Talladega Issues Elliott Ticket

Talladega honors Elliott with commemorative ticket

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Aug. 11, 1998) Bill Elliott, the fastest driver in Talladega Superspeedway history, is featured on the track's first commemorative pole day ticket for the Oct. 9 LCI Qualifying Day for the Bud Pole Award for the Winston 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series race. Talladega's "Fastest Ticket in Racing" features Elliott and his current McDonald's Ford Taurus, as well as the No. 9 Ford Thunderbird he made famous at Talladega Superspeedway. An eight-time Bud Pole winner at NASCAR's "most competitive track," Elliott set a stock car record by qualifying at nearly 213 mph in his No. 9 Ford on May 3, 1987. Nine times in his career he topped the 200 mph mark at Talladega Superspeedway in Bud Pole Qualifying. "We have discussed doing a commemorative ticket for pole day for quite some time," Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch said. "There was really only one choice for the first one and that was Bill Elliott. For so many years at Talladega Superspeedway people came just to see how fast he would go. "People still come to qualifying day to see how fast all the drivers will go at Talladega Superspeedway. That's the reason we're calling this ticket the fastest ticket in racing." In the spring of 1985, Elliott won his first Talladega Bud Pole, which was his first of six consecutive pole positions there. From 1985 through 1987, Elliott was the only driver to start on the Bud Pole at the 2.66-mile track. "Talladega has meant a lot to me over the years," Elliott said. "We have definitely had a lot of success there, especially on qualifying day. It's quite an honor to be the driver they chose to be on their first commemorative ticket." LCI Qualifying Day for the Bud Pole Award is set for Friday, Oct. 9. Ernie Irvan won the Bud Pole last fall with a lap of 193.271 mph. Bobby Labonte was fastest for the spring DieHard 500. He ran 195.728 mph in April. The first 25 starting positions will be determined on Friday, Oct. 9 during LCI Qualifying Day. The Elliott collectible tickets are $15. To order the new tickets, Talladega Superspeedway now has a ticket hotline race fans can't forget. Effective immediately, tickets for Talladega Superspeedway events can be purchased by dialing (256) 362-RACE (7223). The ticket number that has been used for years, (256) 362-9064, is still in use, but will eventually be phased out. "We wanted a number that race fans couldn't forget," said Larry Allen, director of ticket operations for the speedway. "Our new number will just make it easier on the fans and everyone else to remember how to get tickets at Talladega Superspeedway." To purchase a commemorative pole day ticket or any ticket for October's 'White Knuckle Weekend' call (256) 362-7223.

Source: NASCAR Online