Charlotte to get NASCAR HOF
Charlotte beat out Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., to win the $100-million plus shrine to stock car racing, the sources said. An official announcement is expected Monday afternoon in Charlotte.
"It's coming to Charlotte," said one source, who like the others asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality of the process. The source said final logistics must still be worked out, but "it's going to happen."
"Monday will be a great day for the city," said another source.
A NASCAR spokesman, reached late Tuesday, would only confirm that NASCAR would announce the project site this month.
Sources said NASCAR Chairman Brian France is expected in Charlotte on Monday for the announcement. More at ThatsRacin.com
02/28/06 As the race for NASCAR's Hall of Fame heads into the home stretch, Charlotte is the leading candidate to land the $100 million-plus shrine to stock car racing, several sources told the Observer on Sunday. Two high-ranking NASCAR officials and two Nextel Cup team owners, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Charlotte's selection was nearly certain. Final details must be worked out before any announcement, the sources said. Charlotte has been competing with four other cities since last year to host the project, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. In January, NASCAR eliminated Kansas City and Richmond, Va. as candidates, leaving Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla. A NASCAR spokesman maintained Sunday the selection process was not complete. "The process is still evolving. We continue to receive additional information regarding each of the three cities' proposals and the decision-making process is still active," said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. Tharp reiterated that NASCAR plans to decide by the end of March. Miami-Herald
02/27/06 NASCAR is downplaying a report in the Charlotte Observer that quotes sources as saying Charlotte has emerged as the clear leader in a three-city battle for the sport's hall of fame. NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer Brian France said before Sunday's race at California Speedway that Atlanta remained very much in the running for the hall, and NASCAR public relations spokesman Kerry Tharp said after Sunday's race that a decision on the hall had not been reached. "We are still in the decision-making process, and we're still collecting information from all the cities," Tharp said. "We still anticipate making an announcement in March." The Observer said a high-ranking NASCAR official and two Nextel Cup team owners, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, said NASCAR officials have indicated to them that Charlotte's selection is nearly certain. Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., are the three finalists for the hall. Atlanta Journal-Constitution
02/27/06 As the race for NASCAR's Hall of Fame heads into the home stretch, Charlotte is the leading candidate to land the $100 million-plus shrine to stock car racing, several sources told the Observer on Sunday. Two high-ranking NASCAR officials and two Nextel Cup team owners, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Charlotte's selection was nearly certain.
Final details must be worked out before any announcement, the sources said.
Charlotte has been competing with four other cities since last year to host the project, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. In January, NASCAR eliminated Kansas City and Richmond, Va. as candidates, leaving Charlotte, Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla.
A NASCAR spokesman maintained Sunday the selection process was not complete.
"The process is still evolving. We continue to receive additional information regarding each of the three cities' proposals and the decision-making process is still active," said NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. ThatsRacin.com