Nominees Listed And Online Voting Begins For 2008 Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame Inductees

TALLADEGA, Ala. – On Saturday, Oct. 4, two new names will be added to the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame – which two drivers will receive this honor however, is something the fans have to decide. Online voting for the 2008 Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame is currently underway!

The Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame located in the Davey Allison Memorial Park in downtown Talladega is both a focal point saluting NASCAR’s greatest names and a tribute to one of racing’s brightest stars – the late Davey Allison. Developed in 1994, the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame has inducted one active driver and up to two inactive drivers since 1995 based on the fans’ vote chosen from a ballot of nominees selected by strict guidelines.

Fans may vote for their driver of choice through July 15 by visiting www.talladegawalk.com. Voting is limited to one vote per day. Active driver nominees for 2008 include: Michael Waltrip, Jeff Burton, Morgan Shepherd, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Robby Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Labonte, Jeremy Mayfield, Joe Nemechek, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Ken Schrader and Carl Edwards. Inactive driver nominees for 2008 include: Jim Paschal, Bill Rexford, Jack Smith, Rex White and Speedy Thompson.

The 2007 active-driver honoree, Kenseth, 36, of Cambridge, Wis., was the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. In 2000, driving for Roush-Fenway Racing in his first full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, Kenseth won Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. He won only once in NASCAR’s top series that year but posted 11 top-10 finishes to secure the award over such notables as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dave Blaney. Three seasons later, in route to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, Kenseth showed the same remarkable consistency securing a series-high 25 top 10s. During the season, Kenseth held the points lead for 33 consecutive weeks, a modern record.

Terry Labonte, 51, a native of Corpus Christi, TX was inducted as an inactive driver in his first year of eligibility. The two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion (1984, 1996) has been named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers, being one of only 15 drivers to win multiple titles in NASCAR’s premier division. Labonte also holds the distinction of most years between championships (12).

Past active driver inductees have included Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Ernie Irvan, Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Bobby Hamilton, Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip and Kevin Harvick. Richard Petty and Benny Parsons were the first inactive drivers to be inducted, later joined by Alan Kulwicki, Cale Yarborough, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Harry Gant, Lee Petty, Tim Flock, Fireball Roberts, Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly, Red Byron, Bobby Isaac, Fred Lorenzen, Fonty Flock, Herb Thomas and Rusty Wallace.

The first inductees – “Alabama Gang” drivers Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Red Farmer and Neil Bonnett – were inducted by decree of the board.

In the park, Davey Allison is remembered with a large marble monument, while drivers inducted into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame have bronze plaques placed around the park, accessible by walkways that form the shape of Talladega Superspeedway. For additional information, visit www.talladegawalk.com.

Racing returns to Talladega Superspeedway for the AMP Energy 500 event weekend featuring 1,000 miles of racing at NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track with the ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 on Friday, Oct. 3, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mountain Dew 250 on Saturday, Oct. 4 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy 500, race number four in the in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, on Sunday, Oct. 5. Tickets are available at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK (1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.