Outside the Track: Talladega

After an exciting race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, the NASCAR circuit makes its way to Alabama. Drivers must prepare for some fast-paced chess moves on the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway. The favorites are always being discussed leading up to the race, but as any long-time NASCAR fan knows, it’s anyone’s race to win until the checkered flag falls.

I don’t know about you, but I am super stoked for this weekend’s races because I will be attending Talladega for the first time! I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for months and it is finally here. Fingers crossed for good weather and great racing!

ATTRACTIONS

• Forty minutes west of Talladega Superspeedway, right off I-20 in Birmingham, is the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.

  

  What started as a restoring project and personal collection has now turned into a five-story building set inside the Barber Motorsports Park. With over 1,000 motorcycles spanning from early 1900s to present day, and a growing collection of Lotus racecars, you don’t want to miss this neat attraction! Also, it holds the Guinness World Record of the largest motorcycle museum in the world.

• Then, if you go 40 minutes south of the track, you can visit the Blue Bell Creamery in Sylacauga. (If you don’t like ice cream, I don’t think we can be friends!)

  

  Here, you can observe the ice cream production through windows, shop at their gift store, and purchase fresh made ice cream in the ice cream parlor for only $1.00 a cup! I was told there are flavors made specifically for the on site ice cream parlor that never make it out to grocery stores! They are open to visitors Monday- Friday 9am- 4:30pm.

• Finally, for the outdoorsy NASCAR fans, you can spend plenty of time exploring the Talladega National Forest. There are numerous hiking and biking trails as well as horse back riding.

  

  You can hunt for waterfalls, or use your time swimming and fishing. Any age can find something they want to do in the National Forest!

  RESTAURANTS

• Shack BBQ in Talladega is the place to go for ribs and pulled pork. They are open for lunch and dinner where you can wait for a table or call your order in for pick up. I heard the pork stuff baked potatoes are delicious and you definitely want to get an order of their onion rings!
• If you want a sweet treat, look no further than Lickin Good Donuts in Oxford.

  

  Tip: Pick up donuts for breakfast on the way to the track and everyone will be happy! Fans said their cinnamon rolls are huge and you have to try their peach cream filled donuts as well as the peanut butter donuts.

Let’s hear from our Talladega regulars! What are your must see and eat attractions when in town?