CHAPTER 34

TALLADEGA JINX

Folklore surrounding what we now call the “Talladega Jinx” was active for centuries before the city known as Talladega even existed. Early settlers in the area known as Dry Valley spoke of “eerie forces,” wrote Ed Hinton in a 2009 ESPN.com report. “The track itself was born under a bad sign in 1969, when the star drivers pulled out of the inaugural race due to the unknowns of the monstrous new track, the biggest and fastest ever built, 2.66 miles around with 33-degree banking.”

In 1973, Bobby Isaac, one of NASCAR’s early heroes, claimed he heard a voice inside his car tell him to stop and get out. Young newcomer Larry Smith died instantly when his car seemed to merely scrape against the track wall. There were a number of strange occurrences inside and outside the track over a period of decades.

But what caused this jinx, or curse, as some call it, in the first place? One legend claims a Native American tribe raced horses where the track was built. It was said that the tribe’s chief was killed when thrown from his horse, thus starting the curse. Some believe the track was built on an Indian burial ground. Others say the Creek nation drove out another tribe for collaborating with Andrew Jackson, and their shaman cursed the land.

The jinx seemed to subside for a number of years and slipped to the background of track lore. Then came a race scheduled for Halloween 2009. With fear of the curse returning, track president Rick Humphrey invited Creek medicine man Robert Thrower to perform a traditional Native American balancing ceremony before race weekend. Thrower performed the ceremony on the start-finish line of the racetrack, asking specifically for balance to be restored to the land.

Several years ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked about the jinx and about the incident with Bobby Isaac in particular. According to a 2009 report on RacinToday.com, he answered, “You know, I believe it. Bobby Isaac comes in with the lead with 10 to go and tells you he heard a voice? You have to believe it…I definitely have a lot of respect for the racetrack. If what they say is true, you know, it would be kind of freaky.”