Talladega Superspeedway facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Talladega Superspeedway

Tri-oval (1969–present)
Location	3366 Speedway Boulevard, Lincoln, Alabama
Time zone	UTC−06:00 (UTC−05:00 DST)
Coordinates	33°34′01.06″N 86°03′57.85″W / 33.5669611°N 86.0660694°W / 33.5669611; -86.0660694
Capacity	80,000
Owner	NASCAR (2019–present) International Speedway Corporation (1969–2019)
Broke ground	23 May 1968; 57 years ago (1968-05-23)
Opened	9 September 1969; 55 years ago (1969-09-09)
Construction cost	$5 million USD
Former names	Alabama International Motor Speedway (1969–1989)
Major events	Current: NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 (1970–present) YellaWood 500 (1969–present) NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 (1992–present) United Rentals 250 (2020–2022, 2024-present) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Love's RV Stop 225 (2006–present) Former: International Race of Champions (1984, 1986, 1990–1996, 1999–2001, 2003) AMA Superbike Championship (1980–1983) IMSA GT Championship (1971–1972, 1974–1976, 1978)
Tri-oval (1969–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	2.660 mi (4.281 km)
Turns	4
Banking	Turns: 33° Tri-oval: 16.5° Straights: 2°
Race lap record	0:46.530 ( Parker Kligerman, Toyota Camry, 2019, NASCAR Cup)
Road Course (1969–1989)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	4.000 mi (6.437 km)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:53.400 ( Peter Gregg, Porsche 935, 1978, IMSA GTX)

The Talladega Superspeedway is a famous race track in Lincoln, Alabama. It was also known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway from 1969 to 1989. This track is a special kind of oval called a tri-oval, and it's about 2.66 miles (4.28 km) long.

Built in 1969, Talladega has hosted many exciting racing events. Most of these races are part of NASCAR, a popular stock car racing series. NASCAR itself owns the track, and Brian Crichton is its current president. The grandstands can hold 80,000 fans. Besides the main oval, there's also a 4-mile (6.44 km) road course.

In the 1960s, Bill France Sr., who started NASCAR, decided to build this track. He chose a spot near Talladega, Alabama. Over the years, the track became known for its incredibly high speeds, often over 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). This led to many thrilling races and sometimes big accidents. To make racing safer, NASCAR later added special parts called restrictor plates to the cars. This created "pack racing," where cars race very close together. This style of racing often leads to "Big One" crashes, involving many cars at once.

About Talladega Superspeedway

Track Shape and Size

Talladega Superspeedway is 2.66 miles (4.28 km) long. The turns are steeply banked at 33 degrees, which helps cars go very fast. The tri-oval section has a banking of 16.5 degrees, and the straight parts are banked at 2 degrees.

The track looks similar to Daytona International Speedway, another NASCAR-owned track. However, Talladega's start-finish line is further from the center of the track. It is the longest oval track that NASCAR races on during its season. There is also a 4-mile (6.44 km) road course within the main track.

What the Track Offers

Talladega Superspeedway is easy to reach, located near Interstate 20. It can hold 80,000 spectators in its grandstands. The area inside the track, called the infield, is huge. It covers about 270 acres and has space for around 2,700 RVs. The entire track complex is about 3,000 acres, making it the largest on the NASCAR schedule.

Fans at Talladega are known for creating a lively atmosphere during race weekends. The infield is a popular spot for fans to gather and have fun. Track officials have worked to make sure the fun stays safe and organized.

History of the Track

How Talladega Was Built

Early Ideas for a Track

In the early 1960s, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. first thought about building a race track in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He planned for a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) track. However, people living near the proposed site worried about noise. Local rules also caused problems. Because of these issues, the plan for a Spartanburg track was eventually canceled.

Finding a Home in Alabama

Later, in 1965, Bill France Sr. looked at building a track in Anniston, Alabama. He considered a spot near the Talladega Municipal Airport. After some discussions about land costs and taxes, officials from the city of Talladega and France Sr. agreed on a plan.

In 1966, the Alabama Senate passed a law to help Talladega finance the track. Governor George Wallace signed it. The project grew to a budget of $6 million and aimed for 40,000 to 50,000 seats.

An overhead picture of Talladega Superspeedway. The track was built using the remains of the defunct Anniston Air Force Base.

In April 1967, a final plan was ready. By early 1968, France Sr. announced the track would be slightly longer than Daytona International Speedway. On May 16, 1968, he officially announced the construction of the Alabama International Motor Speedway (AIMS). The cost was $5 million, and it was set to open in September 1969.

Construction began a week later. Bill France Sr.'s son, Bill France Jr., was put in charge. The track was designed with steeper turns than Daytona, hoping for speeds over 200 mph (320 km/h). In April 1969, a 4-mile (6.44 km) road course was also added.

The First Races and Challenges

The First Race: 1969 Talladega 500

The first big race at AIMS was the 1969 Talladega 500, scheduled for September 14, 1969. Before the race, drivers like LeeRoy Yarbrough and Donnie Allison tested the track. They reported that the surface was "rough" and caused tires to wear out quickly.

Cale Yarborough was one of the drivers who had concerns about the track surface during the first race weekend.

Many drivers, especially those from a new union called the Professional Drivers Association (PDA), were worried. They felt the tires weren't safe for the high speeds. They asked Bill France Sr. to postpone the race, but he refused. Because of this, most of the top drivers decided not to race.

Despite this, France Sr. decided the race would still happen. He invited other drivers, including those from smaller racing series, to compete. To make fans happy, he offered free tickets to future races at Talladega or Daytona. The race went on, and Richard Brickhouse won. About 64,000 fans attended.

Growing the Track

After the first year, attendance at AIMS dropped. In October 1970, Don Naman became the track's first general manager. He started projects to fix the track surface and improve facilities. These changes helped bring more fans back. By 1972, attendance was rising, and the track's reputation improved.

Over the years, Naman oversaw slow but steady improvements. In 1975, a new press box and more spectator gates were added. In 1977, a new 2,200-seat grandstand was built. The track was repaved in 1979 due to heavy rain. By 1990, officials hoped to expand the track to hold 150,000 fans.

Setting Speed Records

In its early years, Talladega became a place where many speed records were broken. In March 1970, Buddy Baker was the first person to drive over 200 mph (320 km/h) on a closed course. He set a record of 200.449 mph (322.592 km/h). Later that year, Bobby Isaac broke that record, reaching 201.104 mph (323.645 km/h).

Women drivers also set new records. In 1971, Paula Murphy set a women's world record of 171.499 mph (275.999 km/h). In the 1980s, Lyn St. James broke her own record multiple times, becoming the first woman to drive over 200 mph (320 km/h). Patty Moise also set new records, reaching 217.498 mph (350.029 km/h).

Important Moments and Safety Changes

Talladega's early history included some serious incidents. In 1973, a 19-car crash injured several drivers. Later that year, Larry Smith died in a crash, the first fatality at the track. In 1975, pit crew member Randy Owens and driver Tiny Lund also died in separate races.

Some unusual events also happened. In 1982, a driver named L. W. Wright mysteriously disappeared after a race. In 1986, a spectator drove a safety car onto the track during a race.

Tony Stewart leads the field during the 2012 Aaron's 499. After 1987, cars raced in big packs, which led to more multi-car crashes.

A major crash in 1987 involved Bobby Allison. His car went airborne and hit a protective fence, injuring some fans. This accident led NASCAR to make a big change: they required cars to use restrictor plates. These plates reduced speeds, but they also led to cars racing in tight "packs." This increased the chance of "Big One" crashes, where many cars get caught in one accident.

Modern Era and Renovations

New Leadership and Growth

In 1987, Mike Helton became the general manager. The track was renamed Talladega Superspeedway in 1989. Helton made many improvements, adding seats and a new media center. In 1993, Grant Lynch took over as general manager.

Lynch continued to expand the track. New grandstands were added, increasing the seating capacity to 120,000 by 1998. The track also got a new look with landscaping and colorful seats. By 2003, Talladega could seat 143,000 fans.

In 2005, the track was completely repaved for the first time since 1979. Drivers liked the new smooth surface. However, in the early 2010s, attendance decreased. In 2013, some grandstands were removed, reducing the capacity to 80,000.

Continuing the Legacy of Exciting Races

Even with safety changes, Talladega remained known for its exciting and sometimes chaotic races. The "Big One" crashes became a regular part of restrictor plate racing. In 1993, two major accidents happened in one race. One crash sent Jimmy Horton's car over the protective wall. Another crash saw Neil Bonnett's car hit the catchfence.

In the 2000s, multi-car accidents continued. In 2002, a 27-car pileup set a record for the most cars in a crash in NASCAR's top series. Another crash in 2009 involved Carl Edwards' car going airborne and hitting the catchfence, injuring seven fans. These events showed how unpredictable and thrilling racing at Talladega could be.

Recent Changes

In 2018, the track announced a $50 million renovation project for the infield. This included new garages, a media center, and a new tunnel. The project was finished in September 2019. Grant Lynch retired in 2018, and Brian Crichton became the new president.

In 2020, the track was in the news when a rope in a garage was mistaken for a noose. An FBI investigation found it was a garage door pull rope that had been there for a long time. In 2024, a scoring pylon was removed to encourage fans to use modern video screens for race updates.

Racing Events

NASCAR Races

Cars racing at the spring 2024 GEICO 500. Since 1969, NASCAR has raced at the facility annually.

Talladega Superspeedway hosts two big NASCAR weekends each year. The main events are the NASCAR Cup Series races: the Jack Link's 500 in the spring and the YellaWood 500 in the fall.

The track also features races from other NASCAR series. These include the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the Ag-Pro 300 and United Rentals 250. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series also races here with the Love's RV Stop 225.

Other Racing Series

The IMSA GT Championship, a sports car racing series, raced on Talladega's road course several times in the 1970s. They held six-hour endurance races there.

The International Race of Champions (IROC) also visited Talladega many times. This series brought together champions from different types of racing. They raced at Talladega in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.

Motorcycle racing also took place at Talladega. The AMA Superbike Championship raced at the circuit in the early 1980s.

Lap Records

Here are some of the fastest official lap records at Talladega Superspeedway:

Images for kids

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  The Spartanburg Memorial Airport. Bill France Sr. first planned to build a track here.

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  Lyn St. James' car in 1988 at Talladega, where she broke the women's closed circuit speed record.

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  Buddy Baker was one of the drivers who had concerns about the track surface during the first race weekend.

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  Donnie Allison was one of the drivers who had concerns about the track surface during the first race weekend.

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  Mike Helton was the general manager of Talladega Superspeedway from 1989 to 1993.

See also

In Spanish: Talladega Superspeedway para niños