Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
Pit Road Access, Red Carpet & Driver Intros Also Part of Pit Pass Upgrade for Fans
TALLADEGA, AL – Three-time Talladega Superspeedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner Brad Keselowski, along with Ryan Newman, who drives for Talladega all-time winning team owner Richard Childress (tied with Rick Hendrick), are scheduled to take part in the track’s Pre-Race Fan Question & Answer Session at the Start/Finish Line prior to the start of the GEICO 500 on Sunday, May 1.
Race fans will get to ask some of NASCAR’S most popular drivers questions in advance of one of the most anticipated races of the season, in which the winner of the GEICO 500 is all but guaranteed a spot in the season-ending Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Fans that purchase Talladega’s Pit Pass Upgrade can have access to this special session, which is tentatively scheduled from 8:40-9:45 AM (CDT). Not only can fans get an up-close look at some of NASCAR’s finest with the Pit Pass Upgrade, but they can also take in all the festive activities at the pre-race stage, including Driver Introductions for the GEICO 500. Additional drivers/personalities that will be part of the fan Q&A line-up will be announced in the near future.
Keselowski, driver of the No.2 Miller Lite Ford, is no stranger to success at the famed 2.66 mile tri-oval. He stunned the racing world by winning his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at Talladega in 2009, driving for an independent team owned by James Finch. The victory led to his arrival at Team Penske, and two more victories at Talladega in 2012 and 2014 have followed.
The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion ranks only behind GEICO 500 defending champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. in finishing average among active drivers (minimum 10 races) at the biggest and baddest track in NASCAR. In 14 starts, he has three triumphs, five top-five and eight top-ten finishes. With his victory earlier this year at Las Vegas, Keselowski has all but punched his ticket to the season-ending Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. His 2014 trip to Victory Lane came in October during a “must-win” situation in the GEICO 500 to advance in the Chase.
Newman has always been a threat at the “Super” superspeedways – Talladega and Daytona. The pilot of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing (12 victories at TSS) has five top-five results at the 2.66-mile mammoth Alabama venue with a third-place effort as his best (2009). The 2008 Daytona 500 champion, who finished runner-up in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2014 to Kevin Harvick, has an impressive 11 top-ten finishes at Talladega. Over the past three races at TSS, no driver has scored more points than Newman with finishes of fifth, seventh and 12th.
In addition to the Driver Q&A, pre-race festivities at the Driver Introduction stage will include introductions of special guests and VIPs, as well as the Honorary Starter and Grand Marshal of the GEICO 500, which is set for a 12:00 p.m. (CDT) start. The Pit Pass Upgrade is $75, but also includes more opportunities for up-close access on race day.
The Pit Pass Upgrade allows fans to enjoy a crew member’s perspective on race morning with the ability to stroll down pit road where the cars will be placed and have the opportunity to see the crews set up each pit stall. It also allows access to the Red Carpet Entry into the Drivers Meeting. Drivers, crew chiefs, team owners, celebrities and NASCAR officials will walk the red carpet to the meeting where race procedures and protocol will be explained.
The Pit Pass Upgrade will be in effect on Sunday, May 1, from 8:00 a.m. until the conclusion of Driver Introductions. For more ticket upgrade information, call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. Additional ticket upgrades are offered by Talladega Superspeedway include The Sunday VIP Experience with Glenn Jarrett, the Unrestricted VIP Package, Pre-Race Pit Passes, Premium Box Seating and much more. Click the ticket section and go to “Upgrades.”
Fans in the grandstands/towers will experience Talladega’s roomy and comfortable 21- and 22-inch wide chair back seats. The five large Sprint Vision HD video boards, two that are 40-feet x 80-feet, will be back and placed along the frontstretch to provide unbelievable views of action on the track from every seat in the house. The video boards are an initiative that will be implemented at all ISC tracks in the future.
The anticipated weekend kicks off on Friday, April 29, with practice sessions for the Talladega 300 for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and GEICO 500, as well as practice, qualifying and the drop of the green flag for the General Tire 200 ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards at 5 p.m. CDT. Saturday’s schedule includes qualifying for the GEICO 500 as well as time trials and the start of the Talladega 300 at 2 p.m. CDT. Later that evening, Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy, will headline the traditional Infield Concert. Admission is free with a GEICO 500 ticket. Sunday’s GEICO 500 is set for 12 noon CDT.
*Driver availability is subject to change and without notice. Neither NASCAR nor any of its affiliates are responsible for this event*
About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), most banked (33 degrees), and longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly, offering up hundreds of acres of free camping, amazing kids ticket prices and special offers for military members and college students. The historic venue, built in 1969, is NASCAR’s “Party Capital” thanks to the track’s infamous infield, which features the traditional Saturday Night Concert and the world renowned Talladega Blvd, home of the “Big One on the Blvd” party. It is the site of the most comfortable seats in motorsports, large video viewing boards (a new initiative planned for future implementation at all ISC tracks) lining the frontstretch and endless activities for fans throughout its event weekends. Talladega Superspeedway’s next NASCAR weekend is set for April 29-May 1 with the ARCA Racing Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (GEICO 500). Log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 877-Go2-DEGA for more information.
