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.