Talladega Superspeedway

NASCAR founder Bill France aimed to build a track bigger, longer and faster than his prized Daytona International Speedway. France had a few requirements for his newest track. He wanted it to be right off the interstate with a large amount of land and a large population within driving distance of the track. Talladega, AL, just west of the town of Anniston, was selected as the site of the new track, and construction began in 1968. Built on the site of a former United States Army airfield, the 2,000-acre site was plenty of room for this massive project. At 2.66 miles and 33 degrees of banking, the track is one of the fastest and steepest in NASCAR.

Opening in 1969 as Alabama International Motor Speedway, the track held its first race that September. However, it was not without controversy. Many of the drivers who entered the race felt the track was too dangerous due to the high speeds and tire issues during the weekend. Richard Brickhouse took home the inaugural victory, and in 1989, the track was renamed to Talladega Superspeedway.

Due to the high banks and speeds at the track, the record for the fastest pole speed in NASCAR was set here. In 1987, Bill Elliott posted a speed of 212.809 in his Ford. His record has yet to be broken in NASCAR and the car is considered to be the fastest car in the history of the sport.

In 2018, Talladega announced a renovation project that featured the building of an all-new, fan-focused garage area, new amenities in the infield, a new victory lane, additional camping areas and a new vehicle tunnel. The project wrapped in 2019 and was live for the track’s fall race weekend.

In addition to the great racing, Talladega is known for its exciting camping scene. With more than 15 campgrounds on the property, there is a section for every fan, including the famous “Talladega Boulevard.”

The Cup Series and Xfinity Series visit Talladega in both April and October, while the Craftsman Truck Series joins for the fall playoff weekend.