Troopers prepare for race weekend

One of the busiest weekends for state troopers is about to be here.

About 100 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency officers will work crowd and traffic control at the Talladega SuperSpeedway, but proposed budget cuts could mean fewer troopers at future races.

Chairman Grant Lynch said "The state troopers have been an integral part of getting these crowds in and out since the racetrack was built in 1969.  Calling the troopers a vital cog in our traffic management system.

He said the SuperSpeedway does a lot for the state, and hopes the state will continue to provide a large number of troopers.  A study by a professor at Auburn University-Montgomery found the SuperSpeedway spent an average of $43-million a year for the past decade.

Lynch said the track generated $390-million a year during the same time period.  He said it's because the majority of the fan base travels a long distance for the event; 71% came to Talladega from more than 290 miles away.