Daleadega

BABS says to me today, Leo needs a little help about all the hype of Talladega and it's rich Earnhardt historE. So take it away Bud.

May 23, 1968 is when construction of Alabama International Motor Speedway began. Opening up for its first race on Sept. 13 of the following year. Since replacing the abdandoned airport runways, Talladega Superspeedway as it is now known has always had excitement since race one.

Talladega got off to a controversial start when the Professional Drivers Association, a union of drivers led by "The King" Richard Petty, went on strike the night before the inaugural Talladega 500 because of the speeds that could be attained due to the track's length and steep banking, and the threat of the "big one" and the lack of drivers safety. "Big" Bill France jumped into a car and tested it for himself. He even sucessfully ran a support race to prove it was all right. Regardless of his efforts the PDA said no way and decided to strike. Drivers from the support race came in and raced. The first winner was Richard Brickhouse, his only win and it was also the first race for another not so famous Richard, Richard Childress.

Two hundred plus mile per hour speeds were common place until 1988. That was the debut of restrictor plates, used to slow the cars down. Only problem causes door to door racing and inevitably a major wreck known as the "big one". Bill Elloitt still holds the track record at almost 213 mph. Shizzit, that is going around that big mo-fo in just under 45 sec.s April 30, 1987. Due in part to Bobby Allison's Buick going into the catchfence and hurting a bunch of spectators, NASCAR mandated the restrictor plate. Restrictor plates are plates that go between the carb and the intake manifold limiting the amount of air and fuel flow, reducing the power of the motors and that is what slows em down. Mark Martin set a 500-mile stock-car record in 1997 when he won the caution-free spring Aaron’s 499 with an average speed of 188.354 mph.

The track's true dominator was Dale Earnhardt, who put up 10 NASCAR Winston Cup wins at Talladega over the years. Big E's first victory was in the 1983 UAW-Ford 500, driving for Bud Moore. He won again the next year in his first season with Richard Childress. When he won the 1990 UAW-Ford 500, he became the first three-time winner of that event, then added UAW-Ford 500 wins in 1991, 1993 and 2000.Earnhardt also had victories in the 1990, 1995 and 1999 IROC races, as well as the 1993 Aaron’s 312 Busch Series race, to give him a total of 14 career victories at Talladega.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has quickly followed in his father’s footsteps. Dale Jr. won the 2001 UAW-Ford 500, defending the title for Ironhead. Dale Jr. swept both races at Talladega in 2002 and won the 2003 Aaron’s 499 for a fizzuckin awesome four-in-a-row winning streak. With a win in the 2004 UAW-Ford 500, he now is second in terms of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series wins here, with five. That is just a few of the reasons I will ALWAYS call it Daleadega. Besides any of the Earnhardt's wins, one of my most fondest memories was when The Rainblow Warrior unfortunately ended Junior's win streak. Not that Gordo won the race, just loved watching the BUDWEISER cans bouncing off of his car while "attempting" a burn-out.

Well Leo there it is. A short but sweet run-down of Daleadega. That BAD-ASS black number 8 Chevy should do well Sunday. It will be a nice reminder of what an Earnhardt looks like in black. I bet if you look real careful Sunday on Junebug's shoulder there will be an angel, bearing a number three between his wings and a foot made of lead. Can we say sixth win?