Visit http://tsschairman.blogspot.com/ for all the latest from Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch.
Archived blog posts from former Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey will be stored here.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
March 12, 2010
Have you ever just wondered how much stuff you can accumulate over time? Well, I’m starting to notice.
As some of you may know, I am leaving Talladega Superspeedway to take the position of Managing Director of Business Operations for International Speedway Corporation, the parent company of Talladega and 11 other tracks. This is something my family and I are very excited about.
I have been at Talladega for 13 years and during that time I have accumulated a lot of things . . . great knowledge, some trinkets and plaques and even a few honors along the way. All things I can pick up and take with me.
However, the thing I am most proud of are the friends that I have gathered over the years. For 26 races, I have watched as fans have flowed in and out of TSS and have always considered every one of them friends. Because you know, you always try to treat your friends a little different and a little more special. That’s just the way things are done at TSS by the entire staff.
So as my family and I pack up all of the stuff we’ve accumulated over the years and get ready for the move to the Daytona Beach-area, I say thank you for your support of Talladega Superspeedway and thanks for being a friend.
As some of you may know, I am leaving Talladega Superspeedway to take the position of Managing Director of Business Operations for International Speedway Corporation, the parent company of Talladega and 11 other tracks. This is something my family and I are very excited about.
I have been at Talladega for 13 years and during that time I have accumulated a lot of things . . . great knowledge, some trinkets and plaques and even a few honors along the way. All things I can pick up and take with me.
However, the thing I am most proud of are the friends that I have gathered over the years. For 26 races, I have watched as fans have flowed in and out of TSS and have always considered every one of them friends. Because you know, you always try to treat your friends a little different and a little more special. That’s just the way things are done at TSS by the entire staff.
So as my family and I pack up all of the stuff we’ve accumulated over the years and get ready for the move to the Daytona Beach-area, I say thank you for your support of Talladega Superspeedway and thanks for being a friend.
Friday, February 26, 2010
February 26, 2010
I’ve been saying all along that 2010 is going to be a big season for us. With things like new rules, new seats and new pricing in some of our grandstands, it’s very exciting to think what the 2010 season at Talladega Superspeedway holds.
The season will actually get started a little earlier for us than expected. Tuesday, March 16th, race fans will get the chance to come out and experience the new rules and new seats, as NASCAR has scheduled a test for that day. The test will give teams the opportunity to test the new spoiler rules NASCAR mentioned before the season started, as well as the size restrictor plate that will be used for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, April 23-25. The restrictor plate that was used for the Daytona 500 was the largest in nearly 20 years. There’s also some rumblings that the teams might be testing one a little larger on March 16th. Most of the teams, if not all, are expected to be at the test. The test is open and free to the public. Parking lots will open at 8:30 a.m. and testing should begin at 9 a.m.
This open test will also give us the chance to showcase our new grandstand seats that we’ve been telling you about. I believe race fans who choose to sit in these sections for the upcoming Talladega events will be very pleased with the wider seats, wider aisles and the cup holders.
I hope to see all of you on March 16th, but if not, please go ahead and make plans to join us for Aaron’s Dream Weekend in April.
The season will actually get started a little earlier for us than expected. Tuesday, March 16th, race fans will get the chance to come out and experience the new rules and new seats, as NASCAR has scheduled a test for that day. The test will give teams the opportunity to test the new spoiler rules NASCAR mentioned before the season started, as well as the size restrictor plate that will be used for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, April 23-25. The restrictor plate that was used for the Daytona 500 was the largest in nearly 20 years. There’s also some rumblings that the teams might be testing one a little larger on March 16th. Most of the teams, if not all, are expected to be at the test. The test is open and free to the public. Parking lots will open at 8:30 a.m. and testing should begin at 9 a.m.
This open test will also give us the chance to showcase our new grandstand seats that we’ve been telling you about. I believe race fans who choose to sit in these sections for the upcoming Talladega events will be very pleased with the wider seats, wider aisles and the cup holders.
I hope to see all of you on March 16th, but if not, please go ahead and make plans to join us for Aaron’s Dream Weekend in April.
Friday, February 19, 2010
February 19, 2010
Some might have questioned NASCAR’s decisions during the off-season to make some changes it felt was necessary to make the on-track activity more exciting. I believe after the Daytona 500 and all of the Speedweeks events, very few are questioning now.
For example, leading up to the Daytona 500, NASCAR decided to increase the green-white-checkered attempts to three instead of just one attempt. That rule change came as a surprise to me, but proved to be very pivotal for Jamie McMurray to win his first Daytona 500.
There might be more changes to come before the teams get to Talladega for the Aaron’s 499 April 23-25. Teams will be at the track March 16th to test things ranging from spoilers to restrictor plates. We are expecting a majority of the teams if not all of them and plans are to open the test to the public to let you test our new seats.
New seat construction is going well and ahead of schedule. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid March and ready for the NASCAR test on March 16th.
One other big announcement this week at Talladega is the addition of Aaron’s Gift Cards for our Allison Grandstand customers. For those fans purchasing a $49 two-day ticket in the Allison Grandstand for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, Aaron’s is pitching in a $25 gift card that can used at any Aaron’s store across the country.
With the season underway, the countdown has officially started and I can’t wait to see everybody in April.
For example, leading up to the Daytona 500, NASCAR decided to increase the green-white-checkered attempts to three instead of just one attempt. That rule change came as a surprise to me, but proved to be very pivotal for Jamie McMurray to win his first Daytona 500.
There might be more changes to come before the teams get to Talladega for the Aaron’s 499 April 23-25. Teams will be at the track March 16th to test things ranging from spoilers to restrictor plates. We are expecting a majority of the teams if not all of them and plans are to open the test to the public to let you test our new seats.
New seat construction is going well and ahead of schedule. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid March and ready for the NASCAR test on March 16th.
One other big announcement this week at Talladega is the addition of Aaron’s Gift Cards for our Allison Grandstand customers. For those fans purchasing a $49 two-day ticket in the Allison Grandstand for the Aaron’s Dream Weekend, Aaron’s is pitching in a $25 gift card that can used at any Aaron’s store across the country.
With the season underway, the countdown has officially started and I can’t wait to see everybody in April.
Friday, February 12, 2010
February 12, 2010
I have a good feeling that the 2010 Daytona 500, and even the 2010 season, is going to be one we will all remember.
We couldn’t be off to a better start with Kevin Harvick’s victory in the Budweiser Shootout and the Talladega-like finishes in the Gatorade Duels. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the rules change that was announced this week in hopes of assuring a race to the checkered flag.
All of the excitement coming out of Daytona and a good part of the country stuck inside because of snow or severely cold weather, reminds me a lot of 1979. Most in the sport recognize the 1979 Daytona 500 as a day NASCAR Racing got a lot of attention. With most of the east coast socked in with snow, CBS entertained the country by doing the first-ever live NASCAR race in its entirety. Those watching at home that day, as well as in the stands, watched Richard Petty win his record seventh Daytona 500 as Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison crashed on the last lap. What the television audience also saw that day was an altercation that occurred between Cale and Donnie, as well as Donnie’s brother Bobby. It’s a finish that is still frequently used to promote the Daytona 500 and the sport.
The excitement of the 1979 Daytona 500 caught my dad’s attention and two weeks after that event I attended my first race. There’s no telling how many other race fans were born with that finish, but if you ever ask Bobby or Donnie about it they will share with you they did their part to put NASCAR on the map. Donnie once jokingly mentioned he couldn’t understand why he got fined that day when that race did so much to help grow the sport.
With a huge audience tuning in Sunday and a big crowd in the stands, let’s hope the 2010 Daytona 500 continues what we’ve already seen this week.
We couldn’t be off to a better start with Kevin Harvick’s victory in the Budweiser Shootout and the Talladega-like finishes in the Gatorade Duels. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the rules change that was announced this week in hopes of assuring a race to the checkered flag.
All of the excitement coming out of Daytona and a good part of the country stuck inside because of snow or severely cold weather, reminds me a lot of 1979. Most in the sport recognize the 1979 Daytona 500 as a day NASCAR Racing got a lot of attention. With most of the east coast socked in with snow, CBS entertained the country by doing the first-ever live NASCAR race in its entirety. Those watching at home that day, as well as in the stands, watched Richard Petty win his record seventh Daytona 500 as Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison crashed on the last lap. What the television audience also saw that day was an altercation that occurred between Cale and Donnie, as well as Donnie’s brother Bobby. It’s a finish that is still frequently used to promote the Daytona 500 and the sport.
The excitement of the 1979 Daytona 500 caught my dad’s attention and two weeks after that event I attended my first race. There’s no telling how many other race fans were born with that finish, but if you ever ask Bobby or Donnie about it they will share with you they did their part to put NASCAR on the map. Donnie once jokingly mentioned he couldn’t understand why he got fined that day when that race did so much to help grow the sport.
With a huge audience tuning in Sunday and a big crowd in the stands, let’s hope the 2010 Daytona 500 continues what we’ve already seen this week.
Friday, February 5, 2010
February 5, 2010
Well the season has already started with a bang and a bold prediction.
The stock car portion of Speedweeks got underway this week at Daytona International Speedway, and right out of the block the pressure has been placed on Jimmie Johnson. The motorsports media picked Johnson to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for the fifth consecutive year. You might think that’s not much of a stretch. However, the interesting fact is in his four previous titles, the media chose someone else to win the championship. Based on that statistic, I’m not sure Johnson has been blessed or cursed with the prediction.
It didn’t take long for the first on-track incident to take place in Daytona, as Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin got together to trigger a multi-car accident. Both admitted to trying to make the situation safer as Hamlin approached Martin, but this time it didn’t work as they had hoped.
The next couple of weeks should be very interesting to watch from Daytona. These two weeks typically set the tone of the season. Let’s hope for some safe and exciting races not just in Daytona but for the entire 2010 season.
The stock car portion of Speedweeks got underway this week at Daytona International Speedway, and right out of the block the pressure has been placed on Jimmie Johnson. The motorsports media picked Johnson to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for the fifth consecutive year. You might think that’s not much of a stretch. However, the interesting fact is in his four previous titles, the media chose someone else to win the championship. Based on that statistic, I’m not sure Johnson has been blessed or cursed with the prediction.
It didn’t take long for the first on-track incident to take place in Daytona, as Denny Hamlin and Mark Martin got together to trigger a multi-car accident. Both admitted to trying to make the situation safer as Hamlin approached Martin, but this time it didn’t work as they had hoped.
The next couple of weeks should be very interesting to watch from Daytona. These two weeks typically set the tone of the season. Let’s hope for some safe and exciting races not just in Daytona but for the entire 2010 season.
Friday, January 29, 2010
January 29, 2010
Its been another big week for us at Talladega Superspeedway.
The seats for our grandstand project have arrived and installation started Monday. We began talking about this project several years ago and to see it starting to really take shape is exciting.
Just to give you an idea of how big of job this is, the communications team came up with some interesting facts.
For instance, 4.5 miles of caulk will be used on the job. That's enough to create a 1/2-inch strip around the track 1.5 times. When the job is complete, the concrete used will equal enough to pour the foundations for 300 single family homes and 45 miles of reinforcement steel will used in the concrete once completed.
But the fact I'm most proud of is this $13 million job has put 100 local people to work in our area and will put approximately $3.5 million directly into our community.
I hope you will follow our progress on our website, but more importantly I hope you join us in April to see it for yourself.
The seats for our grandstand project have arrived and installation started Monday. We began talking about this project several years ago and to see it starting to really take shape is exciting.
Just to give you an idea of how big of job this is, the communications team came up with some interesting facts.
For instance, 4.5 miles of caulk will be used on the job. That's enough to create a 1/2-inch strip around the track 1.5 times. When the job is complete, the concrete used will equal enough to pour the foundations for 300 single family homes and 45 miles of reinforcement steel will used in the concrete once completed.
But the fact I'm most proud of is this $13 million job has put 100 local people to work in our area and will put approximately $3.5 million directly into our community.
I hope you will follow our progress on our website, but more importantly I hope you join us in April to see it for yourself.
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