All-Star race to be at Lowe’s again

NASCAR's Nextel All-Star Challenge race is likely to return to Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte in 2006, but NASCAR isn't ready to say the race will remain there in the future, The Charlotte Observer reports. The paper says a vice president from Nextel, which sponsors NASCAR's Cup series as well as the all-star race, said that the company was happy with the Charlotte area's efforts for the race and indicated the event would likely come back in 2006. But NASCAR Vice President Jim Hunter said nothing has been decided about the long term. "Every year, we revisit the idea of moving the all-star race," he said. The story says the all-star event creates an estimated $94 million impact on the region's economy in travel and tourism dollars. NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter