Talladega Superspeedway receives IMAGE certification

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR’s biggest, fastest and most competitive track, became the state’s latest employer to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Wednesday as part of a nationwide program designed to strengthen hiring practices and combat the unlawful employment of unauthorized workers.

The 2.66-mile speedway became an ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) partner during a ceremony at the track. IMAGE is a voluntary program that allows private industry to partner with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents.

Parmer oversees a five-state area of operations to include Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“We are happy to work with our local officials to ensure compliance and have a secure and stable workforce,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “We are extremely proud to be a part of the program.”

As a member of the IMAGE program, Talladega Superspeedway will receive specialized training for completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9, E-Verify, fraudulent identification document recognition and it will have direct access to an HSI special agent with expertise in worksite enforcement for matters concerning employment authorization and compliance.

Undocumented workers can create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing the identities of legal U.S. workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program nationwide in 2006.

Talladega Superspeedway, which opened in 1969, celebrated its 45th anniversary recently with the running of the GEICO 500 on Oct. 19 in front of 100,000 people in attendance. Since 1970, the facility has hosted two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races per year. The NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, compete at Talladega each year.

The track has produced some of the fastest and most competitive racing in history; consistently reaching speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. The track property consists of nearly 3,000 acres.

As part of the IMAGE program, ICE provides private companies with education and training on proper hiring procedures, including the use of employment screening tools such as E-Verify. IMAGE certified companies also undergo an audit of their I-9 forms to ensure current employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Alabama-area employers interested in learning more about the IMAGE program may contact the local IMAGE coordinator at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or visit www.ICE.gov/image.