The stat sheet: Talladega superspeedway

Auto Racing Digest, Feb-March, 2003

--No. 1

Current NASCAR president Mike Helton is the former president of the Talladega Superspeedway, one of many Winston Cup tracks owned by the International Speedway Corporation.

--Turn 1

The entrance to which is where the start-finish line at Talladega is virtually located--well beyond the exit to pit road. Bill France Jr., who built the track, put it there so drivers would have nearly a half-mile more to make a last-lap pass than they do on most tracks.

--2.66

The length, in miles, of this demanding tri-shape oval, made even more difficult thanks to its 33-degree turns.

--212

The speed, in mph, that qualifiers would frequently exceed in the days before restrictor plates. Even with the plates--thanks to its wide, steeply banked ovals--Talladega is still the fastest track on the circuit. In Winston Cup's second race at Talladega in 2002, the field averaged an incredible 183.665 mph.

--212.809

The speed, in mph, of the track and Winston Cup qualifying record, held by Bill Elliott, and set in 1987.

--221.160

The speed, in mph, of the then-world record for a closed course, set by Mark Donahue at Talladega on August 9. 1975. The record stood for 11 years before Rick Mears broke Donahue's record in an Indy Car.

--1997

The year in which Mark Martin set the track's race record for speed in both Winston Cup (188.354 in May) and Busch (168.937 in April).

--143,000

The approximate number of seated guests that Talladega can now accommodate after adding permanent seats in nine of the past 10 years. Thousands more can view the action from a 215-acre infield. Adjacent to the track is the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum, which is also open daily.

--$4 million

The approximate cost of the track, which opened as Alabama International Motor Speedway in 1969. There were safety concerns about the track right from the start. In 1969, the driver's association organized a boycott over tire safety.