TALLADEGA, AL – Talladega Superspeedway today announced the Honorary Officials for Saturday’s Sparks Energy 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at the biggest, baddest race track on the planet.
Wayne Sternbergh, of Heyworth, Illinois, will serve as the Grand Marshal and give the most famous command in motorsports, “Drivers, Start Your Engines!” just prior to the start of the 113-lap event. Sternbergh, who will be celebrating his 30th birthday on Saturday, has raced Sprint and midget cars, competitively, for over twenty years and is an avid NASCAR fan. Sternbergh is a great friend of Sparks Energy.
Bringing the field to the green flag to start the race will be the event’s Honorary Starter, Michael Zappone, Manager of Resource Acquisition for Eversource Energy. Zappone, who has spent 30 years with Eversource, is heavily involved with the Energy Council of New England, North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group, and Overlook Sports Organization. Zappone is a resident of Waterbury, Connecticut.
The Sparks Energy 300 is set to get underway at 2 p.m. (CDT). Joey Logano is the race’s defending champion.
Sunday Pre-Race Finalized
Sunday’s National Anthem for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will be complimented by a C-130 flyover, traveling from Turn 4 towards the start/finish line on the front straightaway. Housed at Maxwell Air Force Base (Montgomery, AL), the plane is a 1985 Vintage H-2.
In addition, the traditional patriotic pace lap by Johnny Ray – which features his iconic semi-truck displaying a giant American Flag blowing in the wind – will once again make its way through the tri-oval to the excitement of fans young and old alike. The Star Spangled Banner will be performed by the 313th United States Army Band, comprised of 30-plus citizen-soldiers who train and perform as Army musicians.
The event’s military theme will continue with Master Sergeant Larry D. Nix, the Grand Marshal for the GEICO 500, bringing the field to life with the command to start engines, while Senior Airman Maxime V. Copley, Aerospace Medical Services Technician, will be serving as Honorary Starter and will waive the green flag to get the event started.
Following the race, the Freedom Trophy, one of Talladega Superspeedway’s newest and most unique patriotic traditions, will be presented to the race winner by Commander Daniel G. Straub of the soon-to-be commissioned USS Montgomery.
Earlier on Sunday morning, the United States Air Force will conduct a DEP (Delayed Enlistment Program) swear-in on the pre-race stage, located on the frontstretch near the start/finish line.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500, NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 Entry Lists Released
Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 has 41 cars entered, including 14 former Talladega winners. The Sparks Energy 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday has 43 entries, made up of two former Sparks Energy 300 winners, along with four driers who have gone to Gatorade Victory Lane at Talladega in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards General Tire 200.
14 NASCAR XFINITY Drivers to Participate in Friday Afternoon Autograph Session
Blake Koch, Brandon Jones, Brandon McReynolds, Brendan Gaughan, Chris Cockrum, Dakoda Armstrong, Garrett Smithly, Jeb Burton, Justin Allgaier, Matt Tifft, Ray Black Jr., Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, and Ryan Reed are confirmed to participate in a NASCAR XFINITY Series autograph session on Friday, April 29th at 2:30 p.m. (CDT), located in Legends (Hospitality) Village. The session, which ends at 3:15 p.m. (CDT), is free and open to all ticketholders.
The highly anticipated Talladega Superspeedway weekend kicks off this Friday, April 29, with practice sessions for the Sparks Energy 300 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 Sparks Energy 300 at 2 p.m. CDT. Later that evening, Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy, will headline the traditional Infield Concert. Country Music’s best-kept secret, Eric Lee Beddingfield, is set to open the event at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free with a GEICO 500 ticket. The GEICO 500 race is set for Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (CDT).
For ticket information, including many upgrade opportunities, for the GEICO 500, Sparks Energy 300 and General Tire 200 events, log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.
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.
