TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 3, 2024) – Talladega Superspeedway announced today that the Alabama Air National Guard and the 187th Fighter Wing will perform the flyover prior to the running of the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 on April 21. Fans will be in for a treat with new F-35 jets soaring across the superspeedway at the end of the National Anthem.
“Seeing the 187th Fighter Wing fly across Talladega Superspeedway is sure to induce chills before we get the action started for the GEICO 500,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton. “With fans packed in the grandstands and the F-35’s paying tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, I think this is going to make for a very special moment during the race weekend.”
The 187th Fighter Wing is well known for the Tuskegee Airmen and red tail painted livery on their planes, hence their name “Red Tails.” The Alabama Air National Guard will have red tail livery on one of the F-35’s to honor the legacy and tradition of the Tuskegee Airmen. These values reflect what Talladega Superspeedway look to continue recognizing with NASCAR as the sport moves forward.
Former NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch took a tour of the 187th Fighter Wing base today in Montgomery, AL. This coincides with the Kurt Busch Military Appreciation ticket package available for the GEICO 500 weekend. Fans can purchase the ticket package and receive a ticket to the GEICO 500 along with an exclusive Kurt Busch Q&A.
The spring race weekend action at Talladega kicks off on Saturday, April 20, with a doubleheader featuring the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 200 at 12:30 p.m. ET and continues at 4:00 p.m. ET with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300. On Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series stars will duke it out during the GEICO 500 to close out the weekend at 3:00 p.m. ET.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the GEICO 500 race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, please visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com
Fans are also encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at Talladega Superspeedway by following along on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as in the NASCAR Tracks App for the latest speedway news.
About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is the most competitive racetrack on the NASCAR schedule (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), the highest-banked (33 degrees) and the longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly. Three-and four-wide racing at 200 mph are a norm at Talladega Superspeedway, along with nail-biting, photo finishes. For information, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Snapchat. Media Release: NASCAR Communications
