Your guide to Geico 500 weekend at Talladega

The first of two major race weekends in Talladega has arrived as campers, RVs and thousands of people will soon fill the infield of one of the largest racing venues in the country.

The Talladega Superspeedway will host the Geico 500 this weekend with events happening all weekend before the big race Sunday afternoon. Here are the key times you need to know:

• Friday: Practice and qualifying, 3PM
• Saturday: General Tire 200, 11:30AM
• Saturday: AG-Pro 300, 3PM
• Sunday: Geico 500, 2PM

The parking lot gates officially open at noon Friday and you can have a jam-packed weekend that goes well beyond the race track. Keep reading for a quick guide on what to expect.

A fan’s guide to Talladega weekend

For many Talladega fans, the week has already started with people getting their campers to the area well before race day. But the official weekend gets started Friday and Talladega Superspeedway has several events laid out.

The first thing you need to know, though, is how to get in the door. Tickets are available for each race day + for camping in the infield. You can find all ticket information and packages here.

The Midway Fan Zone opens from 1:30PM-6:30PM on Friday before opening at 8AM on the weekend. It includes:

• 20+ Interactive Displays
• Food & Drink Sampling
• ENASCAR gaming experience
• Kids Zone
• Shops

While the main draw will be what’s happening on the track, there are other events you may want to check out while in town:

• Friday at 7:30PM: The Big One on the BLVD—includes games + parade with a float for NASCAR drivers
• Saturday at 11AM: The Mane Event: Mullet Edition—a fan contest for the best mullet
• Saturday at 7:30PM: Concert featuring Walker Hayes + opener Tim Dugger
• Sunday at 1PM: Red Carpet Driver’s walk + introductions

You can find the full schedule of events for the weekend on Talladega’s website. You can see a map for the weekend below.

Keep an eye on the weather!

The only thing that could put a damper on the weekend is the possibility of some severe weather. The speedway already posted on social media about the forecast that includes lightning, telling fans to have a plan on where to go if needed.

There is still a high chance all races go on as scheduled despite some rain but there is a potential for some delays, especially on Sunday. You’ll want to pack for rain, warm weather and cold weather—just another classic Alabama spring weekend.

Here’s a quick look at the race weekend forecast:

• Friday: 81/60 – High chance of rain through the day, scattered thunderstorms possible at night
• Saturday: 77/50 – Rain chances increase at night, steady rain expected overnight
• Sunday: 55/41 – Rain very likely Sunday morning into the afternoon, clearing at night
• Monday: 69/43 – Warming trend and clear skies—a perfect day if anything gets postponed

Will you be in Talladega this weekend? Post on social media at tag The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn!