Talladega means speed
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
October 18, 2001
1:25 PM EDT (1725 GMT)
TALLADEGA, Ala. -- When NASCAR drivers, teams, owners and fans hear the name of the only 2.66-mile superspeedway on the circuit, their ears perk up in an attentive manner.
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Talladega Superspeedway
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Talladega Superspeedway can bring a chill to some, a smile to others.
With its tri-oval layout, 33-degree banking in the turns, the long 4000-foot backstretch and the towering, massive grandstands, a sense of history emanates from the place.
“I think it’s a variety of things that makes people feel that way about this place,” said Rick Humphries, director of operations for the track. “I think it’s the size of the track, the largeness of the crowd that attends it and the speeds here.”
“From the time the haulers first roll in here, to the time the race ends on Sunday -- the level of competition is incredible. Talladega Superspeedway is a name that has become internationally known.”
The massive facility was built on soybean fields next to some abandoned WW II airport runways. Developed by the original president of NASCAR, “Big” Bill France, and an Anniston, Ala. insurance executive named Bill Ward, it has become the symbol of what racing is all about -- going fast.
Charles Moneypenny completed the actual design of the track. This is the same person who designed Daytona, Talladega’s sister track, as well as the tracks at Michigan and Richmond.
Opened in September of 1969, the track has hosted two Winston Cup events each year ever since.
But more than anything, Talladega is the place to rev up the rpms.
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Bill Elliott
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Bill Elliott accomplished the fastest qualifying lap ever laid down in the history of NASCAR in April of 1987 when he went 212.809 mph. Mark Martin set the mark for the fastest 500-mile race in NASCAR history in May of 1997 when all laps were completed, caution free, in 2 hours, 39 minutes and 18 seconds.
“The track’s tradition has obviously been speed, right from the beginning,” Humphries said. “When the first pole speed in 1969 was like 199 mph, that’s still fast by today’s standards.”
Charlie Glotzbach set the actual mark of 199.466 mph that year.
What brought high-speed hype to the track also brought unwanted attention. Because of Elliott’s qualifying record, and the fact that Bobby Allison’s car almost flew into the grandstands during a wreck in that same race, NASCAR mandated the use of restrictor plates to slow the cars down.
The cars may have slowed, but the level of competition certainly didn’t.
Six of the 10 most competitive races in NASCAR history have been completed on Talladega’s screaming-fast asphalt. One of those records is for the most lead changes in one race - 75, which took place in May of 1984. Another 'Dega record is for the most individual leaders in one race - 26, set in July of 1986 and April of 2001.
The latter event went caution free, the second time it has happened here.
Elliott leads all drivers with eight Bud Pole Awards. Dale Earnhardt has the most wins with 10, with his final one taking place last October. Darrell Waltrip, Buddy Baker and Allison are tied with four trips to Victory Lane each.
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Dale Earnhardt
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Earnhardt's career Talladega win total is a mark that could go untouched for years.
“What Dale was able to accomplish at this track, in a lot of peoples eyes, is inexplicable,” Humphries continued. “He certainly was the master of what went on here.”
Baker is another who made his mark at the track. In March of 1974, he was the first driver to record a lap of 200 mph in NASCAR race car.
Tooling around in his Chrysler Engineering, wing-backed No. 88 Dodge, Baker set the mark of 200.477 mph during his 30th trip around the superspeedway.
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Bobby Hamilton won the Talladega 500 in April.
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Since that first race in 1969, NASCAR racing has always shared a special bond with this superspeedway. And while many historic moments occurred during the early years, the latter years have added just as many entries into the record books.
And with the second race of 2001 approaching, the superspeedway still has more chapters waiting to be recorded in its high-banked turns and long straightaways.
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