Top 10 Can’t-Miss Activities for Fans to Experience at Charlotte

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Top 10 Can’t-Miss Activities for Fans to Experience
During the 10 Greatest Days in Racing

From driver introductions at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race to the patriotic military salute before the Coca-Cola 600, here's a Top 10 list for fans looking for the full Charlotte Motor Speedway experience. Photo - CMS/HHP

From driver introductions at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race to the patriotic military salute before the Coca-Cola 600, here’s a Top 10 list for fans looking for the full Charlotte Motor Speedway experience. Photo – CMS/HHP

Every year, Charlotte Motor Speedway packs as much entertainment as possible into the 10 Greatest Days in Racing to give fans an experience that they’ll never forget. From the excitement on the track to pre-race concerts, the expansive Play Zone and a moving salute to our nation’s military, fans that come to Charlotte will be sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.

While you’re in town, be sure to check out these can’t-miss opportunities that you can only find at Charlotte Motor Speedway! Continue reading

Fans Bring Millions in Economic Impact during 10 Greatest Days in Racing

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Hundreds of Thousands of Fans Bring Millions
in Economic Impact During 10 Greatest Days in Racing

Thousands of fans will make their way to Charlotte Motor Speedway and millions more will tune in during the 10 Greatest Days in Racing, highlighted by the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.  Photo - CMS/HHP

Thousands of fans will make their way to Charlotte Motor Speedway and millions more will tune in during the 10 Greatest Days in Racing, highlighted by the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.
Photo – CMS/HHP

It’s difficult to overstate just how big the 10 Greatest Days in Racing are at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with fans from around the globe tuning in to watch NASCAR’s best battle for up to $2 million at the Sprint All-Star Race and endure the season’s toughest test of man and machine at the Coca-Cola 600.

“In the next two weeks, hundreds of thousands of fans will attend race events at the speedway, enjoy Food Lion Speed Street and visit area race shops and the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The motorsports month of May brings a worldwide spotlight to Charlotte and a high-octane boost to tourism that may be unmatched anywhere in the country.” Continue reading

NASCAR Stars Headline NASCAR Hall of Fame Pit Party at Coca-Cola 600

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Keselowski, Kenseth, Kahne and Other NASCAR Stars Headline NASCAR Hall of Fame Pit Party at Coca-Cola 600

Brad Keselowski, defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will be among the drivers making appearances at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Pit Party.  Photo - CMS/HHP

Brad Keselowski, defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will be among the drivers making appearances at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Pit Party.
Photo – CMS/HHP

Defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski will join NASCAR stars Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne, legends Bobby and Donnie Allison and team owner Joe Gibbs for appearances at a one-of-a-kind infield Pit Party sponsored by the NASCAR Hall of Fame at the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Pit Party will be a fan-friendly event taking place on pit road from 12:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. before the only 600-mile race on the NASCAR circuit. The party will feature driver appearances, live music from national recording artist Benton Blount, concessions, racing displays and more. Access to the Pit Party is included with the purchase of a pit pass or a driver introduction pass. Continue reading

Inman Created the Role of the NASCAR Crew Chief, Set to Enter International Motorsports Hall of Fame

Editors Note: This is the fourth of a four-part series on the 2013 induction class of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, which will be celebrated during a ceremony on Thursday, May 2, in Talladega, AL. The inductees include Rick Hendrick, Dale Inman, Rusty Wallace and Don Schumacher. For ticket information on how fans can attend the event, call 256-761-4725. The 2013 IMHOF Induction ceremony kicks off Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

Dale Inman, 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day at NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 14, 2011  Photo - Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Dale Inman, 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day at NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 14, 2011
Photo – Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Dale Inman was a soft-spoken, hard working, natural-born creative leader who basically wrote the book on how to be a crew chief in NASCAR. Prior to his arrival in the sport in 1958, there wasn’t a blue print on how to get the most out of a race car, now how to organize – or get the most out of – a team.

“It was definitely a learning curve because it was all new to us,” said Inman, who will join his cousin Richard Petty and Uncle Lee Petty as a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday, May 2, at the Speed Dome just outside of Talladega Superspeedway. “There wasn’t any glamour to it, that is for sure, so you just did what you had to do. If you had to work all night and drive the truck with the race car to a track the next day, you did it. I can tell you it wasn’t always easy, but we learned something new each day.” Continue reading

NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Fifth Class of Nominees Announced

NASCAR Hall of Fame logoFamed Engine Builder Petty, Short Track Star Phillips Among 25 Eligible

Larger than life figures who built NASCAR lap by lap and bolt by bolt from the post-World War II era into the 21st century comprise the 25 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014.

NASCAR today announced those 25 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s fifth induction class, and included among the diverse group are five newcomers whose achievements are cornerstones of the sport’s origins and continue to fuel its growth in contemporary times.

Of the 25 nominees, 20 return from last year’s group. Five are first-timers with varying backgrounds in the sport: second generation NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion Dale Jarrett; Maurice Petty, for more than three decades the chief engine builder for Petty Enterprises; five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion Larry Phillips; race track builder and owner Bruton Smith; and 1960 NASCAR premier series champion Rex White.

From that list, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote onNASCAR.COM. Voting Day for the 2014 class will be May 22. Fans can attend the announcement at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C.

This round of nominees was selected by a 21-person Nominating Committee consisting of representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and track owners from both major facilities and historic short tracks. The committee’s votes were tabulated by accounting firm Ernst & Young.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame’s 2014 inductees will be determined by a 54-member Voting Panel, which includes the entire Nominating Committee, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners and crew chiefs) and recognized industry leaders. In addition, the fan vote will result in the Voting Panel’s final ballot. Fan voting on NASCAR.COM opens today, April 10 and closes May 21 at noon.  Continue reading