Maybe you're looking for some way to spend a bigger-than-expected tax refund. Maybe you just want to see the Danica Patrick show. Whatever the reason, if you're a first-timer who's considering checking out NASCAR's fastest track this weekend, we've gathered answers to five basic questions for you.
When do I need to leave the house?
General admission seating is first-come, first-served, and the rabid fans will be there early. There are lots of events around the track planned before each race, including practice and qualifying runs (today and Saturday), so there¹ll be lots to see if you get there early.
Be prepared for traffic. Lots of it. Speedway Boulevard, which runs between Interstate 20 exits 168 and 173 just north of the track, gets jammed up on race weekends. Factor in 30-45 minutes to travel the 3-4 miles from the exits to the track at the height of race-day traffic, according to Trooper Curtis Summerville of the Alabama State Troopers. Traffic is typically lighter earlier, he said.
Race times
Today: 4 p.m.;
Sat.: 2:15 p.m.; Sun.: noon
Parking lots open
Today: 7 a.m.;
Sat.-Sun.: 5 a.m.
Stands open
Today-Sun.: 8 a.m.
What will it cost me?
That depends on how many races you want to see and where you want to sit.
International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250
Today, 4 p.m.
General Admission: $20.
Kids under 12 with an adult: Free.
Nationwide Series Aaron's 312
Saturday, 2:15 p.m.
General Admission: $40.
Kids under 12 with an adult: Free.
Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499
Sunday, noon
Price: $45-$250 (best available).
Kids under 12 with an adult: Free.
Packages
Multi-day packages: $49 to $165
Fan suites (start-finish line): $575
Infield: $60 (plus fees) to $1,650 (price depends on what you bring and your spot).
Best deal: $49 for two-day pass to Allison Grandstands (backstretch), which includes admission for a child 12 years old or younger.
What to bring?
It's an outdoor sporting event, and it¹s going to be hot, so the common-sense approach applies: use sunscreen and and be sure to hydrate.
Talladega Superspeedway is different from some professional venues. Here you're allowed to bring both food and drink (minus glass containers). Each patron is allowed one soft-sided cooler measuring no more than 14-14-14 (inches). If lugging a cooler is too much, there are plenty of choices in and around the track. While the laws around the track differ, alcoholic beverages can be purchased on Sunday inside the track.
With the expansiveness of Talladega¹s 2.66-mile track, binoculars are always good option, and depending on your seating -- and your tolerance for noise -- earplugs could be helpful.
Scanners, which allow you to listen to the in-car radio feeds of the drivers, are also allowed, and can be rented or purchased from various vendors at the track.
What should I watch for?
Obviously the guy up front is doing the best. But at Talladega, the aerodynamic set-up of the cars allows drivers to change track position within just a few laps.
Pick out a driver to cheer for -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., pictured right, is a popular choice -- to make it more fun. Once that driver crashes, pick another.
Where many will agree is that NASCAR is a sport where television does no justice to the live spectacle. With those aforementioned aerodynamic packages, drivers will navigate the track at three- and four-wide with less than a foot between their doors. And when it comes to nose-to-tail racing, they'll be glued to each other. And don't worry if the action is hard to keep up with. Talladega¹s massive 148-foot scoring tower is positioned in the infield and it tracks the field's top 10 drivers by car number and rotates places 11 through 43 in the bottom two spots.
Exactly how long does it last?
Unlike some other sports, there is no set ending time for a race, and factors like weather and crashes can affect the race's length.
Today¹s ARCA action is in the ballpark of two hours. Saturday¹s Nationwide event will go at least 30 minutes longer, and Sunday's Cup event approaches 3 1/2 hours on average.
It can take even longer to get back to Interstate 20 once the race is over. Summerville said no matter where you're going, stay in the lane you're in after the race. It doesn't matter which direction you're heading, all traffic will be moving toward the interstate. For example, if home is east,
it's easier to get on at Exit 168 and drive the five miles on I-20 than it is to try to change lanes in the middle of Speedway Boulevard to get to Exit 172, Summerville said.
But that all depends on if you're ready to leave or not when the race is over.
If hanging out (people-watching is recommended) is your thing, pack a lunch and stick around until Monday.
