 500 Event Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 will notice Birmingham International Airport's increased profile while at the facility. (Talladega Superspeedway PR)

Sep. 7, 2005

Talladega to donate $100,000 in relief: Grant Lynch, president of the Talladega Superspeedway, announced on Tuesday that they would donate $100,000 Talladega County chapter of the American Red Cross to further aid Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, the Associated Press reported. "It has been very difficult for people to adequately describe the devastation caused by this storm to the people of this region," Mr. Lynch said. "It has left thousands of people - our neighbors - without the most basic of human needs like water, food and shelter and we just want to do what we can to help ease their burden. International Speedway Corporation is making a large effort to contribute, but we wanted to do something in addition to that. We'll continue to look at ways we may be able to help, and we encourage others to do the same," Lynch noted. Lynch also announced that Talladega's parent company, International Speedway Corporation, will provide over $1 million in funding and services for company relief efforts. (Ledger)

Sep. 2, 2005

Talladega leads effort at ISC tracks for Hurricane Katrina: Led by a call to action to all International Speedway Corporation sister tracks by Talladega Superspeedway, millions of residents affected by the rampage of Hurricane Katrina in its home state of Alabama, as well nearby Mississippi and Louisiana will benefit from a company-wide hurricane relief program announced today by TSS President Grant Lynch. "Many of our race fans in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were affected by the horrible devastation of Hurricane Katrina," said Lynch, who also serves as a Vice President at ISC. "Talladega Superspeedway, as well as other International Speedway Corporation facilities across the nation are committed to helping get residents affected by the storm back on their feet." Beginning at Richmond International Raceway and its Chevy Rock & Roll 400 weekend (Sept. 8-10), ISC-owned tracks will begin facilitating the collection of monetary donations from race fans to the Red Cross in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Other ISC event weekends where fans can donate to the relief fund include:
• Talladedga Superspeedway: Oct. 1st weekend
• Kansas Speedway: Oct. 7th weekend
• Martinsville Speedway: Oct. 21st weekend
• Phoenix: Nov. 11th weekend
• Homestead-Miami: Nov. 18th weekend

Race fans not attending any of these events may still support Talladega Superspeedway's call to action by contacting your local Red Cross office and designating donations "Talladega Superspeedway" in support of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. ISC's corporate office located in Daytona Beach, Fla., has committed $1 million in funding and services to jump start the initiative. Funding and services include monetary donations and clothing from ISC's merchandising subsidiary Americrown. In addition to supporting Talladega's call for contributions, ISC facilities are working with local Red Cross officials to identify other means of support for Katrina Hurricane relief efforts. Michigan International Speedway President Brett Shelton, who has lived in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, has been tapped to lead the company-wide effort. (ISC PR)

Aug 31, 2005

Talladega suffer minimal Hurricanes Damage: 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, 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 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CDT, Monday - Friday. (Talladega Superspeedway PR)

July 26, 2005

Talladega announcement, Trucks coming to 'Dega: Talladega Superspeedway Vice President and General Manager Rick Humphrey announced today 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. “We cannot wait to welcome the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series next fall,” Humphrey said. “You really have to witness these trucks race to understand how exciting it is. If you didn’t think it was possible for us to top the level of competition and edge-of-your-seat racing we offer here at Talladega Superspeedway – make plans to be here for this truck race next year. Our fans are going to love it.” The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series officially began competition in 1995, and has seen attendance figures grow from 400,000 to 1.1 million annually in that time period. Now in its 11th season, the series is celebrating its decade-old status with the theme “Ten Years Tough.”  (Talladega SuperSpedeway PR)

July 21, 2005

Talladega Major Announcement: From published internet reports have a huge announcement, the biggest in the Super Speedways history. Announcement will be held at Talladega Superspeedway on Tuesday, July 26 at 11:00am/local.

May 2, 2005

Talladega Night Racing in 2007? 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.  Daytona, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Bristol, Texas, Phoenix and Richmond have conducted Nextel Cup events under the lights. Darlington and Homestead have also added lights. Darlington will run its first night race on May 7 and the Nov. 20 event at Homestead - the final Nextel race of the 2005 season - will begin in the afternoon and finish under the lights. (Alabama Live)

April 30, 2005

Talladega AM Storms: Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch said he is happy to report that there were no weather-related injuries to Talladega Superspeedway's thousands of race fans during the severe storms that cut through East Central Alabama early this morning. The worst portions of a system producing torrential rain and high winds moved through the area at approximately 5:30 a.m. "We are very happy and relieved to report that everyone seems to have weathered the storm successfully and we have no injuries to report," Lynch said. "We were very fortunate that we seemed to miss the worst of the storm line as it moved through. Storms can be especially volatile in this area, and we thank our fans for heeding our warning and taking precautions to protect themselves." (Talladega PR)