Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway is NASCAR's biggest, fastest, and most competitive track. Opened in 1969 as Alabama International Motor Speedway, the 2.66-mile tri-oval is located on a former military airfield in Talladega, Alabama. Its 33-degree banking in the turns allows for incredible speeds, which led to the implementation of restrictor plates (and now tapered spacers) to slow the cars down for safety. This created the signature "pack racing" style, where cars race inches apart in massive drafts, leading to frequent lead changes and the constant threat of a multi-car accident known as "The Big One." The track holds the NASCAR records for the fastest qualifying lap (Bill Elliott's 212.809 mph in 1987) and the most lead changes in a race (88).