Are you going to Sunday’s Amp Energy 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway, or have fears about the availability (or cost) of gas made you stay home?

Track president Rick Humphrey said this week that, from what he’s been told, “There should be sufficient gas in the area.” Good thing the race isn’t in Chattanooga.

If last week’s race in Kansas is any indication, fans will not stay away. Though the track was not an official sellout for the first time in its short history, there was only a handful of empty seats. Humphrey said he expects the same Sunday.

“I think it’s OK to say our company has seen some softness from the ticket-selling standpoint,” he said. “It costs more to come to these races than it did last year, expense-wise.”

If the ’Dega stands are even near capacity, it says a lot about the fervor fans still have for this sport, especially when you consider the great majority of the track’s fans come from out of state.

Though Humphrey won’t know the exact numbers for a few days, he does know that his campgrounds are nearly full. Considering what hotel rooms are going for, the camping route is still the cheapest way to go. And if you want the full Talladega experience, plan on camping in the infield some day.

You’ll never be the same.

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