Preparations for the ARCA Racing Series’ International Motorsports Hall of Fame 200 at Talladega Superspeedway continued today at Talladega Superspeedway, with seven drivers hitting the track’s high banks one last time before the Saturday, May 3 event during the Aaron’s Dream Weekend. Tim Hessert, for the second consecutive day, led the pack with a lap at 181.987 mph.
Justin Allison, grandson of original Alabama Gang member Donnie Allison, was out during the morning session and scored the second fastest lap at 181.257 mph. Donnie won at Talladega twice while his brother Bobby, also an original member of the Alabama Gang, captured four checkered flags at the 2.66-mile famed facility. Davey Allison, Bobby’s son and Justin’s Uncle, won four ARCA races at Talladega, along with three Sprint Cup Series events.
“It has always been a dream of mine to race at Talladega,” said Justin who will be making his Talladega debut in his BCR Ford, which carries the No. 88 his grandfather sported in the 1970s.“It’s my family hometown track and a very special place for all of my family. Being on the track for the first time yesterday I saw first-hand that it is a special place. I had a lot of fun the past couple days. We have a good car and we’re capable of winning the race. A victory here would mean a lot to not only me, but to my entire family.
“My goal is to win it,” added the 21-year-old Allison, who was running in the top-10 during the season opener at Daytona before being collected in a wreck that broke out in front of him. “We have to run the whole race to accomplish that, and I know I’ve got a lot to learn out there. I’m really looking forward to the experience, but if we’re there at the end, our goal should be nothing short of winning it. That’s why we do this.”
Does Granddad think he can succeed?
“He’s got a knack,” said Donnie, who won at Talladega in 1971 and 1977. “He’s (Justin) never driven around Talladega in his life. He went out and ran (Wednesday). He came in and I asked him a question about it. He told me exactly what he felt. I know he felt it, because I saw him do it. That’s a gift. That’s not taught.”
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