Talladega Superspeedway
Location: Talladega, Alabama
Phone Number: 205-362-9064
Distance: 2.66 miles
Banking: 33 degrees
Also includes a 4.0 mile road course.
How To Get There
The track is 2.5 miles south of I20 exit 173 coming from the east onto
Speedway Blvd (Rte 5) or exit 167 from the west onto Rte 77.
Where To Stay
Motels:-
Holiday Inn, I20 & 78, 7941 Crestwood, Birmingham 35210. Tel: 205
956-8211. Fax: 205 956-1234.
Motel Birmingham, I20 & US 78, 7905 Crestwood, Birmingham 35210. Tel: 205
956-4440. Fax: 205 956-3011.
Talladega - A Brief History
Talladega Superspeedway, built to be the biggest, fastest and most
competitive superspeedway in the world, began construction in 1968 and first
opened its gates in August of 1969. Seating capacity at the Superspeedway is
in excess of 85,000 with the 215 acre infield holding many thousand more. The
first race at the Talladega Superspeedway was the 'BAMA 400 Grand Touring
race held on Saturday, September 13, 1969, and was won by Ken Rush. The next
day, Richard Brickhouse won the first Grand National (now the Winston Cup)
race, the Talladega 500 (now the DieHard 500), edging Jim Vandiver and Ramo
Scott. The track is banked 33 degrees on each end, with 18 degree banking in
trioval. The backstretch is nearly 4,000 feet long, producing speeds in
excess of 220 mph in competition. A world record of 221.160 mph for a closed
course was established at Talladega on August 9, 1975, by Mark Donohue.
Donohue's record stood until 1986 when Rick Mears broke it in an Indycar at
Michigan Int. Speedway. In 1987, Bill Elliott established a world stock car
record when he posted a speed of 212.809 in qualifying for the Winston 500.
Elliott also established a world record for a 500 mile race when he averaged
an incredible 186.288 mph in winning Winston 500 in 1985.