Rowdy infields of 'Dega's past no longer present

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- This weekend I had the privilege to view Talladega, with its storied past and colorful personalities, through virgin eyes.

But first I should tell you that I was warned, cautioned to "stay out of the infield, don't go out past dark and watch out for those 'Dega fans."

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Well if any of you know me personally, you could probably guess I met the admonition with defiance and set out to form my own opinion of the company this track keeps.

Admittedly, I'm a bit defensive of the NASCAR fan base, because their avidity and love of the sport shows no limit and continues to impress me. That said, I sought to disprove the stereotypes and dispel the bad rap 'Dega fans have acquired over the years.

With my tennis shoes tied tightly, notebook in hand, and Sweet Home Alabama playing in my head, I trotted out in search of candid discussions with various pockets of fans and officials in and outside of the Superspeedway tucked away in rural Talladega County.

Some of you may perceive my assignment as naive or just stupid. Me: I just don't believe in judging a book by its cover.

And the cover of my first stop was especially lively. Rich with NASCAR memorabilia, an old beat-up school bus name "Daleadega" and a beer cart with headers, Camp Site No. 725 was ripe with stories from a group of friends that had traveled to Talladega from all corners of the country.

Redden Knight, 40, has reveled in the down-home traditions of Talladega for 15 consecutive years. In the beginning, he sat front row to a show where open nudity (both male and female) and illegal drug activity were merely a part of the landscape.

Crowd control was such an issue; Knight recalls emergency vehicles having trouble responding to emergencies.

"Before now, anyone could come in and set up a tent wherever they wanted. It was chaos. At night, cars would drive right between or next to your tents," he said.

Today, the infield is organized. Reservations are required in advance and so is the cash.

And as for Dega being "dangerous" ... (Continued)