A deluxe motor coach awaits to give you a tour of the track
That's the starting line...
...and a steep banking...
...I'm sorry, what is this again?
They've got a quilt sewn in honor of the late, great Dale "The Intimidator" Earnhardt
They've also got the late Alan Kulwicki's Hooters-sponsored 1993 Ford Thunderbird...
The Gatorade Circle of Champions
I love when big guys are nicknamed "Tiny"The phenomenon of NASCAR is a force to be reckoned with and NASCAR wouldn't be NASCAR without Talladega Superspeedway in northeastern Alabama. It holds a few distinctions: it's the longest NASCAR oval track (2.66 miles), has the steepest bankings (33 degrees) and has the highest recorded speed of a stock car racer on an oval track (that would be your Rusty Wallace going 216.309 mph in 2004). Its design also makes for very dramatic (and tragic) upwards-of-20-car crashes, earning it the nickname "The Big One." I stopped by on a sweltering non-racing afternoon to poke around the museum and take a deluxe one-hour motor coach tour of the track (approaching speeds of nearly 30 mph). NASCAR is a national wonder but it feels especially appropriate to be here in the deep south soaking it all in, dadgummit. And for those of you reading this who are Will Ferrell fans, I'm afraid I haven't seen "Talladega Nights" yet, so I've got no clever references. Gentlemen, start your engines!
