“This is more than a race. This is Talladega.”
Talladega isn’t just a race, it’s one big adrenaline rush for 5 straight hours. The Talladega Super Speedway track hosts the NASCAR series including the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. The super speedway is the longest NASCAR track made of asphalt with the length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km) and the tracks current seating capacity is 80,000, it once had a peak of 175,000 spectators.
The event at Talladega is an all weekend affair. On the Saturday the Camping World Truck Series was held and Sunday was the chase for the Sprint Cup.
Talladega isn’t just a race, it’s one big adrenaline rush for 5 straight hours. The Talladega Super Speedway track hosts the NASCAR series including the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. The super speedway is the longest NASCAR track made of asphalt with the length of 2.66 miles (4.28 km) and the tracks current seating capacity is 80,000, it once had a peak of 175,000 spectators.
The event at Talladega is an all weekend affair. On the Saturday the Camping World Truck Series was held and Sunday was the chase for the Sprint Cup.
I’m fortunate to have my host mum, Christine, work on the team at Talladega Super Speedway as the Director of Accounting. She receives exclusive seating tickets (plus more) which were in fact a spectacular view of the track. I got to be a spectator all weekend and witness both the lively Truck race and the intensified chase for the Sprint Cup!
NASCAR was one of many sports I was truly foreign to when I first arrived in the states. Being apart of the Solano household makes it difficult to avoid this thrilling nationwide sport. Although I was feeling unfamiliar and foreign with the sport, I wasn’t the only Aussie absent from down under… Marcos Ambrose was a long way from home too. If you are unaware of who Marcos is, then he is from Tasmania, Australia and was the 2001 V8 Supercar Series Rookie of the Year and won consecutive titles in V8 Supercar Series throughout 2003-2004. In 2006, Marcos made the decision to move to the USA (being sponsored hugely by Ford) to give NASCAR a shot. Marcos driving the number 9 at last weekends chase for the Sprint Cup, he finished the race coming in at 8th, but holding a solid space around the top 10 throughout the race.
The NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup at Talladega Super Speedway is by far my most cherished encounter so far. While being on exchange in the USA I have experienced an abundance of special once in a life time opportunities. My outright favourite opportunity so far was the helicopter ride over the race I got to experience (perks of my host mum working on the speedway team). The ride only being 3 or 4 minutes long, I still embraced and cherished every second of it. I’m so thank-ful to have shared this moment with such a witty and amazing person, Erin Porr. An incredible woman I am very thank-ful and lucky to have met. Her boyfriend, Collin Bennett, has also been an immense inspiration to me and is one of the most courageous, fearless and wisest people I’ve ever been introduced to. Their stories, words and wisdom is something I’ll carry along with me always.
Another perk I was lucky to have experienced was the passes before the race. I got to engage myself within the cars pits, garages and see the victory lane. Also being able to stand on the track it self! Seeing how things are behind the scenes really opened my eyes and has given me a new found love for NASCAR! At the end of the day, the winner of the race was car number 2, Brad Keselowski.
NASCAR is now a profound love of mine and the sport has gained a new Aussie fan! The intense sport leaves you with an adrenaline rush and a taste for the race.
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