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Fans Vote
Morgan Shepherd and Jack Smith To Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame
TALLADEGA, Ala. July 28, 2009 – The
fans have spoken... and
Morgan Shepherd
and Jack Smith
will be the next drivers enshrined to the Talladega-Texaco Walk
of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.
Shepherd won the active driver
nomination over Michael Waltrip and Kasey Kahne, while Smith won
in the inactive driver category.
The Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame
in downtown Talladega is both a focal point saluting NASCAR’s
greatest names and a tribute to one of racing’s brightest stars
– the late Davey Allison. Developed in 1994, the
Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame has inducted one active driver and
up to two inactive drivers since 1995 based on the fans’ vote
chosen from a ballot of nominees selected by strict guidelines.
Shepherd, 67, of Ferguson, NC,
made his NASCAR Winston Cup (now Sprint Cup) debut in 1970 at
Hickory Motor Speedway. And, for nearly 40 years since, Shepherd
has competed in one of NASCAR’s top divisions. He is a four-time
winner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and has 15 wins in the
NASCAR Nationwide Series where he currently competes. Shepherd
is the 1980 NASCAR Late Model Sportsman division champion and
recipient of the 2005 NMPA Pocono Spirit Award.
For Shepherd, his work in the
racecar is only part of his duties at the track each weekend. As
co-owner of his Faith Motorsports team, he oversees all daily
operations of the race team including car preparation, engine
building, testing and racing. Shepherd also serves as a lay
minister, spreading the gospel to the NASCAR community.
Smith, of Metropolis, Ill., was
one of NASCAR’s pioneers. He first raced in what is now
considered the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 1949, beginning a career
that would span 15 years. He recorded 21 wins and is a member of
the NMPA Hall of Fame. Smith passed away in 2001 at the age of
78.
Past active driver inductees have
included Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Ernie Irvan, Dale
Jarrett, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Bobby
Hamilton, Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip,
Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Bobby Labonte. Richard Petty and
Benny Parsons were the first inactive drivers to be inducted,
later joined by Alan Kulwicki, Cale Yarborough, Ned Jarrett,
Buddy Baker, David Pearson, Junior Johnson, Harry Gant, Lee
Petty, Tim Flock, Fireball Roberts, Buck Baker, Joe Weatherly,
Red Byron, Bobby Isaac, Fred Lorenzen, Fonty Flock, Herb Thomas,
Terry Labonte and Rex White.
The first inductees – “ Alabama
Gang” drivers Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Red Farmer and Neil
Bonnett – were inducted by decree of the board.
In the park, Davey Allison is
remembered with a large marble monument, while drivers inducted
into the Talladega-Texaco Walk of Fame have bronze plaques
placed around the park, accessible by walkways that form the
shape of Talladega Superspeedway. For additional information,
visit www.talladegawalk.com.
In 2009, Talladega Superspeedway
proudly celebrates forty years of the most competitive racing in
NASCAR. While the track has seen changes made to the cars that
circle its high-banks, the surface that they race on and the
grandstands that thousands of fans fill twice a year, one
constant remains; Talladega Superspeedway is authentic NASCAR
racing at its finest.
Race fans should make plans now
to experience HALLOW-DEGA℠ during the AMP Energy 500 weekend,
Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. This weekend features the Mountain Dew
250 fueled by Fred’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and
Race Number Seven in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the
AMP Energy 500. For information on tickets, visit
www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA. For our
hearing impaired guests, please call TDD 1-866-ISC-TRAK
(1-866-472-8725). Tickets also are available in person by
visiting the Talladega Superspeedway Ticket Office from 8 a.m. -
4 p.m. CDT, Monday- Friday.
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Wedding in the Park
