$50 Donation for Two Laps to Benefit ‘DEGA Gives Charitable Fund to Give Back to Local Community; Stand by The Race Winner’s Vulcan Trophy
TALLADEGA, Ala – A new winning twist has been added for this Saturday’s ’DEGA Drive event at Talladega Superspeedway.
In addition to guests being able to make two exhilarating laps around the 2.66-mile mammoth track in their personal vehicles, they will also have the opportunity to walk into hallowed ground – Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane and stand by the Vulcan Trophy, which goes to every NASCAR Cup Series winner. Fans are welcome to bring their cameras to take photos inside the winner’s circle.
All it takes is a minimal $50 donation that will help to raise money for the speedway’s outreach fund, ‘DEGA Gives, a donor advised fund of The NASCAR Foundation. The event is scheduled for the general public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CDT. Pre-registration can be found at https://www.nascarfoundation.org/talladegagives and is highly recommended to guarantee a spot. The “Drives” can also be purchased the day of the event.
Earlier this year in April, the track hosted a similar event and raised more than $45,000 with proceeds benefitting American Red Cross Alabama Disaster Relief and Alabama tornado victims.
After making their laps, guests will park their vehicles, then take a short walk to the one-of-a-kind, ultra-modern Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane, which debuted in fall 2019 as part of the fan-friendly Talladega Garage Experience. They will be able to stand where Ryan Blaney stood in ‘19 after becoming the first driver to break in the coveted area. He came back last summer with back-to-back victories before Denny Hamlin won last year’s YellaWood 500. Brad Keselowski is the latest victor to touch the checkered floor by virtue of his GEICO 500 triumph in April.
The Vulcan Trophy is a hand-made, miniature version of the colossal Vulcan statue – a 56-foot tall structure fastened to a 124-foot platform that stands tall over the city of Birmingham, Alabama – just 45 minutes west of the race track. It is the largest cast-iron statue in the world and is the main attraction at Birmingham’s Vulcan Park Museum (www.visitvulcan.com). Talladega’s Vulcan Trophy stands more than three feet and weighs 130 pounds. The tradition of the trophy began in 2016.
“We have had tremendous turnouts for past track drives as part of our ’DEGA Gives initiative and we are looking forward to August 7,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton. “We were so thrilled to have so many people from across many states come in April to support the tornado victims. The upcoming event gives families a chance to drive on one of the most iconic venues in all of sports, plus stand where former winners have tasted the thrill of victory. It’s a way to help the track give back to the community.”
The ‘DEGA Drive provides fans and the local community a unique spin on the standard of a typical charitable drive. Donors will need to be in a street legal vehicle that’s equipped with enough seatbelts for all passengers and will be paced single file at highway speed by Talladega Superspeedway staff. No vehicles will be allowed on the top lane of the track and no passing will be allowed.
All vehicles must have a valid license plate, and all drivers must have a valid driver’s license. Minors (under 19 years of age) with valid driver’s license must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No motorcycles, tractor trailers or recreational vehicles will be allowed on the track. Vehicles deemed unsafe by TSS Staff will not be allowed onto the racing surface for ’DEGA Drive. Once on pit road, everyone must remain in their vehicle at all times.
Cash or credit card will be acceptable upon arrival. For more information on Talladega Superspeedway’s track drive benefiting ‘DEGA Gives, call 256-362-2261. Participants will enter the Talladega Superspeedway infield through the North Tunnel (Tunnel 4 at giant American Flag), then proceed to the staging area. The road will be marked with signage and traffic cones. All participants must execute a TSS Track Waiver.
Talladega Superspeedway’s Playoff weekend, Oct. 2-3, will consist of thrilling races for NASCAR’s three top national series. On Saturday, Oct. 2, both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series will tackle the greatest race track on the planet in a doubleheader before Sunday’s YellaWood 500 for the Cup Series. For more information, log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. Fans are encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at the biggest, baddest race track on the planet by following Talladega Superspeedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.