Part of the Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade, Fans Gain Exclusive Access to Pit Road, Drivers Meeting and Driver Intro Stage
TALLADEGA, Ala. – NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott, along with two former Talladega Superspeedway winners – Aric Almirola and David Ragan – and young gun Daniel Suarez, are scheduled to participate in the Pre-Race Fan Question & Answer session prior to the track’s GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) on Sunday, April 28.
Fans that purchase Talladega’s Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade for just $75 (advance-price) will get the opportunity to ask the drivers questions prior to the much-anticipated GEICO 500, where the winner is all but guaranteed a spot in the season-ending MENCS Playoffs. The Fan Q&A session is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. (CDT) at ‘Dega’s famous start-finish line. Additional drivers/personalities that will take part in the Fan Q&A line-up will be announced at a later date.
In addition to seeing some of NASCAR’s stars at the Fan Q&A session, as part of the Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade, fans will also get a chance to take a stroll down pit road, witness their favorite drivers walk the red carpet to the Drivers Meeting as well as other exciting activities at the Pre-Race stage, including Driver Introductions before the engines are fired for the GEICO 500.
Below is information on the initial quartet for the Fan Q&A session:
Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, has six career TSS MENCS starts, with his best finish coming in last year’s GEICO 500 where he placed third. In all six starts, the 2016 Rookie of the Year and 2018 Most Popular Driver has qualified within the top 10, with five of those efforts earning him a top-five starting spot, including the pole position in his first TSS start for the 2016 GEICO 500.
Almirola, driver of the No. 10 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, is Talladega’s most recent victor, driving to Gatorade Victory Lane in the 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500. Almirola has competed at the 2.66-mile venue in all three national series, also grabbing the checkered flag at ‘Dega in the 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series event.
Ragan, driver of the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, has made 24 MENCS starts at the most competitive track in NASCAR, collecting a win in the 2013 GEICO 500. Ragan has four top-five finishes and 10 top 10s at TSS in NASCAR’s premier series.
Suarez, driver of the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, is in his third year competing full-time in the MENCS. The 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion and Monterrey, Mexico native, will be making his fifth TSS start in the GEICO 500.
To purchase the Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade,simply visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com/pitpass or call 855-518-RACE (7223). The tripleheader weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26, with the General Tire 200, the MoneyLion 300 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday, April 27, and the GEICO 500 on Sunday, April 28.
*Driver availability for the TSS Pre-Race Fan Question & Answer session is subject to change and without notice. Neither NASCAR nor any of its affiliates are responsible for this event*
About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway – which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year – is the most competitive race track on the NASCAR schedule (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), the highest-banked (33 degrees) and the longest (2.66 miles) as well as the most fun and fan-friendly. Talladega offers something for everyone, including hundreds of acres of free camping, amazing kids tickets and college student prices, along with special offers for military members, first responders, teachers and educators. The historic venue, which opened in 1969, is deemed NASCAR’s “Party Capital” thanks to the track’s infamous infield, the traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert on event weekends and renowned Talladega Blvd., home of the “Big One on the Blvd.” party. It’s the site of the most comfortable seats in motorsports, large ISM Vision HD video boards lining the frontstretch and numerous pre-race activities for fans on race day, including special Kids VIP opportunities. For ticket information, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 855-518-RACE (7223).
The track, along with its parent company, International Speedway Corporation, announced last year Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project presented by Graybar. The approximate $50 million redevelopment endeavor is part of ISC’s long-term capital allocation plan and reinvestment into its major motorsports complexes. The project, highlighted by a one-of-a-kind Talladega Garage Experience, will feature “up-close” access, interactive attractions and enhanced amenities for fans, sponsors, teams and stakeholders in the iconic Talladega infield. Full completion of the modernized project is scheduled for October 2019. Fans can learn more about the project and view the progress 24/7 via the construction cam by visiting www.talladegasuperspeedway.com/transformation.
