Robert Thrower performed a traditional Native American blessing ceremony on the start-finish line of Talladega Superspeedway in hopes to fight off strange occurrences and urban legends that have dwelled around the track since its beginning, forty years ago.

"Most everything in Native American belief is about keeping balance," said Thrower.  "Sometimes people and places can get out of balance and that unbalance may be perceived as something bad.  What we did today was bless the track and ask for reconciliation so that balance can be restored."

Thrower began the ceremony with a prayer in his native Muscogee language.  Then while burning a collection of ceremonial offerings in a small bowl Thrower asked for reconciliation and the restoration of balance to the speedway.

"It was a very moving ceremony," said Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey.  "It's like Mr. Thrower said, sometimes things just need to be brought back into balance.  With the controversy that surrounded Talladega when we first opened, it's a possibility that there has always been some unbalance here. I'm confident in saying that after this ceremony however, we don't have to worry about that anymore and we are looking forward to a great AMP Energy 500 race weekend."

Talladega’s Halloween race weekend features the Amp Energy 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race and the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.  Ticket prices start as low as $40 for the Amp Energy 500.

To purchase tickets for this weekend’s races call 1-877-Go2-DEGA or visit online at www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.

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