Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR racing circuit in Talladega County, Alabama, US
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsport racing track in Talladega County, Alabama. The oval layout stretches for 2.66 miles (4.28 kilometers) and features steeply banked turns that allow cars to reach high speeds.
The track opened in 1969 on land that once served as a military airfield and offered drivers a new high-speed facility. A year later, a driver set the first 200-mph record on a closed course there.
Race weekends at Talladega are known for an infield party scene that grew notorious in the 1980s. By the 2000s, track officials cracked down on hard-core lawlessness, adding a makeshift jail and making the scene more civilized. Journalists have described games, parades and nudity as commonplace in the campgrounds.
The grounds lie about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Birmingham's airport and offer thousands of grandstand seats plus ample parking for recreational vehicles during race weekends. Those driving in should leave early, as traffic builds on approach roads during event days.
Talladega's start-finish line lies about a quarter mile (0.40 km) from the track's center point, unlike the near-identical Daytona International Speedway, whose line is placed differently. The offset is a layout trait of the tri-oval, not a viewing arrangement.
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