During his visit to Birmingham Wednesday, speaking about the upcoming Talladega 250 NASCAR Camping World Series (NCWTS) Playoff race, driver Noah Gragson showed how “compassionate,” as well as “determined” he could be, in a small time frame.
The 20-year-old Las Vegas, NV, native who drives for Kyle Busch Motorsports, exhibited a determined, all-business like attitude when talking about his plans to win the playoff elimination race on Oct. 13, but also revealed a sincere soft side while dropping in to see patients at Children’s of Alabama, putting a smile on every child he came in contact with.
“When we come back to Talladega in a few weeks, we fully intend to win the race…we’re not coming here to have a good points day,” said Gragson, one of eight drivers who are vying for the NCWTS title, who currently sits fourth, 23 points above cutoff line (six drivers will advance at the conclusion of the Talladega 250). “We want to win the check, take home the cool (Hammer & Anvil) trophy, kiss the girl and go on to the next round of the playoffs.”
Gragson will be making his second Talladega start in trucks, but he actually competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race here in the spring and pulled off a fourth-place effort. He sees an improvement to the first spot in two weeks, which would be an automatic lock to the playoff Round of 6.
“If we can’t win the show, we are gonna be the show,” he was quick to admit. “Talladega is so nerve-wracking for the drivers, with trucks just inches away from your front, back and sides at 195 mph for the entire 250 miles. It doesn’t get any better than that for the fans in the stands. Everything is on the line and I have a great group at Kyle Busch Motorsports.”
While it takes nerves of steel to compete on the 2.66-mile venue, tension was the last thing on Gragson’s mind Wednesday with the kids at Children’s of Alabama, the proud partner of Talladega’s Kids VIP program.
Gragson, sporting his race driver’s uniform, spent personal, one-on-one time with nearly 30 kids. He first showed the children how to race remote control cars, educated some on a video racing game, assisted them with his talents at coloring books, and took photos with each, all before giving each a signed hero card. He also visited several children in individual rooms.
“It is really a privilege to come here today and be with these kids at Children’s of Alabama,” said an emotional Gragson. “They are so pumped up and we have had so much fun. Driving the cars, coloring…it’s cool to give them something neat to do. It is so amazing to put a smile on their face, knowing what so many of them are going through. It means the world to me to be here. They might be my new pit crew,” he said with a smile.
Gragson ended his day by having some fun with a visit to The Woolworth, a new social hotspot filled with vintage games in the historic Five Points South area of Birmingham, before stopping by Sloss Furnaces to see the unfinished Hammer & Anvil trophy that will go to the Talladega 250 winner.
Gragson will be joined in the Talladega 250 by fellow playoff contenders Fairhope, AL native Grant Enfinger and Justin Haley, who have both secured their spot in the Round of 6, along with defending series champion Johnny Sauter, Brett Moffitt, Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes and Stewart Friesen.
Talladega Superspeedway’s doubleheader NASCAR Playoff weekend kicks off on Friday with qualifying for the Talladega 250 at 4:35 p.m. CDT. Saturday’s slate includes the running for the Talladega 250 at noon CDT followed by Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying for the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at 3:35 p.m. CDT. Sunday will showcase some of the world’s best drivers dueling it out in the 1000Bulbs.com 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race, the second (of three) in the Round of 12, where the green flag will wave at 1 p.m. CDT.
For ticket information, fans can visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 855-518-RACE (7223).
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