[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 151 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 IN RECOGNITION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2019

  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I ask for the House's attention 
to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Talladega Superspeedway in 
Talladega, Alabama.
  In the mid-1960s, NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr., envisioned a 
bigger and faster track on the NASCAR circuit. After meeting with local 
race car driver and race fan, Bill Ward of Anniston, Alabama, the 
location was selected for the track and the groundbreaking ceremony for 
the Alabama International Motor Speedway (today known as Talladega 
Superspeedway) took place on May 23, 1968.
  The first race, the Talladega 500 (now the 1000Bulbs.com 500), was 
held on September 14, 1969, with Richard Brickhouse winning the race. 
The race played a major role in NASCAR's history as many of the top 
stars of the sport walked out the day before the race due to concerns 
of tire wear on the nearly 200 mph track. Mr. France said the race 
would go on and recruited drivers from the smaller NASCAR Touring 
Series, the Bama 400, the day before.
  The Talladega Superspeedway 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.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the 50th anniversary of 
the Talladega Superspeedway.

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