Talladega Superspeedway

The mammoth 2.66-mile track is one of the most exciting tracks on the NASCAR circuit, featuring some of the closest finishes and wildest wrecks in the sport.

Formerly known as Alabama International Motor Speedway, the track, built by NASCAR Chairman Bill France, opened in 1968 and hosted its first race in 1969. Concerned about tire problems and high speeds, the drivers boycotted the first race, causing France and the track to hire substitute drivers. The inaugural race featured a three-wide photo finish won by Richard Brickhouse.

The track made history in 1970 when Buddy Baker became the first driver to break 200 mph in a stock car.

In 1987, Bobby Allison’s car cut a tire and became airborne, crashing into the frontstretch catch fence and damaging part of the fence. As a result, NASCAR implemented carburetor restrictor plates at Daytona and Talladega to slow speeds.

NASCAR has used restrictor plates at the two tracks since 1988, leading to the aerodynamic draft, which created racing in big, tight, bumper-to-bumper packs. The big packs were common at Talladega until the development of the two-car draft in 2010-2011.

Talladega set two records in April 2011, a race that featured 88 lead changes a three-wide photo finish, with Jimmie Johnson beating Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon by a record .002 of a second.