RACING VENUES (TALLADEGA, AL.) - Sign Of Things To Come?

Action Packed Daytona Is Good Sign For Talladega Fans

After months of anticipation, race fans finally saw the 2008 NASCAR season take the green flag last Sunday. The exciting racing during the Daytona 500 should give fans a hint to the kind of action they can expect to see when NASCAR arrives at Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona’s sister track.

Talladega’s newest sponsor, Dodge, is certainly excited about heading to NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track for the April 25-27 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. Dodge placed six drivers in the top-10: Ryan Newman (first), Kurt Busch (second), Reed Sorenson (fifth), Elliott Sadler (sixth), Kasey Kahne (seventh) and Robby Gordon (eighth).

Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, summed up the racing excitement. “It's just like you inject everybody with adrenaline, and nobody's gonna lift off that right pedal,” Busch said. “You're making your own lane, you're getting bump drafted harder and you're sliding up in front of guys and taking more calculated risks because you want to gain those positions and get towards the front.”

That fact was obvious, as 16 drivers swapped the lead 42 times during the race, two figures that challenged race records. The 16 leaders was the second-highest total in the history of the Daytona 500 (2006, 18 leaders) and the 42 lead changes at the start-finish line were the most since 2001 (49).

While 42 may be a seemingly innocuous number of lead changes, it takes on new meaning when related to Talladega Superspeedway. Talladega featured 42 lead changes in BOTH of its 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, with 20 drivers swapping the lead during the Aaron’s 499 last spring and 22 drivers swapping the lead during the AMP Energy 500 last fall.

Could Talladega see even more lead changes this year? Fans will have to be here to find out as Talladega Superspeedway hosts its first race of the 2008 NASCAR season during the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, April 25-27, featuring the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series and Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Friday, April 25 will feature NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice and The Birmingham News Qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Saturday, April 26 will feature The Birmingham News Qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Aaron’s 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Then on Sunday, April 27, the greatest drivers in NASCAR will compete in the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge to the general admission grandstands when accompanied by a ticketed adult on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-Go2-DEGA, (1-877-462-3342). For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available online at www.racetickets.com, or in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.