New Pit Pass Upgrade For Fans also Includes Pit Road Access, Red Carpet & Driver Intros
TALLADEGA, AL – Talladega Superspeedway announced today three of the 16 Challengers for the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle and Aric Almirola – will participate in the track’s Pre-race Fan Question & Answer session at the start-finish line Sunday morning, October 19, prior to the start of the GEICO 500.
Fans who purchase Talladega’s “Pit Pass Upgrade,” can have access to the special session which is tentatively scheduled from 9:15-10:30 am. Not only can they get an up-close look at NASCAR’s finest with the Pit Pass Upgrade, but they can take in all the festive activities at the pre-race stage, including driver Introductions for the GEICO 500, the final race of the Contender Round in the new Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, where the field of eligible drivers for the title will be reduced from 12 to eight at the checkered flag.
Johnson, the six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) Champion, is a two-time winner at NASCAR’s Most Competitive venue, including the closest finish in NASCAR history in 2011 when he amazingly came from fifth to first out the final turn to edge Clint Bowyer by .002 second. Biffle has yet to win at the biggest and baddest track on the planet, but knows his way to the front after finishing runner-up to Denny Hamlin in Talladega’s spring NSCS race earlier this year. Almirola, a two-time runnerup in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at the 2.66-mile facility, has a top-10 finish in his Richard Petty Motorsports Ford. The Motor Racing Network’s (MRN) Mike Bagley is scheduled to conduct the Question & Answer session.
“This is the beginning of a stellar lineup of drivers for our Pre-Race Q&A session,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “We have three guys who have a shot at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title and each knows their way to the front here. It will be interesting to hear their strategy for the day. The Pit Pass Upgrade gives fans access they will never forget. We will be announcing additional drivers in the near future.”
In addition to the Fan Question & Answer session, pre-race festivities at the stage will also 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 1 p.m. (CST) start. The Pit Pass Upgrade is $75, but also includes more opportunities on race day.
With the Pit Pass Upgrade fans enjoy a crew member’s perspective on race morning. Fans can stroll down Pit Road, where the cars will be placed in position to start the race, and have the opportunity to see the crews set up each pit stall. It also allows access to a relatively new experience – The Red Carpet Entry into the Drivers Meeting. Fans will see the drivers, crew chiefs, team owners, celebrities and NASCAR officials walk the red carpet into the meeting, where race procedures and protocol will be explained.
The Pit Pass Upgrade goes in effect on Sunday from 8 a.m. until the conclusion of driver introductions. To purchase, simply log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.
After time spent on Pit Road, it will feel great settling into Talladega’s roomy and comfortable 21 and 22-inch wide chair back seats. The Sprint Vision video boards (four times bigger than ones in the past) that were used in the spring at Talladega will be back, and placed all along the frontstretch to provide views of the whole track to every seat in the house. The video boards are an initiative that is planned at all ISC tracks in the near future.
About Talladega Superspeedway
NASCAR speeds back into Talladega Superspeedway October 17-19 for the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), with the circuit’s steepest banking (33 degrees) and longest distance (2.66 miles), is also 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. Talladega Superspeedway is NASCAR’s “Party Capital” thanks to the track’s infamous infield and world renowned Talladega Blvd. The historic venue has always worked hard to enhance the fan experience in every way and now features 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. Log on to www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 877-Go2-DEGA for more.
