Confessions of a NASCAR fan: First trip to Talladega makes her a believer
Fans check out the action during the Sprint Cup race in April at Talladega Superspeedway. // Christian Petersen, NASCAR Scene
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COMMENTARY
I made my first trip to Talladega Superspeedway this spring. My desire to see the track in person was simply because of its proximity to my house. Basically, I wanted to cross it off my list. I had nothing against Talladega, yet there was no burning desire to drive me there. My attitude and expectations were neutral.
By the day’s end, though, I was hooked. A believer. A full-fledged, Talladega-loving fan.
Talladega is a race better appreciated in person. Sure, watching it on TV is fine, but there are things that not even High Definition can do justice. For starters, the location. Sitting in the grandstands at Talladega, one can’t help but notice the beauty of the surrounding area. The backdrop is gorgeous and the serene drive from my
Georgia home to the track showcased Alabama’s rolling countryside. I once heard a complaint there is nothing much around Talladega. I see that as a benefit.
Having mostly been to intermediate or short tracks, there were a few perks I hadn’t anticipated. Watching the huge pack of cars typical of superspeedway racing is generally pretty boring on a broadcast. But, as a fan in her seat, it made the race easy to follow. One can figure out the lead car without ever referencing the scoring tower. Lead changes are easy to identify, passing is obvious, and all because the big track doesn’t allow for cars to be muddled together. It made for clean racing – meaning visually clean and easy.
Which brings me to my favorite discovery about Talladega in person – I didn’t need my headset. You know I love my scanner. Normally it serves two purposes. First, I can follow the race better. And second, it provides ear protection. Yes, the pack of cars at Talladega makes following a race easy, but it also means the deafening roar of the engines on the track is not constant, but intermittent. At Talladega, for 3 seconds as the cars pass, there is noise, followed by mini-conversations with neighboring fans. At smaller tracks, cars spread out and there is always someone zooming by on the track, making earplugs or headsets a necessity. Forget talking to anyone – you’ve got to scream. Halfway through my first Talladega race, the headset came off and the laughter ensued as I enjoyed the witty comments of fellow fans around me.
I guess you could say I was pleasantly surprised by Talladega. If you haven’t been to a superspeedway before, make the trip. You’ll be amazed how different the racing is in person. Now, I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface regarding aspects of Talladega which have made it such a favorite with other fans (like the wild atmosphere in the infield). But I’ll have plenty more opportunities for discovery. For me, it’s not, “been there, done that.” Instead, it’s, “been there, loved that.”
Can’t wait to get to Talladega again.
