TALLADEGA, Ala. – Talladega Superspeedway is ready to crank up the excitement for this weekend’s motorsports tripleheader, announcing the lineup for pre-race dignitaries for the GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event, the MoneyLion 300 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the ARCA Menards Series’ General Tire 200.
GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Sunday
Grand Marshal: As previously announced, track Chairman Grant Lynch will have the honor of saying those famous words, “Drivers, Start Your Engines,” before the GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event. Lynch has been the leader of Talladega Superspeedway for more than half of the track’s existence. He is known by Talladega fans for his chatter via microphone on the public address system with the “This is More than a Race… This is Talladega” chant. He has overseen many changes and updates to the mammoth track during his many years at Talladega Superspeedway and will be retiring in November of this year after the completion of Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project presented by Graybar.
Honorary Starter: Waving the green flag to kick off the highly-anticipated GEICO 500 will be Senior Airman Matthew J. Kovall of the United Sates Air Force.
Honorary Pace Car Driver: Unveiled yesterday, Norman Reedus, star of AMC’s The Walking Dead and Ride with Norman Reedus, will lead the field to the green flag to start the 500-mile event.
MoneyLion 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series, Saturday
Grand Marshal: Giving the command to fire engines will be Dee Choubey, co-founder and CEO of MoneyLion. Choubey created MoneyLion as a mobile finance platform that helps consumers borrow, save and invest better through proprietary AI-driven tools. MoneyLion was launched by Choubey in 2013 with the goal of combining AI, machine-learning technology, and behavioral science to bring consumer finance to the future.
Honorary Starter: Master Chief Petty Officer Rivers of Pensacola, Florida will be waving the green flag for the MoneyLion 300. Rivers enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1994. Rivers’ awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medals (4 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals (8 awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and numerous individual, campaign, and unit awards.
General Tire 200 ARCA Menards Series, Friday
Grand Marshal: Toby Hill, Service Manager, Carl Cannon Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac, will kick off the weekend by giving the command to fire engines.
Honorary Starter: Kevin Shaddix, Service Manager of Terry Sligh Chevrolet, will drop the green flag to start the General Tire 200 ARCA Menards Series event, which has been a staple at the track since 1969.
The action-packed weekend kicks off today with the running of the General Tire 200 ARCA Menards Series, set to get the green flag at 5 p.m. CDT. Saturday’s slate includes the MoneyLion 300 for the Xfinity Series (noon CDT), along with qualifying for the GEICO 500 at 3:40 p.m. CDT. The GEICO 500 will be the track’s 100th race in NASCAR’s premier series. It gets the green flag on Sunday at 1 p.m. CDT.
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.
