Not a likely entry in Saturday's CWTS race (AP Photo/Lisa Poole)

Thanks to a three-way swap between Talladega, Atlanta, and Auto Club Speedway, the Camping World Truck Series is stopping at the biggest party on the circuit for Halloween – Talladega. While NASCAR weekends tend to be marketed on a family focus, those who know Dega, know that the party at the track rivals that of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Fans have an amazing array of activities and opportunities for this inaugural Hallow-Dega weekend. First and foremost, the Mountain Dew 250 fueled by Fred’s takes center stage with the Saturday afternoon. In addition to a historic race, fans have Halloween themed opportunities put on by the track, SPEED, and NASCAR such as:

The SPEED Scream contest on the SPEED stage: Get your earplugs ready and hold on to your hangover…Saturday, from noon to 5 pm, SPEED is putting together a scream contest. The top performers will be featured on a special edition of Trackside after the CWTS race, where final judging will determine prizes. Among the awards are gift bags, suite tickets for Sunday’s Cup race, cold pit & garage passes with the winner getting a ride in the pace car to experience the high banks of Talladega firsthand.

A costume contest in the display area at 7pm Saturday: Celebrity judges will award prizes for several categories. The best in each of the following categories will receive various gist cards and experiences: scariest, NASCAR-themed, adult (could be dicey at Dega), couples, kid, overall. Sign up are from 10am-4pm at the pumpkin seed spitting tent on the frontstretch.

A haunted maze located in the display area: Participants can get a “sneak peak” at the Talladega Superspeedway website.

Other options are a fortuneteller that will peer into the future; wax hands interactive display; Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest in the display area, Halloween characters roaming throughout the display area, a hall of mirrors and more.

Finally, when all that activity has made fans hungry, the first annual DEGAQUE Alabama Barbecue Championship will be looking for a King of the Pit for the $50,000, and race fans get to benefit from the competition, which has one of the largest prizes in BBQ contest competition.

Looks like a Halloween with big boy racing at a bog boy track will keep the weekend party going from the CWTS green to the Cup checkers on Sunday.  Those lucky enough to go to Dega this weekend who remember their cameras are welcomed to share the good times with fellow CWTS fans by posting pictures and video on the NASCAR Truck Series Examiner Facebook Page.

For more information on NASCAR Truck Series racing, check out:

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Janelle is a native of Southern California who follows a variety of racing formats. She finds the competition between hard-driving veterans and rising stars in the NASCAR Truck Series some of the best in the top tiers of racing. Janelle has been published in print and online, covering topics in both sports and academics. She also serves as the Southern California Motorsports Examiner. Send Janelle an e-mail, and follow her on Twitter. Join the discussion at the NASCAR Truck Series Examiner Facebook page as well.