[Robertdjr]

Here's a look back at every NASCAR Cup race in Tallaega speedway history, compiled by News staff writer Mike Bolton.

1969 TALLADEGA 500
The sport's biggest names boycott the inaugural race after tire problems in practice. Richard Brickhouse takes over Charlie Glotzbach's winged Dodge and gets his lone victory in NASCAR racing.

1970 ALABAMA 500
Pete Hamilton wins in a Petty Superbird as a national television audience gets a rare look at NASCAR racing. The coverage didn't begin until halfway into the race. A crowd of 36,000 was on hand.

And so on...

Birmingham News - 40 Years of Talladega

[Bob Tanner]

In keeping with the title of the thread, 3fan, I thought the following piece is kind of interesting:

The Frontstretch: Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off: Is There A Talladega Curse? by Matt McLaughlin -- Thursday October 2, 2008

I'm not one to worry about things which go "bump" in the night but the article does make you stop and think for a second.

[Robertdjr]

Great article, Bob. Thanks! I've always heard about the Talladega curse, but never really knew the story behind how it got started...

"As the story is told, there were a bunch of folks none too happy about Big Bill France’s decision to build his racetrack on the property he had bought. Among them were local hunters who said it was the best fox hunting area in the world; but the legend actually pins the curse on a local Native American tribe who considered the acreage sacred ground. The tribe supposedly sent their medicine man to ask France not to build there, but he refused to relocate and instead began construction in the late 1960s. As a result, the angry medicine man then invoked a curse on the new speedway… and no doubt was fined $5,000 by NASCAR for cursing."

That last sentence made me laugh.

Anyway, it does make you stop and think about it, doesn't it?

[Racer Duck]

A little personal Talladega history.

On May 7, 1972, my brother, Clarence Lovell, started his first NASCAR race ever .. the Winson 500 at Talladega. There were 50 cars in the race .. he qualified 21st and finished 67 laps down in 32nd. Not bad for his first race on anything bigger than a half mile.

On August 6, 1972, he started his 7th race in NASCAR .. the Talladega 500 at Talladega. Again, there were 50 cars in the race .. he qualified 42nd. But he fought his way up to 24th, 63 laps down. This was his 4th super speedway race (Talladega twice, College Station and Daytona.) I think he was starting to get the hang of superspeedway racing.

On May 6, 1973, he started his last race ever .. the Winston 500 at Talladega. That year there were 60 cars in the race .. he qualified 12th. He also shared Benny Parson's pit crew. It's fitting his last race was also his best finish: 4th.

On May 11, 1973, he died in a traffic accident in San Antonio, Texas.

The statistics of his NASCAR career are here. Talladega holds a special place in the hearts of the Lovell family and his friends.