2014 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class Announced: NASCAR announced the inductees who will comprise the 2014 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person group – the fifth in NASCAR Hall of Fame history – consists of Tim Flock, Jack Ingram, Dale Jarrett, Maurice Petty and Fireball Roberts. Next year's Induction Day is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, broadcast on Fox Sports 1 from Charlotte, N.C. The 54-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2014. NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France made the announcement this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame's "Great Hall." Next year's class was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders and a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com – which counted for the 55th and final vote. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes. Voting for next year's class was as follows: Tim Flock (76%), Maurice Petty (67%), Dale Jarrett (56%), Jack Ingram (53%) and Fireball Roberts (51%). The next top vote getters were Jerry Cook, Joe Weatherly and Wendell Scott. Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick, Dale Jarrett, Benny Parsons and Fireball Roberts. The five inductees came from a group of 25 nominees that included: Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, H. Clay Earles, Tim Flock, Ray Fox, Anne Bledsoe France, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Bobby Isaac, Dale Jarrett, Fred Lorenzen, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Maurice Petty, Larry Phillips, Les Richter, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Wendell Scott, Ralph Seagraves, O. Bruton Smith, Curtis Turner, Joe Weatherly and Rex White.
Class of 2014 Inductees:
Tim Flock - A two-time NASCAR premier series champion, Flock was one of the sport's first dominant drivers. In 187 starts, Flock had 39 victories, a total that still ranks 18th on the all-time wins list. Flock won his first series title in 1952 while driving Ted Chester's Hudson Hornet, and his second in 1955 driving Carl Kiekhaefer's Chrysler. He dominated that season, posting 18 wins, 32 top fives and 18 poles in 39 races. Flock's 18 wins stood as a single-season victory record until Richard Petty surpassed it with 27 wins in 1967.
Jack Ingram - The NASCAR Nationwide Series has had a variety of incarnations through the years but when considered collectively, an argument can be made that Jack Ingram is the series' all-time greatest driver. Before the formation of the series, Ingram won three consecutive championships, from 1972-74, in its precursor – the Late Model Sportsman Division. When the NASCAR Busch Series was formed, he won the inaugural title in 1982 and again in '85. In his 10 years of competition in what was called the NASCAR Busch Series, Ingram had 31 wins, a record that stood until Mark Martin broke it in 1997. All but two of Ingram's 31 wins came on short tracks.
Dale Jarrett - Dale Jarrett personified big-stage performances. A three-time Daytona 500 winner and two-time winner of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jarrett excelled under NASCAR's brightest spotlights. His 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victories – 21st all-time – also include the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Jarrett won the 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, and recorded six additional top-five championship finishes. With father Ned, the Jarretts are only the second father-son combination with NASCAR premier series championships after NASCAR Hall of Famers Lee and Richard Petty. Ned Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in May 2011. Ned and Dale Jarrett become the third father-son duo selected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, following Bill France Sr. and Bill France Jr., and Lee and Richard Petty.
Maurice Petty - The chief engine builder at Petty Enterprises, Maurice Petty becomes the fourth member of the dynasty to be chosen for membership in the NASCAR Hall of Fame – following his older brother Richard, father Lee and his cousin Dale Inman. The man simply called "Chief" supplied the horsepower that propelled Richard Petty to a majority of his record 200 NASCAR victories, plus his seven NASCAR premier series championships and seven Daytona 500 victories. Lee Petty, Buddy Baker, Jim Paschal and Pete Hamilton were also among those who won with his engines. Petty had a brief driving career – 26 premier series races with seven top-five and 16 top-10 finishes between 1960 and 1964 – but was satisfied to work behind the scenes as one of the top engine builders ever seen in the sport.
Fireball Roberts - Glenn Roberts, who got his legendary nickname from his days as a hard-throwing pitcher in high school, is perhaps the greatest driver never to win a NASCAR title. He was arguably stock car racing's first superstar, an immensely popular prototype for some of today's competitors who are stars on and off the track. During his career he often came up big in the biggest events, winning the Daytona 500 in 1962 and the Southern 500 in 1958 and '63. Overall, he won seven races at Daytona International Speedway, starting with the Firecracker 250 in the summer of 1959 – the year the speedway opened.(NASCAR)(5-22-2013)

Newest class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame to be announced Wed: The newest class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame is set to be announced live this Wednesday during a special edition of NASCAR Race Hub on FOX Sports’ SPEED starting at 6:00pm/et. Steve Byrnes and Danielle Trotta host the event in-studio, while Mike Joy, Kyle Petty and Rick Allen all report from the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown Charlotte to provide news, analysis and interviews. A 34-person panel, among those are the aforementioned Joy, Petty and Allen, with 55 total votes available (including a fan vote) will select the five members comprising the Class of 2014. They choose among a group of 25 nominees, including those on the ballot for the first time in Maurice Petty, Dale Jarrett, Larry Phillips, Rex White and Bruton Smith.(SPEED)(5-22-2013)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014 to be announced today: The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be announced Wednesday, May 22 at 6:00pm/et following a vote by the 54-member Voting Panel. Five inductees will be selected from the 25 nominees at the Great Hall, NASCAR Hall of Fame.
NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Nominees
Red Byron, first NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion, in 1949
Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion
H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others
Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr. Affectionately known as "Annie B.," she is the first woman to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Rick Hendrick, 13-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series
Jack Ingram, two-time NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion and three-time Late Model Sportsman champion
Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Dale Jarrett, 1999 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600
Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner
Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Maurice Petty, chief engine builder for Petty Enterprises
Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion
Les Richter, former NASCAR executive; former president of Riverside International Raceway
Fireball Roberts, 33 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series wins, including the 1962 Daytona 500
T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company senior VP
Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
O. Bruton Smith, builder of Charlotte Motor Speedway and architect of Speedway Motorsports Inc.
Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Rex White, 1960 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
NASCAR Hall of Fame: Executive Director Winston Kelley; Historian Buz McKim.
NASCAR Officials: Chairman/CEO Brian France; Vice Chairman Jim France; President Mike Helton; Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O'Donnell; Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton; Competition Administrator Jerry Cook; former Senior Vice President Paul Brooks; former Vice President Ken Clapp.
Track Owners/Operators: International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa Kennedy; Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell; Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage; Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark; former Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George; Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn; Pocono Raceway board of director member Looie McNally; Bowman Gray Stadium operator Dale Pinilis; Kingsport Speedway operator Robert Pressley; Riverhead Raceway operators Jim and Barbara Cromarty (1 vote); Rockford Speedway operator Jody Deery.
VOTING PANEL
The Voting Panel consists of the above 21-member Nominating Committee and the following 34 representatives.
American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association: Dusty Brandel, AARWBA President.
Eastern Motorsports Press Association: Ron Hedger, EMPA President.
National Motorsports Press Association: Kenny Bruce, NMPA President.
Print & Online Media: Jenna Fryer, Associated Press; Dustin Long, MotorRacingNetwork.com; Al Pearce, Autoweek; Jim Pedley, RacinToday.com; Bob Pockrass, Sporting News; Nate Ryan, USA Today.
Broadcasters: Mike Joy, FOX; Jerry Punch, ESPN; Kyle Petty, TNT; Barney Hall, MRN; Doug Rice, PRN; Rick Allen, SPEED; Dave Moody, SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio.
Manufacturers: Chevrolet – Jim Campbell, former General Manager; Ford – Edsel B. Ford II, Board of Directors; Toyota – Lee White, President/General Manager, Toyota Racing Development USA.
Retired Drivers: Harry Gant; Ned Jarrett; Richard Petty; Ricky Rudd.
Retired Car Owners: Junior Johnson; Bud Moore; Robert Yates.
Retired Crew Chiefs: Buddy Parrott; Waddell Wilson; Eddie Wood.
Industry leaders: Retired Associated Press writer Mike Harris; former motorsports journalist Tom Higgins; former broadcaster Ken Squier; former Charlotte Motor Speedway President Humpy Wheeler.
Fan Vote.(NASCAR)(5-22-2013)

NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Newest Exhibit, “Lights. Camera. NASCAR.”: The NASCAR Hall of Fame introduces its newest and largest exhibit in its three-year history, “Lights. Camera. NASCAR.” opens to the public May 17. A never before seen look at NASCAR, the exhibit chronicles how the industry has influenced films, how NASCAR has promoted movies through sponsorship and how film has portrayed the sport’s legends over the years. With more than 40 artifacts on display, box office favorites represented include “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” Disney’s “Cars,” “Days of Thunder,” “Greased Lightning,” “Herbie Fully Loaded” and much more.
The new exhibit, located in the Great Hall within the NASCAR Hall of Fame, is just in time for the excitement accompanying the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 18 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 26 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Lights. Camera. NASCAR.” opens Friday, May 17 and runs through mid-October. Extended hours for the NASCAR Hall of Fame will take place through May 27 to accommodate fans visiting for the May races and attending the Food Lion Speed Street 600 Festival. More info at nascarhall.com.
“This exhibit has an incredible universal appeal because movies have an extraordinary ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds," said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “When you pair that fascination with the allure of NASCAR, it becomes an engaging representation of the sport’s reach that embraces five decades of entertainment. It includes movies that have captured the sport’s intensity, parodied its celebrities and benefitted from the type of national exposure that only NASCAR can provide.”
Among the 40+ artifacts that encompass items such as driver uniforms, hoods, scripts, stills and original cars, the exhibit also boasts the largest number of cars featured in the Great Hall to date. The six on display had starring roles in movies and film promotion:
Cole Trickle’s City Chevrolet car from “Days of Thunder” (1990): Several real life NASCAR figures were the inspiration for the characters of “Days of Thunder” including Cole Trickle played by Tom Cruise, Harry Hogge played by Robert Duvall and Tim Daland played by Randy Quaid. The real life inspiration for each was driver Tim Richmond, crew chief Harry Hyde and team owner Rick Hendrick.
Ricky Bobby’s Wonder Bread car from “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006): “If you ain’t first, you’re last,” was the mantra for Will Ferrell’s character Ricky Bobby, who drove this car during filming at Rockingham Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Herbie Volkswagen Beetle from “Herbie Fully Loaded” (2005): This car, complete with NASCAR racing components such as roll bars, a spoiler and racing slicks, reached speeds of more than 130 mph during filming at Auto Club Speedway in California.
Doc Hudson car from Disney’s “Cars” (2006): The “Fabulous Hudson Hornet”-inspired car was built by Gunnar Racing, a private company in Palm Beach, Fla., as a tribute to Paul Newman and was driven at the “Cars” movie premiere at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2006.
1962 Chevrolet built by Wendell Scott for “Greased Lightning” (1977): Based on the legacy of Wendell Scott, Warner Bros. commissioned Scott to build the car, which would be his last creation. To date, Scott is the only African American to win a premier series race and the first to be nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Jeff Gordon’s Jurassic Park car “T-Rex” promoting “Jurassic Park: The Ride” (1997): Built by Hendrick engineer Rex Stump and used to promote Universal Studios new “Jurassic Park”-themed ride, the car picked up the nickname “T-Rex.” Jeff Gordon dominated the 1997 All-Star Race to make it one of the most legendary cars in NASCAR history.
Kicking off the exhibit for families, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will host a kid-friendly “Lights. Camera. NASCAR.” Premiere Party on Saturday, June 1. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult and are welcome to partake in fun-filled programming and activities on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza as well as inside the venue including a bounce house, caricature artists, coloring stations and more to celebrate the premiere of the newest and largest exhibit to date.
Tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling (877) 231-2010 or at nascarhall.com. General admission is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12 and free for children younger than 5. Annual Memberships are available starting at $25 for children and $50 for adults.(NASCAR Hall of Fame)(5-17-2013)

2014 NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominees Announced: 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 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 on NASCAR.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. 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. Following are the 25 nominees, listed alphabetically:
Red Byron, first NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion, in 1949
Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion
H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others
Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr. Affectionately known as "Annie B.," she is the first woman to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Rick Hendrick, 13-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Jack Ingram, two-time NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion and three-time Late Model Sportsman champion
Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Dale Jarrett, 1999 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion and three-time Daytona 500 winner
Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600
Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Maurice Petty, chief engine builder for Petty Enterprises
Larry Phillips, only five-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion
Les Richter, former NASCAR executive; former president of Riverside International Raceway
Fireball Roberts, 33 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series wins, including the 1962 Daytona 500
T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company senior VP
Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
O. Bruton Smith, builder of Charlotte Motor Speedway and architect of Speedway Motorsports Inc.
Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Rex White, 1960 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
(NASCAR)(4-10-2013)

SPEED's Race Hub and SiriusXM to announce NASCAR Hall of Fame Nominees: NASCAR Race Hub, the popular Monday through Thursday news, feature, interview and information show on FOX Sports' SPEED, is teaming with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Wednesday to announce the 25 nominees with 2014 eligibility for election into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The show starts at 6:00pm/et, with a portion of this broadcast being simulcast by both NASCAR Race Hub and SiriusXM Speedway, which is originating its live daily show from the FOX Sports' SPEED studios in Charlotte starting at 3:00pm/et. SPEED co-hosts Steve Byrnes, Danielle Trotta, along with NASCAR analysts Kyle Petty and Larry McReynolds will be joined by SiriusXM Speedway's Dave 'The Godfather' Moody and Angie Skinner in announcing this year's 25 nominees. A 21-member panel selects up to 25 people to be eligible for the NASCAR Hall of Fame nominating pool. These notables go up for a vote by an induction process that entails 55 total ballots.(SPEED)(4-10-2013)

Baker, Owens, Thomas, Wallace and Wood Officially Enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame: Five legends of stock car auto racing were enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., Friday night [Feb 8, 2013] ght during the Induction Ceremony held in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention. Four were NASCAR pioneers, building the sport during its formative years; the other ushered it into modern times and its exploding popularity. Combined, they make the fourth class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It's a group with talents that run the gamut necessary for NASCAR excellence: Unparalleled driving skills; team unifying and talent evaluating ownership prowess; a brilliant mechanical mind.
Here are the five new members, a group that pushes the total number of NASCAR Hall of Famers to 20.
Buck Baker – a two-time NASCAR premier series champion in 1956-57, the first to ever win back-to-back titles in NASCAR's top level. Cotton Owens – a master of two crafts, that of driver and owner. Herb Thomas – the first driver to win multiple championships in NASCAR's premier series. Rusty Wallace – the 1989 NASCAR premier series champion and a 55-time race winner. Leonard Wood – legendary engine builder, mechanic and crew chief for the Wood Brothers.
Baker, a 46-time winner, joined the ranks of NASCAR royalty after becoming the first driver to capture consecutive championships in NASCAR's premier series. He earned his first championship driving cars for legendary owner Carl Kiekhaefer; he won his second driving his own cars. Baker passed his immense driving talent to his son Buddy, who himself won 19 times in the premier series. Buddy Baker inducted his father during tonight's ceremony.
"Buck always made an impression on people, good or bad," said widow Susan Baker, who accepted the induction on Baker's behalf. Buck Baker passed away in 2002. "If you ever met him, you never forgot him. It was never boring being married to Buck, either. He could make me laugh like no one else could, and he had that same effect on others."
Cotton Owens joins Junior Johnson as NASCAR Hall of Famers who excelled as both driver and owner. The Union, S.C., native won nine times as a driver in NASCAR's premier series, and won more than 100 more races in NASCAR's Modified division. The latter feat earned him the moniker of "King of the Modifieds." He wore the crown in the NASCAR premier series as an owner in 1966, winning the championship with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson.
"I know this is a biased opinion, but in our family's book, there was no better racer than Cotton Owens," said Kyle Davis, Owens' grandson, who accepted the induction on his grandfather's behalf. Owens passes away last year. "My grandfather was one of the most humble, most loyal and hardest working men I've ever met. He took great pride in the fact that he could build a race car from the ground up … engine, chassis, transmission, you name it … drive it to the race track and then drive it to Victory Lane. He was a wizard at both turning wrenches and behind the wheel."
Herb Thomas was one of NASCAR's first superstars thanks to his premier series championships in 1951 and 1953. Becoming the first driver to win multiple championships, Thomas laid the groundwork for a record-setting career. His 48 victories in 228 starts translates to a winning percentage of 21.05 percent, a NASCAR premier series record. Thomas' son Joel accepted the induction on his behalf. "I truly believe this is the greatest honor a driver could receive," Joel Thomas said. Herb Thomas passed away in 2000. "My father would have been very honored and humbled in receiving this recognition. ... Thank you all for helping him reach his dreams. Thank you to all of his fans for cheering him on and keeping his memories alive."
Ninth on the all-time premier series wins list, Rusty Wallace enjoyed one of the most successful careers in modern-day NASCAR. Wallace won the 1989 premier series championship a season after finishing second in the final points standings. For 16 consecutive seasons, from 1986-2001, Wallace scored at least one win per season. That's tied for the third-longest streak in history. "I look out in this crowd and I see some of the biggest stars in history," said an emotional Wallace. "I am humbled that I'm standing up here, and I just can't thank everybody enough for selecting me to be in the NASCAR Hall of Fame."
Leonard Wood again joins his brother Glen, this time in the NASCAR Hall of Fame (Glen was inducted last year). Leonard served as chief mechanic for the Wood Brothers his entire career, winning a total of 94 races with some of biggest names in NASCAR history including brother Glen, Marvin Panch, David Pearson and Cale Yarborough. "It's certainly a high honor to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, especially right behind my brother, Glen, and two of our former drivers, David [Pearson] and Cale [Yarborough]," Wood said. "Glen and I always did things together, we learned together and we won together."
Each of the five inductees had an inductor who officially welcomed them into the hall. The inductors for the five inductees: Herb Thomas was inducted by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett; Cotton Owens was inducted by his former driver NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson; Leonard Wood was inducted by his nephew and Wood Brothers co-owner Eddie Wood; Buck Baker was inducted by his son Buddy Baker; Rusty Wallace was inducted by his son Greg Wallace.
Active drivers introduced each inductee video during tonight's program. The list of drivers who participated: Carl Edwards for Herb Thomas; Mark Martin for Cotton Owens; Jeff Gordon for Buck Baker; Brad Keselowski for Rusty Wallace; and Trevor Bayne for Leonard Wood.
Prior to tonight's Induction Ceremony was the presentation of the inaugural Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, awarded to namesakes Ken Squier and Barney Hall.
Squier, co-founder of Motor Racing Network, is perhaps best-known for his work during the 1979 Daytona 500, a milestone moment for the entire sport, as Squier's voice on CBS welcomed millions to the first live flag-to-flag coverage of "The Great American Race" – a moniker he coined. Squier proceeded to call races for CBS and TBS until 1997 before shifting to the studio as host for NASCAR broadcasts until 2000. Squier continues to enlighten NASCAR fans to this day, mostly through special appearances on SPEED.
Hall began his career in the 1950s working at local radio stations in North Carolina and served as Bristol Motor Speedway's first public address announcer when the track opened. He called his first Daytona 500 in 1960, and has missed only three broadcasts in the 54-year history of The Great American Race. He joined MRN as an original announcer at the network's inception in 1970, first as a turn announcer and then moving to the booth in the late 1970s where he has been a fixture ever since at race tracks from coast to coast.(NASCAR)(2-9-2013)

“UnDeck the Hall” Event at NASCAR Hall of Fame: After St. Nick has come and gone on Dec. 26, be sure to stop by to help “UnDeck the Hall.” Choosing from a display of festive Christmas trees in the NASCAR Hall of Fame Theater Lobby, each guest can take home one NASCAR-themed item until all are gone. The HALLiday trees are decorated with NASCAR-themed items including autographed souvenirs, memorabilia, ornaments, die cast cars, secret surprises and more. Among the hundreds of items available, guests can walk away with some big ticket presents including tickets to the April races in Martinsville, posters signed by all 12 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers, or hats signed by Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and more. The event runs on Wednesday, Dec. 26 from 10 am. – 6 pm at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Theater Lobby in Charlotte, NC. More info at , 400 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Charlotte, NC. More info at nascarhall.com.(12-25-2012)

NASCAR Plaza office building sold: Parkway Properties has agreed to buy the 20-story NASCAR Plaza office building for approximately $100 million. The Charlotte Business Journal reported earlier this month that the Orlando, Fla.-based real estate investment trust had made an unsolicited offer to buy the 390,000-square-foot uptown building as well as the 525 North Tryon building. Parkway acquired the Hearst Tower from Bank of America earlier this year for $250 million. The NASCAR Plaza building, owned by Trinity Capital Advisors and Rubenstein Partners, is 88 percent leased, with an average in-place rent of $25.61 per square foot. NASCAR has a lease for 139,000 square feet that runs through May 2021, and Chiquita Brands International Inc. signed a lease for about 138,000 square feet this year after deciding to relocate its headquarters from Cincinnati. Parkway says NASCAR Plaza is expected to generate a 2013 estimated cash net operating income yield of approximately 7 percent. The company expects to close on the purchase by the end of the year.(Charlotte Business Journal)(11-1-2012)

NASCAR Acceleration Weekend returns in February: NASCAR has announced the return of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, a fan-friendly season-launching event that celebrates the past, present and future of the sport. Next year's NASCAR Acceleration Weekend will again take place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center from February 8-10, 2013.
The weekend's activities begin Friday, February 8, with the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2013 induction into the Hall of Honor. The five inductees - Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood - will be honored during a dinner and ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center. At the same event, Ken Squier and Barney Hall will be presented with the inaugural Squier-Hall Award for Media Excellence.
The following day, Saturday, February 9, the NASCAR Preview 2013 begins at 7 a.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center. Similar to last year's event, the all-day fan festival will feature autograph and on-stage Q&A sessions by top drivers from all three national series. The event will also include a look at the new 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars and paint schemes, interactive displays, giveaways and activities for fans of all ages.
On Sunday, February 10, the newly inducted NASCAR Hall of Famers and/or their representatives will be on hand at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the unveiling of the granite markers on the Ceremonial Plaza.
Tickets for all events during the 2013 NASCAR Acceleration Weekend go on sale Oct. 9, 2012. They are available online at www.nascaracceleration.com or the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office.(NASCAR)(10-4-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Awarded 2012 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence: TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel website with more than 60 million user-generated reviews, has awarded the NASCAR Hall of Fame a Certificate of Excellence in 2012. Targeted at showcasing hospitality excellence, the accolade is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor and extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. The NASCAR Hall of Fame currently has a 4.5 stars rating on a five-star scale and ranks seventh in Charlotte attractions on TripAdvisor.com.(NHOF)(6-19-2012)

The 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class: was named Wednesday, May 24, 2012:
Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion, 1951, ’53.
Leonard Wood, former crew chief for Wood Brothers, revolutionized pit stops.
Rusty Wallace, 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion.
Cotton Owens, driver-owner, won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson.
Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive Sprint Cup series titles (1956-57).
NASCAR announced today the 2013 class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person class, which will be officially inducted in a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., consists of Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood.
Members of the 54-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2013. The announcement was made by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s “Great Hall.”
Next year’s class was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders and a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.
Voting for this year’s class was as evenly distributed as any previous NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class.
Herb Thomas and Leonard Wood each garnered 57% of the vote, followed by Rusty Wallace (52%), Cotton Owens (50%) and Buck Baker (39%).
For the first time in Voting Day history, there was a tie for the fifth and final induction spot. Voting Panel members chose Baker over Fireball Roberts after a re-vote between the two nominees. The next top vote getters were Roberts, Jerry Cook and Tim Flock.
Results for the NASCAR.COM Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Benny Parsons, Fireball Roberts, Wendell Scott, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood.
Class of 2013 Inductees:
Buck Baker
Elzie Wylie “Buck” Baker established himself as one of NASCAR’s early greats, becoming the first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier series championships. His repeat performance in 1956-57 was the highlight of an incredible four-year span; in 1955 and ’58 Baker finished as the series championship runner-up. His career victory total of 46 ranks tied for 14th all-time.
Cotton Owens
Everett “Cotton” Owens enjoyed success as both a driver and owner in NASCAR. Behind the wheel, he won nine times in NASCAR’s premier series competition, including the 1957 Daytona Beach road course. He nearly won the 1959 championship, finishing second to NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty. But as an owner, Owens stood out as one of the greats of NASCAR’s early eras. His eye for talent was unmatched. He hired NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson in 1962, the same season in which he began a future championship relationship with another NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson. Owens won 38 races as an owner.
Herb Thomas
Herb Thomas was truly one of NASCAR’s first superstars. He was the first to win two NASCAR premier series championships (1951, ’53). He finished second in the points standings in 1952 and 1954 giving the North Carolina veteran top-two championship finishes in four consecutive seasons. He finished outside the top two in the championship only once (fifth in 1955) between 1951 and 1956. Thomas won both his championships driving self-owned cars.
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace Jr., the 1989 NASCAR premier series champion, won his first of 55 races in 1986, capturing the checkered flag at Bristol Motor Speedway. His 55 victories rank ninth all time. He was especially adept on the circuit’s short tracks winning 25 times at Bristol, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro and Richmond. His influence on the sport continued after his retirement, as an analyst on ESPN.
Leonard Wood
The Wood Brothers team is renowned as the innovator of the modern pit stop. Leonard Wood, brother of Glen and Delano Wood, was front and center in its development as chief mechanic (crew chief) for the Stuart, Va.-based team. As crew chief, Wood amassed 96 wins and 117 poles in 990 races.(NASCAR)(5-23-2012)

NASCAR Adds Media Excellence Award To Annual Hall Of Fame Honors: Following the announcement of the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame class tonight, NASCAR announced the creation of a new award to honor the contributions of media to the success of the sport. This award, which will become part of the annual NASCAR Hall of Fame ceremonies beginning in February 2013, will bear the names of the first two award winners, legendary broadcasters Ken Squier and Barney Hall, and be called the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
A special exhibit will be created as part of the existing media section within the NASCAR Hall of Fame to recognize the careers of Squier and Hall, as well as honorees in the years to come.
“Media have played an important role in the growth and popularity of NASCAR over the years by telling the stories of legendary drivers, championship moments and week-to-week action to millions of fans across the world,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “The voices of Ken Squier and Barney Hall are an indelible part of our sport’s history and we couldn’t be more pleased to recognize their long and outstanding careers.”
Squier, one of NASCAR’s original broadcasters, carved a massive footprint during NASCAR’s formative broadcast years. Beginning with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) in 1970, Squier’s golden voice took NASCAR to a national audience thirsting for live coverage. He is perhaps best-known for his work during the 1979 Daytona 500, a milestone moment for the entire sport, as Squier’s voice on CBS welcomed millions to the first live flag-to-flag coverage of “The Great American Race” – a moniker he coined. Following that signature moment, including his call of the post-race fight between Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison, Squier proceeded to call races for CBS and TBS until 1997 before shifting to the studio as host for NASCAR broadcasts until 2000. Squier continues to enlighten NASCAR fans to this day, mostly through special appearances on SPEED. Hall began his career in the 1950s working at local radio stations in North Carolina and served as Bristol Motor Speedway’s first public address announcer when the track opened. He called his first Daytona 500 in 1960, and has missed only three broadcasts in the 54-year history of The Great American Race. He joined MRN as an original announcer at the network’s inception in 1970, first as a turn announcer and then moving to the booth in the late 70s where he has been a fixture ever since at race tracks from coast to coast. The Elkin, North Carolina, native who is widely known for his calm voice and unmatched storytelling, was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame in 2007. Hall has called a number of the sport’s milestone moments, including the landmark 1979 Daytona 500, Richard Petty’s 200th-career victory in 1984 and Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 victory in the Daytona 500. Still active, Hall led the MRN broadcast of last week’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Each year, five nominees will be selected by a panel made up of NASCAR executives, NASCAR Hall of Fame staff, and the president of the NMPA, among others. From there, a voting panel will select an annual winner of the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, beginning with the third honoree (Squier and Hall are the first two) in 2013. It is anticipated the annual award winner will be announced in June, approximately one month after the Hall of Fame inductees are announced. Squier-Hall Award winners will remain eligible for NASCAR Hall of Fame induction. Likewise, current and future inductees who made significant contributions as a member of the media will be eligible to win the Squier-Hall Award. The 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will be held Feb. 8, 2013.(NASCAR)(5-23-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Vote Day TODAY: SPEED delivers a one-hour NASCAR Hall of Fame Vote Day preview at 5:00pm/et on Wednesday. Mike Joy and Rick Allen, both voting members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, host the show, with Danielle Trotta reporting. The 2013 class of inductees will be announced at 6:00pm/et on SPEED's NASCAR Race Hub with Steve Byrnes and Kyle Petty
The 25 nominees:
Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive Sprint Cup series titles (1956-57).
Red Byron, first Sprint Cup series champion, in 1949.
Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion.
H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway.
Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion.
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others.
Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr.
Rick Hendrick, 13-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series.
Jack Ingram, two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and three-time Late Model Sportsman champion.
Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion.
Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600.
Cotton Owens, driver-owner, won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson.
Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner.
Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion and popular television commentator.
Les Richter, former NASCAR executive; former president of Riverside International Raceway.
Fireball Roberts, 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup series wins, including the 1962 Daytona 500.
T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company executive.
Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR Sprint Cup series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion, 1951, ’53.
Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing."
Rusty Wallace, 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion.
Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup series champion.
Leonard Wood, former crew chief for Wood Brothers, revolutionized pit stops.(SPEED)(5-23-2012)

Things at NASCAR Hall of Fame looking better: As the NASCAR Hall of Fame turned two this month, the racing museum had some rare good news: It has recently seen its attendance stabilize compared with the same months a year earlier. The hall is still losing money and is far short of original attendance projections. But the better turnstile numbers have hall officials believing they are on the right track. “There is a series of different things that we have learned have worked,” said executive director Winston Kelley, noting that reduced-price tickets for locals in February and March helped boost attendance. Kelley and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority projected 800,000 people would attend but only 272,000 came, including 12,000 for a free week in January 2011. The hall lost $1.4 million. The hall’s second year began poorly. After projecting higher attendance, attendance was down more than 30% in the summer of 2011 compared with the same months of the previous year. But in late 2011, the NASCAR hall’s attendance began to stabilize. For instance, the hall attracted 16,270 people in March compared with 15,882 a year earlier. February attendance this year was 12,989 compared with 13,091 in 2011. The hall is entering one of its most crucial periods – the stretch between the All-Star Race May 19 and the Coca Cola 600 on May 27. The hall is running shuttles between Charlotte Motor Speedway and the museum for those who have an admission ticket to the hall. Through March, nine months into the fiscal year, the hall had lost $1.31 million. But that loss has been mitigated by a subsidy from the city of Charlotte, which helps pay for the maintenance of the hall building, which it owns. That subsidy – which comes from a special hotel/motel tax devoted to the hall – has reduced the attraction’s official deficit for the year to $684,000. That money must be covered by the CRVA, a taxpayer-supported group that operates the NASCAR hall.(Charlotte Observer)(5-19-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibit focuses on grassroots: The NASCAR Hall of Fame kicks off a new exhibition in the Great Hall, "Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Heroes are Born" on Monday. The exhibition is included in general admission. "Grassroots Racing: Where NASCAR Stars are Born" tells the story of hometown racetracks, affectionately called "grassroots," where many NASCAR drivers began their careers racing every Friday and Saturday night. "It's a vital part of our mission to preserve, uphold and be a resource for the sport and its history," said Winston Kelley, executive director of the facility. "This is the eighth new Great Hall exhibition since opening in May 2010 and it is with these exhibitions the Hall continues to present new chapters in the history book" of NASCAR. The exhibit explores four race tracks historically known and recognized to be the beginnings of NASCAR racing - Greenville Pickens Speedway in Greenville, S.C., Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C. and South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Va. Highlighting the exhibition are historic race cars - David Pearson's Ford Modified (1937), Richard Childress' Plymouth Modified (1937), Dale Jarrett's Busch Series Pontiac LeMans (1986) and Denny Hamlin's Late Model Chevrolet (2003). Tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling 877-231-2010 or at NASCARHall.com.(NASCAR Hall of Fame)(5-10-2012)

Nominees announced for 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class: Determination and innovation, two qualities existing in abundance in the men and women who built NASCAR, characterize the 25 nominees for the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame class. NASCAR announced those 25 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame's fourth induction class, and included among the diverse group are five newcomers who make this list arguably the most intriguing in the hall's history. Of the 25 nominees, 20 return from last year's group. Five are first-timers, and all vary in expertise: NASCAR's first treasurer and secretary Anne Bledsoe France, engine builder and owner Ray Fox, trailblazing driver Wendell Scott, promoter and sponsor executive Ralph Seagraves and driver champion Rusty Wallace. Of those new five, two represent 'firsts' for the hall: Scott the first African-American nominee; France the first female nominee. From that list, five inductees will be elected by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, which includes a nationwide fan vote on NASCAR.COM. Voting Day for the 2013 class will be May 23, and once again, fans can attend the announcement live at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. 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 NHOF's 2013 inductees will be determined by the Voting Panel, which includes the entire Nominating Committee, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, 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 11, and closes May 16 at midnight.

Following are the 25 nominees, listed alphabetically:
Buck Baker, first driver to win consecutive NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series titles (1956-57)
Red Byron, first NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion, in 1949
Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Jerry Cook, six-time NASCAR Modified champion
H. Clay Earles, founder of Martinsville Speedway
Tim Flock, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Ray Fox, legendary engine builder and owner of cars driven by Buck Baker, Junior Johnson and others
Anne Bledsoe France, helped build the sport with husband Bill France Sr. Affectionately known as "Annie B.," she is the first woman to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Rick Hendrick, 13-time car owner champion in NASCAR's three national series
Jack Ingram, two-time NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series champion and three-time Late Model Sportsman champion
Bobby Isaac, 1970 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Fred Lorenzen, 26 wins and winner of the Daytona 500 and World 600
Cotton Owens, driver-owner, won 1966 owner championship with David Pearson
Raymond Parks, NASCAR's first champion car owner
Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Les Richter, former NASCAR executive; former president of Riverside International Raceway
Fireball Roberts, 33 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series wins, including the 1962 Daytona 500
T. Wayne Robertson, helped raise NASCAR popularity as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company senior VP
Wendell Scott, NASCAR trailblazer was the first African-American NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series race winner, and first to be nominated for induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Herb Thomas, first two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion, 1951, '53
Curtis Turner, early personality, called the "Babe Ruth of stock car racing"
Rusty Wallace, 1989 NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Joe Weatherly, two-time NASCAR premier (now Sprint Cup) series champion
Leonard Wood, part-owner and former crew chief for Wood Brothers, revolutionized pit stops

The 21-person Nominating Committee is:
NASCAR Hall of Fame: Executive Director Winston Kelley; Historian Buz McKim.
NASCAR Officials: Chairman/CEO Brian France; Vice Chairman Jim France; Senior Vice President Paul Brooks; President Mike Helton; Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton; Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Steve O'Donnell; Competition Administrator Jerry Cook; former Vice President Ken Clapp.
Track Owners/Operators: International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa Kennedy; Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell; Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage; Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark; former Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Tony George; Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn; Pocono Raceway board of director member Looie McNally; Bowman Gray Stadium operator Dale Pinilis; Riverhead Raceway operators Jim and Barbara Cromarty (1 vote); former Toyota Speedway at Irwindale operator Jim Williams; Rockford Speedway owner Jody Deery.(NASCAR)(4-11-2012)

NASCAR to announce nominees for next Hall of Fame class: NASCAR will unveil the 25 nominees for the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame class on Wednesday, April 11 at 6:00pm/et during SPEED's hour-long Race Hub show.(NASCAR)

Spring Break at the NASCAR HOF UPDATE: Visitors can break out with spring fever and family fun at the NASCAR Hall of Fame during the second annual Spring Break from the Ordinary, Saturday, March 24 – Monday, April 9. With new special events and activities, Spring Break From the Ordinary offers students and their parents “Grade A” entertainment with scavenger hunts, racing simulator competitions, pit crew challenges, crafts, video game competitions plus more than 50 hands-on exhibits at the 150,000 square-foot entertainment facility. In a class by itself, Spring Break From the Ordinary features daily physical challenges and games for students (K-12). Each day during Spring Break From the Ordinary guests have a chance to compete in a number of high-octane activities and contests for prizes including NASCAR memorabilia, K’NEX building sets, Spin Master toy cars, NASCAR Hall of Fame Memberships and more.(NHOF).(3-24-2012)
UPDATE: Due to popular demand, the second annual Spring Break from the Ordinary at the NASCAR Hall of Fame has been extended through Sunday, April 15 giving families another chance to enjoy the added activities at the popular entertainment attraction in Uptown Charlotte, N.C. Spring Break From the Ordinary, which began Saturday, March 24, offers students and their parents “Grade A” entertainment with scavenger hunts, racing simulator competitions, pit crew challenges, crafts, video game competitions plus more than 50 hands-on exhibits at the 150,000 square-foot entertainment facility. More info on the event and tickets at NASCARHall.com.(4-10-2012)

Chiquita inks deal for NASCAR Plaza space: Chiquita Brands International has signed a lease for more than 130,000 square feeet in the NASCAR Plaza building uptown, real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer announced Monday. The banana giant announced last year it was moving its corporate headquarters from downtown Cincinnati to uptown. Chiquita will occupy six floors in NASCAR Plaza by September.(Charlotte Observer)(3-27-2012)

CRVA exec to focus on NASCAR Hall: Charlotte's top tourism official said Monday he is working to fully integrate different parts of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, and said a top priority is to convince people attending conventions to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Tom Murray, who was hired as CRVA chief executive in December, gave a briefing to the Charlotte City Council about his reorganization of upper management. The biggest change is that former CEO Tim Newman is no longer with the organization. Newman, who was demoted by the board after the council members questioned his management, had stayed with the CRVA as an executive in charge of sales. But he stepped down Friday. The new CRVA will have six people working directly under Murray as part of an executive management team. Murray said he wants to have the different aspects of the CRVA - sales, marketing and management of city-owned venues - working together smoothly. The CRVA was created in 2004 as a merger of Visit Charlotte and the Auditorium-Coliseum-Convention Center Authority. Murray said his next goal is to improve attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which lost $1.4 million in its first year. His goal is to have the racing museum break even financially or turn a profit, he said. Murray said new lower ticket prices for local people have been successful, and that the hall may try to offer discounted tickets to convention attendees in the future. The CRVA has said it has struggled to convince convention attendees to visit the hall. Murray also said Monday he "never considered" replacing current NASCAR hall Executive Director Winston Kelley. Kelley is now listed as a CRVA vice president in addition to heading the NASCAR hall. The other vice presidents are Ted Lewis (convention center); Bob Buchanan (human resources); Mike Crum (chief financial officer); Mike Butts (Visit Charlotte) and Gina Sheridan (marketing).(Charlotte Observer)(2-29-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame losses are slowing: Attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in December was 15,428 people, down only slightly from the 16,136 people who visited in December 2010. The December attendance was good news for the hall, which had seen attendance decline in some months by more than 30% compared with the same periods a year earlier. Hall spokesperson Kimberly Meesters said the week after Christmas is a strong period for the hall. A year ago, the "UnDeck the Hall" promotion, in which visitors can take ornaments and other items off of Christmas trees, lasted three days. "This year all items were gone within hours," Meesters said. The hall lost money in December, but the loss was smaller than a year earlier. In December the hall lost $242,485. A reimbursement for maintenance costs from the city of Charlotte reduced the deficit to $171,882. A year earlier, in December 2010, the hall lost $327,000. For the first six months of the fiscal year, the hall has lost $767,725. Reimbursements from the city have closed that loss to $440,000.(Charlotte Observer)(2-9-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame To Offer Local Rate: The NASCAR Hall of Fame is introducing a special Local Rate throughout the months of February and March. Available for a limited-time only, the special rate offers North and South Carolina residents visiting the interactive, entertainment attraction a discounted admission price of $15.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors and $9.95 for children. Guests with a valid photo ID and proof of residency, such as a North Carolina or South Carolina driver's license, can receive the special price when purchasing at the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office during regular operating hours. Tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling 877-231-2010 or at www.NASCARHall.com.(NASCAR Hall of Fame)(2-2-2012)

NASCAR welcomes 2012 Hall of Fame members: During an emotional induction ceremony Friday night at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a pair of three-time champion drivers, racing's quintessential crew chief, a founding father of the sport and the hands-down best modified driver who ever lived all took their rightful places among NASCAR's elite. The third class of five NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees evidences no fall-off in quality from the two classes that preceded it in 2010 and 2011. In fact, some would argue that the 2012 inductees all boast credentials worthy of consideration for an earlier welcome to the Hall.
Darrell Waltrip, for instance, won three Sprint Cup titles and is tied for fourth on the career win list with 84 victories.
Cale Yarborough, the only driver to win three straight Cup titles before Jimmie Johnson equaled and then eclipsed the feat in the first decade of the 21st century, is sixth in all-time wins with 83.
As far as championships are concerned, Dale Inman is the most prolific winner among NASCAR crew chiefs, having accumulated seven Cup titles during his pioneering run at Petty Enterprises and a series-record eighth with driver Terry Labonte and owner Billy Hagan in 1984.
Glen Wood, who with brother Leonard Wood founded the most enduring team in the sport's history, was an innovator who nurtured the careers of a litany of elite drivers, most notable among them Hall of Famers Yarborough and David Pearson.
Richie Evans, a nine-time modified champion, simply was without peer. The "Rapid Roman" clinched his first NASCAR National Modified title in 1973. On Oct. 24, 1985, a week after securing his ninth modified championship, Evans was killed in a crash during practice at Martinsville Speedway. He was 44.(NASCAR Wire Service)(1-21-2012)

NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction / Acceleration Weekend: Charlotte becomes the epicenter of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend on Jan. 20-21. The NASCAR Hall of Fame inducts its third class comprised of the late Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Glen Wood, Darrell Waltrip and Cale Yarborough on Jan. 20 at the Crown Ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Center. Activities begin at 7:30 p.m.

Class of 2012 Inductees:

Cale Yarborough
William Caleb Yarborough was the first driver to win three consecutive NASCAR premier series championships, from 1976-78. During his three-year dominance, Yarborough won 28 races – nine in 1976, nine in ’77 and 10 in ’78. His final championship points margin in those three years was never fewer than 195 points and was as much as 474 in 1978. Yarborough totaled 83 victories in his 31-year career, which ranks sixth all-time. His 69 poles rank fourth all-time. He also won the Daytona 500 four times (1968, ’77, ’83-84), a mark that ranks second only to Richard Petty’s seven. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Darrell Waltrip
A three-time NASCAR premier series champion (1981-82, ’85), Waltrip won all three with legendary driver/owner Junior Johnson. Waltrip is tied with Bobby Allison and Jeff Gordon for third all-time in series victories with 84. His 59 poles rank fifth all-time in NASCAR premier series history. He competed from 1972-2000, which included a 1989 Daytona 500 victory in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet. He currently is a commentator on FOX’s NASCAR broadcasts. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Dale Inman
Dale Inman, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty’s crew chief at Petty Enterprises for nearly three decades, set records for most wins (193) and championships (eight) by a crew chief. Inman won seven of those championships with Petty (1964, ’67, ’71, ’72, ’74, ’75 and ’79), and a final one in 1984 with Terry Labonte.

Richie Evans
The recognized “king” of Modified racing, Evans captured nine NASCAR Modified titles in a 13-year span, including eight in a row from 1978-85. In the first year of the current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour format in 1985, Evans won 12 races, including a sweep of all four events at Thompson, Conn. Evans ranked No. 1 in the 2003 voting of the NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers, and he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Glen Wood
Glen Wood laid the foundation for the famed Wood Brothers racing team as a driver in NASCAR’s premier series. Competing on a semi-regular basis, mostly at tracks close to his southern Virginia home, Wood won four times – all at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. Wood, of course, is best known for his collaboration with brothers Leonard and Delano in Wood Brothers Racing. The Stuart, Va.-based team, which dates to 1950 and remains active, has amassed 98 victories.

MRN, SiriusXM to provide live coverage of Hall of Fame induction: Motor Racing Network is poised to kick off its 43rd year of broadcasting with live coverage of Friday's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Charlotte, N.C. The Class of 2012 will be formally enshrined as the sport honors its third group of inductees: Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glenn Wood and Cale Yarborough. MRN Radio's live coverage will be anchored by Barney Hall and Joe Moore, and produced by Amada Trautman. Air time is 7:30 p.m. (EST).(MRN)
AND: SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 will also have live coverage of the induction ceremony. SPEED will show the ceremony on Sunday, January 22 at 6:00pm/et.(1-20-2012)

Hall of Famers to meet with fans Saturday: NASCAR Hall of Famers and others who have a deep history in the sport will interact with fans following the NASCAR Preview 2012 on Saturday. The event will take place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is open to all fans who have a ticket to the hall of fame that day. Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond, Ned Jarrett and former car owner Bondy Long will be at various locations where their cars or exhibits are from 5-6 p.m. ET Saturday. Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, Leonard Wood, Dale Inman, Bud Moore and journalist Tom Higgins will be in the hall from 6:15-7:15 p.m. to talk with fans. Earlier in the day, the hall of fame will have guided tours that feature meet-and-greets with hall of famers. The tours are limited to 30 people with Junior Johnson meeting a group at 10 a.m., followed by Ned Jarrett at 11 a.m., Richard Petty (noon), Bud Moore (2 p.m.), Bobby Allison (3 p.m.) and Darrell Waltrip (4 p.m.). Tickets are $20 and include the NASCAR Preview, where more than 50 NASCAR drivers will appear throughout the day from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for autographs and question-and-answer sessions inside the Charlotte Convention Center, which is adjacent to the hall of fame.(Scene Daily)(1-20-2012)

November among hall's better months in 2011: The NASCAR Hall of Fame had 15,189 visitors in November, down 18% compared with the same month in 2010. The hall lost $118,582 in November. A reimbursement from the city of Charlotte for certain maintenance costs reduced the loss to $65,904. The November attendance, while down, was an improvement for the hall. In earlier months this fiscal year, attendance declines exceeded 30%. In November, the hall had a number of high-profile drivers available for autographs. For the first five months of the fiscal year, 86,196 people have visited the racing museum. In the first five months of last fiscal year, attendance was 119,576.(Charlotte Observer)(1-12-2012)

UnDeck the Hall Returns to the NASCAR Hall of Fame: Visitors can continue to celebrate the holidays while helping undecorate the NASCAR Hall of Fame beginning Monday, Dec. 26 at the facility’s second annual UnDeck the Hall. Choosing from a display of festive Christmas trees in the Great Hall, each guest can take home one NASCAR-themed item until all are gone. The HALL-iday trees are decorated with NASCAR-themed items including autographed souvenirs and memorabilia, NASCAR-themed ornaments, die cast cars, secret surprises and more. UnDeck the Hall begins Monday, Dec. 26 and continues through the week while supplies last. For tickets, updates and details about the NASCAR Hall of Fame, go to NASCARHall.com.(NASCAR HOF)(12-25-2011)

Visits to Hall of Fame fall in October: Attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame fell in October by 30% compared with the same month in 2010. Attendance in October was 19,340. A year ago it was 27,555. Attractions like the NASCAR hall often see second-year attendance drops. Due to cost-cutting measures, the hall made a small surplus for the month of $43,089. The hall also receives money from the city of Charlotte for some maintenance items on the hall, which raised its surplus for the month to $89,657. For the first four months of the fiscal year, hall attendance is 71,007 compared with 100,991 through the first four months of last fiscal year.(Charlotte Observer)(12-16-2011)

SPEED to air biography series on 2012 Hall Of Fame Inductees: A biography series of all five 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees will air on SPEED beginning this Friday, Dec. 9 with back-to-back shows featuring Cale Yarborough at 8 p.m. ET and Dale Inman at 9 p.m. ET. The remaining biographies, also produced by NASCAR Media Group, will air on SPEED throughout December and January 2012: Richie Evans on Friday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. ET; Darrell Waltrip on Friday, Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. ET and Glen Wood on Friday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET. Each year five NASCAR legends are inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, beginning with the inaugural class of 2010. These five outstanding individuals make up the third class and will be officially enshrined at the third annual NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday evening, Jan. 20 in the Charlotte Convention Center's Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.(NASCAR)(12-8-2011)

Chiquita relocating headquarters to Charlotte: Chiquita Brands International, an iconic company whose name is almost synonymous with 'bananas,' said Tuesday that it will move its global headquarters to Charlotte next year, bringing some 400 jobs. The company was lured by $21.1 million in government incentives and the promise of easier international travel from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which has grown as the Ohio airport near Chiquita's current headquarters has shrunk. Chiquita is in negotiations to lease five or six floors in the NASCAR Plaza office tower adjoining the racing Hall of Fame. At the NASCAR Plaza, which has struggled to lease office space and faced foreclosure proceedings last year, Chiquita branding will feature prominently on and in the building.(Charlotte Observer)(11-30-2011)

NASCAR Hall of Fame open on Thanksgiving: The NASCAR Hall of Fame will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. It’s one of several promotions planned by the motorsports museum in uptown Charlotte. In addition, the NASCAR hall if offering a combo-ticket package that provide admission to both the racing museum and the WBT Holiday on Ice rink at the hall of fame plaza. The rink opens Tuesday and will be in operation through Jan. 8. More info at nascarhall.com.(Charlotte Business Journal)(11-22-2011)

Attendance declines leveling off at NASCAR Hall of Fame: September attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame fell compared to September 2010, and the racing museum again lost money. But the good news for the hall is that attendance declines are leveling off. The hall’s attendance in September was 13,054 – a 20% decrease compared with the 16,327 people who visited in September 2010. Previous year-over-year attendance declines had been greater than 30%. Through the first three months of the fiscal year, the hall has lost $449,747. During the same time period in 2010, the hall had lost $448,000. This fiscal year, the hall is being reimbursed for some maintenance items by the city of Charlotte. That lowers the hall’s loss to $292,150. The September loss was $83,982. After being reimbursed by the city, the hall’s books show a loss of only $11,962.(Charlotte Observer)(11-11-2011)

NASCAR Hall of Fame To Offer Limited-Time Twilight Rate: The NASCAR Hall of Fame is introducing a special Twilight Rate throughout the month of November. Available for a limited time only, the Twilight Rate offers guests visiting the interactive, entertainment attraction a special admission price of $9.95 for visits between 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. each weekday in November. In addition, Twilight Rate ticket purchasers receive a coupon for $5 off a return visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The special rate will not be offered during the Thanksgiving holiday, Thursday, Nov. 24 or Friday, Nov. 25. The Twilight Rate admission is valid for entry any time between 4 - 6 p.m. and provides full access to the NASCAR Hall of Fame where visitors can pack in the high-octane fun with more than 50 hands-on stations, authentic NASCAR artifacts and historic stock car exhibits. Guests also can get actively involved and practice a pit stop, walk through a full-size NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler, call a race, get behind the wheel in one of eight iRacing simulators and more. Young racers can get their hands-on experience in Kobalt Kids Zone and Race Week's child-friendly pit stop challenge. More info and tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling 877-231-2010 or at NASCARHall.com.(NASCAR HoF)(10-31-2011)

Hall of Fame attendance down in August: The NASCAR Hall of Fame lost $177,450 in August on attendance of 16,703 people, according to financial information released Wednesday by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. Those attendance numbers show a 27% decline compared with August 2010, when 23,539 people visited the hall. But that is actually an improvement over recent months. For the first two months of the fiscal year, the hall has lost $365,764. Its reimbursements from the city have meant its deficit is only $280,188.(Charlotte Observer)(10-13-2011)

Tickets on sale for "NASCAR Acceleration" Weekend: Tickets are now on sale for NASCAR Acceleration Weekend 2012, a combination of events and activities scheduled for Jan. 20-22 in Charlotte, N.C. that gives race fans an unprecedented, festival-like experience featuring legends of the sport and stars of today and tomorrow. Ticket prices range from $10 for individual event admission to $299 for a VIP weekend package. Starting off the inaugural NASCAR Acceleration Weekend on Friday, Jan. 20 is the induction of the NASCAR Hall of Fame's Class of 2012 - Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood, and Cale Yarborough - at a dinner and induction ceremony located in the Charlotte Convention Center, which adjoins the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Following the Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 21 is the NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint, a new addition to the annual calendar reminiscent of popular season preview events of the past. The fan-focused, all-day event located inside the Charlotte Convention Center will feature driver and show car appearances, simulators, games, prizes, and a host of other fan-friendly and interactive activities. The highlight of the day for many fans will be autograph and on-stage Q&A sessions with drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, plus all four living NASCAR Hall of Fame members inducted the previous night. The weekend's activities continue into Sunday, Jan. 22 when the Hall of Fame exhibits of the five-member Class of 2012 will be unveiled inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame. For more information, visit www.nascaracceleration2012.com.(NASCAR)(9-21-2011)

More attendance woes for NASCAR Hall of Fame: Attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame fell by 35% in July from a year earlier, continuing a trend of declining results. The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, operator of the $200 million publicly funded stock-car museum, reported the figures at its board meeting Wednesday. In July 2010, 33,452 people visited the hall of fame. Attendance declined to 21,910 in July 2011, the first month of the new fiscal year. July marked the third month of attendance slips of 30 percent or more in year-over-year comparisons. Those figures offer a barometer of interest in the hall of fame, which opened in May 2010. For May 2011, attendance was 30 percent below the previous year (25,034 visitors compared with 35,090 in May 2010). In June 2011, crowds dropped by 39 percent to 17,604 visitors for the month. Visitors authority board members didn’t discuss the hall of fame results during their meeting. A recent update to City Council included questions and discussion of whether ticket prices could be hurting attendance (Charlotte Business Journal)(9-15-2011)

Special Fan Event Joins NASCAR Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony: NASCAR announced the addition of a new fan-friendly event – the NASCAR Preview 2012, Presented by Sprint – that will follow January’s 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. "NASCAR Acceleration Weekend," scheduled for Jan. 20-22 in Charlotte, N.C., gives race fans an unprecedented, festival-like experience with a combination of events and activities featuring the legends of the sport and stars of today. "The NASCAR Acceleration Weekend will be an unforgettable start of a special tradition centered on the NASCAR Hall of Fame," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. "Putting the 2012 Induction Ceremony together with the NASCAR Preview 2012 makes this a must-visit event weekend for racing fans across the country."
Kicking off the inaugural NASCAR Acceleration Weekend on Friday, Jan. 20 is the induction of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012 – Richie Evans, Dale Inman, Darrell Waltrip, Glen Wood, and Cale Yarborough – at a dinner and ceremony located in the Charlotte Convention Center, which adjoins the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This revered group, comprised of three drivers, a crew chief and a team owner, marks the third class to be inducted into the Hall. Exhibits of the five-member class will be unveiled inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, Jan. 22.
Following the Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 21 is the NASCAR Preview 2012, Presented by Sprint, a new addition to the annual calendar reminiscent of popular season preview events of the past. The fan-focused, all-day event located inside the Charlotte Convention Center will feature driver and show car appearances, simulators, games, prizes, and a host of other fan-friendly and interactive activities. The highlight of the day for many fans will be autograph and on-stage Q&A sessions with drivers from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, plus four of the five new NASCAR Hall of Fame members inducted the previous night.
The NASCAR Preview 2012, Presented by Sprint now joins the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway, held the previous week, as the two premier events for fans to meet their favorite drivers and get revved up for the start of the season at the 54th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. "Accessibility to the stars of the sport is what sets NASCAR apart from other professional sports," said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "Giving fans an opportunity to honor legends of the sport one day and then meet future Hall of Famers the next day is the kind of fan-focused activities that the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte is uniquely positioned to deliver." Tickets for the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the NASCAR Preview 2012, Presented by Sprint go on sale Sept. 20. Fans can enter their e-mail address at www.nascaracceleration2012.com to receive updates and to receive a promo code for pre-sale opportunities.(NHOF)(8-17-2011)

NASCAR Hall of Fame posts $1.42 million loss: The NASCAR Hall of Fame, which will induct its third five-member class in January, posted an overall loss of $1.42 million for its first operating fiscal year. Owned and operated by the City of Charlotte through a license from NASCAR, the hall opened in May 2010 and its fiscal year runs from July 1-June 30. The losses are covered from the Charlotte tourism board reserves, but $979,563 of the deficit are royalties owed to NASCAR, which has deferred collecting on those payments until the hall of fame become profitable. The year-end figure was slightly higher than the $1.24 million loss originally forecasted in January as the hall lost $137,895 in June. Attendance for June was 17,604, compared with 28,678 for June 2010, the month after the hall opened.(Scene Daily)(8-12-2011)

NASCAR Hall of Fame attendance for June: Attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame fell nearly 40 percent in June compared with the same month a year ago, a development that could bring more cost-cutting to the city-owned hall. Unofficial numbers released Wednesday showed 17,604 people visited the hall in June, compared with 28,678 people in June 2011. Second-year attendance declines for attractions such as the hall aren't unusual, as initial excitement wears off. But the hall's budget for fiscal year 2012 calls for admissions from ticket revenue to increase by nearly 20 percent. Attendance in May was also down compared with the same month in 2010. Last year, 35,979 people attended the hall during the 21 days it was open. This year 25,034 people came during the entire month of May. If those attendance declines continue the hall could face a multi-million dollar loss for the current budget year.(Charlotte Observer)(7-14-2011)

Auto Show at the NASCAR Hall of Fame: The NASCAR Automotive Group invites NASCAR fans and automotive enthusiasts in the Charlotte, N.C. area to get their July 4th weekend in top gear this year by heading out to the NASCAR Performance Auto Show, which will be held on the NASCAR Hall of Fame Ceremonial Plaza on Saturday, July 2, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm/et.
NASCAR fans will have the opportunity to check out personal cars of some of their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and personalities like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, Ray Evernham and many more. The event will include games and giveaways, enter to win promotion featuring great prizes and experiences, exhibits by NASCAR automotive partners, NASCAR Hall of Fame discount offers, and passes for the Coke Zero 400 viewing party that night in the NASCAR Hall of Fame High Octane Theater.
Notable personal cars of NASCAR stars set to be featured at the NASCAR Performance Auto Show. The NASCAR Performance Auto Show is the second in a series of car shows to hit the NASCAR Hall of Fame Ceremonial Plaza this year. Admission to the Auto Show is free. Tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be purchased by calling 877-231-2010 or at www.NASCARHall.com.(NHOF)(6-30-2011)

3rd Hall of Fame class announced:
NASCAR announced today the 2012 class of inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The five-person class, which will be officially inducted in a ceremony during the weekend of Jan. 20, 2012 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., consists of: Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Inman, Richie Evans and Glen Wood.
Members of the 55-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte, N.C., to vote on the induction class of 2012. The announcement was made by NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s “Great Hall.”
The class was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, which included a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.COM. The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.
As was the case for the first two classes of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the results of this year’s voting were competitive. Yarborough led with 85 percent of the vote, followed by Waltrip (82%), Inman (78%), Evans (50%) and Wood (44%).
Also receiving votes were Jerry Cook, Cotton Owens, Raymond Parks and Herb Thomas.
The fans’ five picks, in alphabetical order, were Richard Childress, Benny Parsons, Fireball Roberts, Waltrip and Yarborough.
The five inductees came from a group of 25 nominees for induction into the 2012 NASCAR Hall of Fame class that included:
Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Jerry Cook, H. Clay Earles, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Rick Hendrick, Jack Ingram, Bobby Isaac, Dale Inman, Fred Lorenzen, Cotton Owens, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Les Richter, Fireball Roberts, T. Wayne Robertson, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood, Leonard Wood and Cale Yarborough.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame opened on May 11, 2010 in Uptown Charlotte, N.C. The 150,000 square foot entertainment complex honors the history and heritage of NASCAR and the many who have contributed to the success of the sport. In its first year of operation, the NASCAR Hall of Fame entertained more than 270,000 customers, making it the second most-visited sports hall of fame in North America.
More info about the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the list of 25 who were finalists for induction on my NASCAR Hall of Fame page or nascarhall.com.(6-14-2011)

Class of 2012 Inductees:

Cale Yarborough
William Caleb Yarborough was the first driver to win three consecutive NASCAR premier series championships, from 1976-78. During his three-year dominance, Yarborough won 28 races – nine in 1976, nine in ’77 and 10 in ’78. His final championship points margin in those three years was never fewer than 195 points and was as much as 474 in 1978. Yarborough totaled 83 victories in his 31-year career, which ranks sixth all-time. His 69 poles rank fourth all-time. He also won the Daytona 500 four times (1968, ’77, ’83-84), a mark that ranks second only to Richard Petty’s seven. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Darrell Waltrip
A three-time NASCAR premier series champion (1981-82, ’85), Waltrip won all three with legendary driver/owner Junior Johnson. Waltrip is tied with Bobby Allison and Jeff Gordon for third all-time in series victories with 84. His 59 poles rank fifth all-time in NASCAR premier series history. He competed from 1972-2000, which included a 1989 Daytona 500 victory in a Rick Hendrick-owned Chevrolet. He currently is a commentator on FOX’s NASCAR broadcasts. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Dale Inman
Dale Inman, NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty’s crew chief at Petty Enterprises for nearly three decades, set records for most wins (193) and championships (eight) by a crew chief. Inman won seven of those championships with Petty (1964, ’67, ’71, ’72, ’74, ’75 and ’79), and a final one in 1984 with Terry Labonte.

Richie Evans
The recognized “king” of Modified racing, Evans captured nine NASCAR Modified titles in a 13-year span, including eight in a row from 1978-85. In the first year of the current NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour format in 1985, Evans won 12 races, including a sweep of all four events at Thompson, Conn. Evans ranked No. 1 in the 2003 voting of the NASCAR All-Time Modified Top 10 Drivers, and he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998.

Glen Wood
Glen Wood laid the foundation for the famed Wood Brothers racing team as a driver in NASCAR’s premier series. Competing on a semi-regular basis, mostly at tracks close to his southern Virginia home, Wood won four times – all at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. Wood, of course, is best known for his collaboration with brothers Leonard and Delano in Wood Brothers Racing. The Stuart, Va.-based team, which dates to 1950 and remains active, has amassed 98 victories.

3rd NASCAR Hall of Fame Class to be announced: Voting Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14th at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the next Class of Inductees. Five inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame will be chosen from a list of twenty-five. SPEED will air a live preview show of the announcement of the third class of five inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame at 3:00pm/et, followed by live coverage of the announcement at 4:00pm/et.(6-13-2011)

NASCAR Hall of Fame attendance for May: Attendance at the NASCAR Hall of Fame fell 30% in May 2011 compared with the same month a year earlier – the first year-over-year comparison for the city-owned attraction. Such a decline isn’t a surprise, and similar attractions report attendance declines once the initial excitement wears off. But the hall’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year projects the opposite. Instead of revenue declining from ticket sales, the hall projects a nearly 20% increase. A year ago, the hall attracted 35,090 people for the 21 days it was open in May. In May 2010, the hall attracted 25,014 people, according to estimates released Wednesday. The hall projects admissions revenue will be $4.9 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. It projects admissions revenue to be $4.2 million for the current fiscal year.
That $700,000 increase helped the hall show only a $1.1 million operating deficit for the upcoming year. That deficit will be covered by a subsidy from the city of Charlotte, according to the CRVA. The subsidy will come from a 2 percent tax on hotel and motel room occupancy that’s dedicated towards the hall. Hall spokesperson Kimberly Meesters said the optimistic ticket revenue projections are a “stretch goal” designed to push staff members to keep improving. If the numbers don’t pan out, the hall can adjust its budget, she said.
Despite struggles in its first year, CRVA board members and staff were upbeat about the hall. Executive director Winston Kelley said the hall has had a “direct spend” benefit of $40 million in its first year. That is based on surveys of how much people spent during their visits to the hall.(Charlotte Observer)(6-9-2011)

NASCAR Hall of Fame expects increased attendance: Next year's NASCAR Hall of Fame's draft budget predicts revenue from admissions will increase nearly 20 percent, an optimistic projection that runs counter to the experience of many similar attractions. The Georgia Aquarium, for instance, saw attendance decline 25 percent for its second year, and 15 percent more from year two to year three after the initial excitement wore off. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland showed similar declines in its first three years of operation. Attendance at those venues - and many others - then stabilized. The city-owned NASCAR Hall of Fame projected 800,000 visitors for its first year. Instead, attendance was roughly 274,000, including 12,000 free visits during an open house in January. Before the hall opened last year, hall backers expected attendance to decline from the first year to the second year. The draft budget calls for $4.88 million in admission revenue next fiscal year, while this year's admissions revenue is expected to be $4.15 million. A memo from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which operates the hall, said the admissions projections are based on a "stretch" target.(Charlotte Observer)(6-3-2011)