Alabama’s own Red Farmer, along with six-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mike Stefanik, make up the inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
The Hall of Fame’s 12th class marks the first with three members. In addition, Ralph Seagraves is recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
Farmer, 87, was born in Hialeah, Florida, but is better known as an original member of the famed “Alabama Gang” after relocating and teaming up with fellow Florida-transplants Bobby and Donnie Allison and Alabama’s Neil Bonnett. Farmer, who is estimated to have more than 700 career victories, is still competing on local short tracks and is clearly moved by joining the NASCAR Hall of Fame. (more…)
Talladega Superspeedway was recently honored by NASCAR with the 2019 Track Marketing & Communications Award for the promotional efforts conducted throughout the 2019 season of the $50-million Transformation Infield Project presented by Graybar, along with the celebration of the historic track’s 50th anniversary.
The recipients of the track and NASCAR team awards, which were voted on by a panel of judges consisting of experts from outside the NASCAR industry, were announced during the NASCAR Marketing & Communications Webinar in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently. The track received recognition for its multifaceted marketing and communications programs, campaigns and initiatives that supported the entire Transformation project, which was split into two phases. From the initial announcement in July 2018 to the groundbreaking of the project (October 2018) until the project completion (October 2019), track officials communicated detailed information through various platforms to keep the fans, media and NASCAR family informed every step of the way. (more…)
Editor’s Note: This is the fifth in a series chronicling the creation and history of Talladega Superspeedway, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary during the Oct. 11-13 NASCAR Playoffs doubleheader weekend, featuring the 1000Bulbs.com 500 and Sugarlands Shine 250. Read about the track’s creation, its unusual design and highlights from the 1970s and 1980s. The venue this weekend will debut the culmination of the Transformation Infield Project presented by Graybar, featuring the Talladega Garage Experience, where fans will be immersed into the sport like never before.
It was only fitting that Buddy Baker, who at 6 feet 6 inches tall was a giant of a man, would have success at NASCAR’s biggest, baddest track – Talladega Superspeedway.
Baker, known for his lead foot and running a car as hard as it could go, made his ’Dega debut in NASCAR’s premier series in 1970. He would pull off a sweep of victories in 1975 with car owner Bud Moore in the famous No. 15, then come back in spring ’76 with yet another triumph. His fourth and final win at Talladega came in 1980, driving the No. 28 “Gray Ghost” for car owner Harry Ranier. Toss in 15 top-five finishes – six of which were runner-up results – and he truly was one of the best in the business at Talladega.
As the track once known as Alabama International Motor Speedway celebrates its 50th anniversary, we look back to the thoughts of Baker, who died in 2015, on how to tackle the 2.66-mile venue. The following are excerpts and a graphic from a first-person story written by Baker that appeared in the 1970 summer Talladega souvenir program. (more…)
Talladega Superspeedway and its parent company, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), revealed that the construction of the new Turn 3 Oversized Tunnel, an important component of the track’s new Transformation Infield Project, will begin during the week of Oct. 21.
Sunday’s announcement took place during a press conference before the start of the 1000Bulbs.com 500, a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race. Aric Almirola won the race, which went into overtime, extending it from 188 to 193 laps, because of a five-car incident in lap 186. Almirola automatically advances to the Round of 8 in the playoffs.
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From sweet home Alabama to the land Down Under, fans will be coming from far and wide to witness some of auto racing’s best drivers battle at 200 mph around Talladega Superspeedway during the venue’s doubleheader NASCAR Playoff this weekend.
Talladega’s race weekend is set to be an international affair, considering 73 percent of fans will be journeying to the 2.66-mile superspeedway from outside the Yellowhammer state and from all over the world, including:
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