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Mailing Address
P.O. Box 777
Talladega, Ala. 35161
Qualifying Records
• Bill Elliott, Ford; 212.809 mph; April 30, 1987 (Cup)
• Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet; 193.517 mph; April 24, 1997 (Nationwide)
• Mark Martin, Ford; 182.320 mph; Oct. 6, 2006 (Trucks)
Race Records
• Mark Martin, Ford; 188.354 mph; May 10, 1997 (Cup)
• Mark Martin, Ford; 168.937 mph; April 26, 1997 (Nationwide)
• Todd Bodine, Toyota; 145.513 mph; Oct. 4, 2008 (Trucks)
History
On an unassuming stretch of land suited for soybean farming located next to a couple of abandoned airport runways, Talladega Superspeedway was built to be the biggest, fastest and most competitive superspeedway in the world.
Since Alabama International Motor Speedway (as it was called until 1989) opened its gates in September of 1969, the track has surpassed every initial expectation in terms of sheer size, speed and ferocity of competition.
Talladega, Ala., was chosen from several possible sites in the Southeast, with the main criteria being availability of land, access to the interstate system and a population base of at least 20 million people within 300 miles. Anniston insurance executive Bill Ward, a race driver and fan himself, helped NASCAR and International Speedway Corporation founder William H.G. (Bill) France find the land in Alabama, following a casual conversation with France in Daytona in the mid-1960s.
Ward found what he thought was the perfect site in north Talladega County near an airport that the U.S. Government had sold to the City of Talladega after World War II. He set up a meeting with then-Talladega Mayor James Hardwick and other city officials, and in a restaurant in Anniston in 1966, France got the group to consider the idea of putting a major track on the site. After a trip to the Firecracker 400 in Daytona to observe first-hand the potential economic impact, the group was sold.
Several obstacles had to be overcome, one of which was financing. With France as the guiding force, however, construction began on the 2,000-acre site on May 23, 1968, with the first race being the 'Bama 400 Grand Touring race on Saturday, September 13, 1969. Ken Rush drove his Camaro to Victory Lane in that event. The next day, Richard Brickhouse won the first Grand National (now NASCAR Sprint Cup) race, the Talladega 500 (now known as the UAW-Ford 500), edging Jim Vandiver and Ramo Stott.
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"We are coming to Talladega Superspeedway from the east then after the race we are going...."
EAST
Entry - The best route is to exit I-20 at exit 173 Eastaboga and proceed west on Speedway Blvd. Lots 2N, 3N and 1E-5E lots will provide the easiest exiting. Lots 1W-4W will also provide good parking, but it's a little longer in exiting.
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Follow signs to I-20 East.
WEST
Entry - Entry into the track and recommended parking is the same as above (see East).
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Once you reach I-20, enter the Interstate going west toward Birmingham.
NORTH
Entry - Entry into the track and recommended parking is the same as above (see East).
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Once you cross over I-20, continue north on county road 005. Or take Hwy 78 east, then east on Hwy 202 into Anniston. Then north on U.S. Hwy 431.
SOUTH
Entry - Entry into the track and recommended parking is the same as above. (see East)
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Then take county road 005 south into Talladega. From Talladega you can choose a number of routes south.
"We are coming to Talladega Superspeedway from the West then after the race we are going...."
EAST
Entry - The best route is to exit I-20 at exit 173 Eastaboga and proceed west on Speedway Blvd. Lots 1E-5E, 1W-4W, 2N and 3N will provide the easiest exiting. Lot 5W and 6W would also provide good parking, but it's a little longer in exiting.
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Follow signs to I-20.
WEST
Entry - The best route is to exit I-20 at exit 168 Lincoln/Talladega. Take State Hwy 77 south. Then east on Speedway Blvd. Lots 8W-11W and 1N and 4N will provide the easiest exiting. Lots 5W & 6W would also provide good parking, but takes a little longer in exiting.
Exit I-20 at exit 173 Eastaboga. Go west on Speedway Blvd. and park in 2N, 3N, 1E or 5E. Exit - Exit by proceeding west on Speedway Blvd. Once you reach State Hwy 77 you can go north or south. If you parked in lot 2N or 3N or 1E or 5E, proceed East on Speedway Blvd. and follow the signs to I-20.
NORTH
Entry - Entry into the track can be by way of Exit 168 or Exit 173.
Exit - If you parked in lot 1E-5E, 2N, 3N or 1W-4W, exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Once you cross over I-20, continue North on county road 005. Or take Hwy 78 east, then east on Hwy 202 into Anniston. Then north on U.S. Hwy 431. Take county road 005 north to Hwy 77. If you parked in lots 8W-11W, exit by proceeding west on Speedway Blvd. Go north on Hwy 77 up to I-59. If you exit west on Speedway Blvd., Take county road 114 north to Hwy 78. Then over to Hwy 77.
SOUTH
Entry - Entry into the track can be by way of Exit 168 or Exit 173.
Exit - If you parked in lots 1W-6W or any of the lots east of the main entrance proceed east on Speedway Blvd. and take County Road 005 South into Talladega. If you parked in lot 9W-11W proceed west on Speedway Blvd. and then Hwy. 77 South into Talladega.
"We are coming to Talladega Superspeedway from the South then after the race we are going...."
EAST
Entry - The best route is to come to the city of Talladega and take county road 005 north. Then take Speedway Blvd. west to the track. Park in lots 2N-3N or 1E-6E. This will make for easy exiting.
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Follow signs to I-20 East.
WEST
Entry - The best route is to come to the city of Talladega and take Hwy 77 north. Then go right on county road 377 over to county road 326. Take 326 north to the track. About a mile from the track (after you cross the bridge) you will see Tipton Road. It will connect you to Speedway Blvd. Recommended parking would be in lots 9W-11W.
Exit - Exit by proceeding west on Speedway Blvd. to State Hwy 77. From there go either north or south on Hwy 77. Or go back south on County Road 326 over to 377, which will run into State Hwy 77.
NORTH
Entry - See WEST above.
Exit - Exit by proceeding west on Speedway Blvd. to Hwy 77. Take Hwy 77 North to I-59. If you exit west on Speedway Blvd., we would recommend you take county road 114 to Hwy 78. You can then take Hwy 78 to Hwy 77. Also, if you entered the track by taking county road 005, Speedway Blvd, west and parked in 2N, 3N or 1E-6E, then we would recommend you leave by going east on Speedway Blvd. until it crosses I-20; then proceed north on county road 005 up to Hwy. 77, then north to I-59.
SOUTH
Entry - See WEST above.
Exit - If you parked in lot 9W, proceed south on county road 326 back into Talladega. From there you will have a couple of routes to choose. If you parked in lots 10W or 11W, proceed west on Speedway Blvd., take a left onto Tipton Rd to county road 326.
"We are coming to Talladega Superspeedway from the North then after the race we are going...."
EAST
Entry - The best route is Hwy 77 south to county road 005. Go south on 005 until it turns into Speedway Blvd. Then proceed west on Speedway Blvd. to the track. Park in lot 2N, 3N or 1E-6E. This will allow for easier exiting.
Exit - Exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. Follow signs to I-20 East.
WEST
Entry - The best route is State Hwy 77 south to Speedway Blvd. Turn east on Speedway Blvd. to the track. Recommended parking would be in lots 9W-11W or 1E-6E. Entry to the track can also be county road 005 and then Speedway Blvd. west into the track (recommended parking would be lots 1E -5E, 2N or 3N).
Exit - If you parked in lots east or north of the main entrance, proceed east on Speedway Blvd. and follow signs to I-20. If you parked west of the main entrance, proceed west on Speedway Blvd. to Hwy 77.
NORTH
Entry - Entry to the track can be by way of Hwy 77 to Speedway Blvd. and then east on Speedway Blvd. into the track. (recommended parking would be lots 9W-11W) Entry to the track can also be county road 005 and then Speedway Blvd. west into the track (recommended parking would be lots 1E-6E, 2N or 3N).
Exit - If you parked in lots 9W-11W, exit by proceeding West on Speedway Blvd. to State Hwy 77. Take Hwy 77 North to I-59. If you parked in lot 9W-11W, take county road 114 north to Hwy 78. You can then go as far as you like on Hwy 78. If you parked in lot 1E-6E, 2N or 3N, exit by proceeding East on Speedway Blvd. to county road 005 and then North to Hwy 77; or take Hwy 78 East to Hwy 202 into Anniston, then North on U.S. Hwy 431.
SOUTH
Entry - Entry into the track can be by way of Hwy 77 to Speedway Blvd. and then East on Speedway Blvd. into the track. (recommended parking would be lot 9W-11W) Entry to the track can also be county road 005 and then Speedway Blvd. West into the track. (recommended parking would be lots 1E-6E, 2N or 3N).
Exit - If you parked in lot 9W, proceed south on county road 326 back into Talladega. If you parked in lots 10W or 11W, proceed west on Speedway Blvd., take left onto Tipton road to county road 326.If you parked in lots 1E-6E, 2N or 3N, exit by proceeding east on Speedway Blvd. to county road 005. Take 005 south into Talladega. Once in Talladega, there are several routes to take for south travel.
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