By Mike Wells

Talladega Superspeedway is what most people call the biggest, fastest and most competetive tracks of them all. The numbers speak for themselves. The track is 40 miles east of Birmingham, Ala., covering 3,000 acres. It can seat more than 143,231 and thousands more in the 212-acre infield.

Talladega Superspeedway is a 2.66 mile tri-oval , with 33 degree banking in the North and South turns. The grandstands tri-oval is banked at 16.5 degrees. The frontstretch is 4,300′ long with the backstretch being 4,000′ long. The track is 48′ wide with a 12′ wide apron, giving the total width of the track at 60 feet! There are 47 pit stalls on the 1,730′ long pit road. Each pit stall is 32′ x 18′ and behind the walls almost mirrors it @ 30′ x 21′. The garages vary depending on the series. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series garage at Talladega Superspeedway is a 32,400-square-foot structure with a total of 62 bays. Each of these bays is 14′ by 24′. The NASCAR Nationwide Series/Craftsman Truck Series garage at Talladega Superspeedway is a 23,250-square-foot structure with a total of 68 bays.

Talladega Superspeedway holds records for the fastest 500-mile stock car race @ 188.354 mph on May 10, 1997, and won by Mark Martin, the most lead changes in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event @ 75, May 6, 1984 and the most leaders in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event @ 26, twice, July 27, 1986 & April 22, 2001, earning it the distinction of being “NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track.”

The scoring tower located in the track’s infield is 148′ tall and displays the positions of all of the cars on track. The first 10 positions during a race are always displayed on the tower, with positions 11-43 rotating on the bottom two spaces. There are 7,440 light bulbs used for the scoring position displays. The power it takes to run the scoring pylon throughout a race day could also power approximately five 3-bedroom homes for the same period of time. Wow!

A couple key dates are, May 7, 1972 when Darrell Waltrip makes his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start in the Talladega 500 and Aug. 5, 1979 when Kyle Petty makes his first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start in the Talladega 500.

By the Numbers

0: Fewest cautions (10-6-2002)

.002: seconds, which is the closest margin of victory at Talladega Superspeedway. It occurred in the 1999 Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Busch Series race, when Terry Labonte edged Joe Nemechek for victory

1: Where Jeff Gordon finished in both 2007 races.

2: Where Jimmie Johnson finished in both 2007 races.

4: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series cars (weighing the regulation 3,400-lbs. each) would be required to equal the approximate weight of hamburgers sold by concessions during a race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway

5: Kurt Busch’s average finish for both 2007 races.

6: Most wins by active driver (Jeff Gordon)

7: Ryan Newman’s average finish for both 2007 races.

8: Most polls all time by single driver (Bill Elliot)

10: Most wins by a driver (Dale Earnhardt)

11: Most cautions (4-25-2004)

13: Races won from the 1st starting position.

14: Fewest running at the finish (7-27-1986)

18: Times Tony Stewart has raced at Talladega without a win. However, he has 6 2nd place finishes.

18: Races won from the 2nd starting position.

23: Most top 5’s (Dale Earnhardt)

27: Most top 10’s (Dale Earnhardt)

29: Most on the lead lap (4-22-2001)

34: Most wins by manufacturer (Chevy).

36: Worst starting position by a winner (Jeff Gordon) in April of 2000.

40: Most running at the finish (4-22-2001)

46: Races won from the top 5 starting positions.

56: Races won from the top 10 starting positions.

62: drivers have made their first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway

62: Most caution laps run (5-7-1972)

74: NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races held to date at Talladega Superspeedway

80: The total you will need to pay if you would like to get in on 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.

112: octane Sunoco Racing Fuel, which is used by teams competing at Talladega Superspeedway

1969: Unheralded Richard Brickhouse drives a winged Dodge Daytona to victory in the inaugural Talladega 500 at the new Alabama International Motor Speedway. The event is boycotted by virtually all the top NASCAR drivers.

1985: Bill Elliott rebounds with a victory in the Atlanta Journal 500 for his record-setting 11th speedway win of the season. Elliott tops David Pearson’s 1973 record of 10 speedway wins in a season.

1988: Ken Schrader comes from fourth place to first in the final lap and bags his first NASCAR Winston Cup win in the Talladega DieHard 500. Schrader prevails in a terrific 10-car scramble to the checkered flag. The race is Buddy Baker’s last, as he is forced to retire when a blood clot is discovered in his brain.

12,000: pounds of Ballpark Franks are sold by concessions during a race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, which when laid end-to-end, would circle the entire 2.66-mile track 1.14 times

55,650: square feet, which is the combined area of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series (32,400 square feet) and NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series (23,250 square feet) garages at Talladega Superspeedway.

Double duty: Earnhardt Jr., Stewart and Busch are among at least 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars that will pull double duty during the upcoming Aaron’s Dream Weekend competing in both the Aaron’s 312 and the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Top Averages @ Talladega
Driver Races Start Finish
Kurt Busch 14 22.3 10.0
Tony Stewart 18 16.7 12.6
Kevin Harvick 14 21.4 13.6
Jeff Gordon 22 10.5 13.9
Dale Jr 16 18.3 14.3

So after a week off, let’s go racin’ boys!

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