Dec..15, 2005:

Gov. Bush signs NASCAR Fl. Tag bill: Gov. Jeb Bush today signed a bill creating a specialty license plate to help fund Daytona Beach's bid for a NASCAR Hall of Fame.The measure was one of 10 passed last week in the Florida Legislature's special session. Besides contributing $25 toward the project for each tag sold, supporters said the plates would demonstrate Florida's commitment to landing the hall. (Orlando Sentinel)

Dec.. 7, 2005:

FL. OKs first hurdle for NASCAR tags: A proposed NASCAR license plate completed its first legislative lap with no crashes Tuesday, receiving nearly unanimous approval in three committees. If approved, money from plate sales would help Daytona Beach lure a NASCAR Hall of Fame to the racing town. A decision from NASCAR on where a Hall of Fame should be built is expected early next year. Officials trying to bring it to Daytona say they have a strong commitment of private money, but that the creation of a license plate to provide additional money would show NASCAR there is broader support. "The thing that we absolutely do need is to show we have state support," said Sen. Evelyn Lynn, a Republican from Ormond Beach, before the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved the bill. A design for the plate has not yet been chosen. Florida already has about 90 different plates supporting various groups, schools, sports teams and causes. Some critics say that is far too many.

Dec. 4, 2005

More on FL. Hof and Tags: Florida lawmakers are moving forward with a plan aimed at creating a NASCAR license tag to help pay for a stock-car hall of fame in Daytona Beach. Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, and Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, filed bills Thursday to create the tag and will seek to take up the issue during a special legislative session next week. Supporters hope to use money from sales of the tag -- estimated at as much as $1.5 million a year -- to help finance the hall of fame and bolster Daytona Beach's effort to outbid four other cities for the tourism draw. Daytona Beach also proposed the sale of NASCAR license tags during this year's regular legislative session, but the proposal died after it became tangled in a broader dispute about whether the state should subsidize stadium projects for the Florida Marlins and Orlando Magic. (Daytona Beach News Journal)

Dec. 2, 2005

Hall of Fame bid announcement likely in weeks maybe months: When the balloons drop from the ceiling of the famed hotel's grand ballroom, a $100-million prize still will be up in the air, and unexpectedly so for many who have followed the yearlong saga of the five cities vying for the sport's first officially sanctioned Hall of Fame. The Nextel Cup awards ceremony long had been rumored to include the revelation of a winner in the fiercely contested quest to land the shrine. Instead, Richmond, Atlanta, Charlotte, Daytona Beach, and Kansas City likely will wait weeks (and perhaps months) before they learn NASCAR's choice. (Salem-Journal)

Nov. 15, 2005:

NASCAR gives Daytona and State of FL. time to raise money for Hall bid: An unexpected move by NASCAR has given Daytona Beach more time to line up public money to attract the coveted stock-car-racing hall of fame. NASCAR executives announced during the weekend that they would hold off on selecting a site for the hall until early next year. That gives lawmakers time to revive a plan during a special session next month to sell a NASCAR-themed license plate and use the proceeds to help finance Daytona's bid for the attraction.  Daytona -- which is competing with Charlotte, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Atlanta for the hall of fame -- has proposed spending at least $70 million to overhaul Daytona USA and merge it with a new museum. But supporters have been unable to secure significant public money to help pay for construction, which some observers say has undermined Daytona's bid. Charlotte and Atlanta bids, by comparison, include tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies. "We are relieved to hear that we will have the time necessary to exhaust every opportunity available to us in Tallahassee," said John Saboor, the executive director of the Central Florida Sports Commission and one of the organizers of Daytona's bid. (Sun Sentinel)

Nov. 12, 2005:

All 5 cities still in it for HOF: NASCAR Chairman Brian France scuttled rumors yesterday that the Hall of Fame search had entered a cutdown period and said a decision probably won't be made this year. Richmond is bidding for the $100-million stock-car shrine against Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Daytona Beach, Fla., and Kansas City, Kan. "The process the rest of the year is to try to get it down to a couple of the best options, and we'd be negotiating with them and hopefully announcing something early next year," France said. "We're still on that timetable. No one's been eliminated." (Times-Dispatch)

Nov. 9, 2005:

FL. lawmakers back NASCAR tag: Two of Florida's most-powerful lawmakers support creating a NASCAR license tag during a special legislative session in December, potentially boosting Daytona Beach's bid for a stock-car hall of fame. House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, and House Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, back a plan to sell specialty tags to help finance the hall of fame. Daytona Beach is trying to outbid four other cities for the project, which economic-development officials say would be a boon to tourism. "I want NASCAR to see that we take this very seriously, and we want to help," Gardiner said Tuesday. But it remained unclear whether Senate leaders also would back the idea. Senate President Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said he will consider adding the issue to the special session, but said hall-of-fame supporters should have met legally mandated criteria to get the tag approved. Those criteria include paying a $60,000 fee and doing a survey to ensure enough motorists would buy the tag. (News Journal)

Nov. 8, 2005:

Judge rules Atlanta must make bid public: A Fulton County Superior Court judge has ruled that Atlanta's bids for the NASCAR hall of fame and 2009 Super Bowl must be open to the public. Judge Michael Johnson's ruling was a setback for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Central Atlanta Progress. The two leading Atlanta business groups argued in court that they are private organizations, and that releasing the bids would hamper the metro area's ability to win big-ticket spectacles like Super Bowls and Final Fours -- prizes that mean millions to the local economy. Monday's ruling by Judge Michael Johnson backs up Attorney General Thurbert Baker, who concluded in August that the bids should be public under Georgia's Open Records Act because each promised millions in taxpayer money and involved elected officials., including Gov. Sonny Perdue and Mayor Shirley Franklin. (News-Journal)

Oct. 14, 2005:

6 in 10 in Charlotte area say they will NOT likely visit NASCAR HOF:  We're now in the midst of the big fall race week and if local leaders get their wish there will eventually be another major attraction for NASCAR fans. Charlotte is competing for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but a new poll shows the majority of locals may never step foot inside. In this year's Carolina’s poll 6NEWS asked the question; if the hall of fame is located in Charlotte, how likely is it that you will visit this attraction once it's completed? Six out of 10 people surveyed said they would likely "not" attend. Is this a bad sign? Mayor Pat McCrory says that number actually sounds good. In a region where 24,000 people work in the racing industry and where 1.25 million racing fans visit each year McCrory says the NASCAR Hall of Fame “just makes sense.” "This is going to be something that is extremely interactive and it is going to be an experience," McCrory said. But is it one people who already live in the region will support? The Carolinas poll revealed 61 percent of the 923 people surveyed would not visit the hall among them, Gerald Oldiges. (WCNC)

Oct. 11, 2005:

No front runner in NASCAR HOF site:  For those hoping for an Atlanta NASCAR hall of fame, like the song says, the waiting is the hardest part. Nearly two months after a group of NASCAR bosses toured Atlanta's sites and lunched with Gov. Sonny Perdue, there's been little word on the city's chances of become racing's Cooperstown, and no public announcements from racing officials, who've been frustratingly noncommittal. "We're anxiously awaiting" a decision, said A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, the group that put together Atlanta's hall of fame bid. "We haven't heard much since August," when the hall-of-fame decision-makers came to town. Atlanta is competing with four cities -- Charlotte, Richmond, Daytona Beach and Kansas City, Kan. -- for racing's hall of fame. Atlanta organizers have presented NASCAR with a $92 million educational racing attraction on land owned by Ted Turner near Centennial Olympic Park. NASCAR's hall-of-fame executive team met for the first time a week ago in Daytona Beach, but the committee made no hard decisions, said Kerry Tharp, a NASCAR spokesman. No city has been eliminated, and "nobody has eliminated themselves," but there's also no front-runner, Tharp said. One thing racing officials did agree on: They're on track to pick a city by December. (Daytona News Journal)

Oct. 9, 2005:

France on NASCAR HOF in Kansas City:  (Brian) France was asked if the fact that Sprint, which has merged with Nextel to become NASCAR’s title sponsor, is based in Kansas City would sway the decision of where to put the hall. “It’s going to be on the merits,” he said. “That’s shaping up. Who can put best financial package together, best ideas together to house future, past and all those things. One consideration: If it was just that, we have more sponsors based in Atlanta by far. It’s going to be who can do the best job with the enterprise of the hall of fame. It’s getting down to by the end of the year we should know where we’re at.” (Kansas City Star)

Sep. 18, 2005:

A Special session NASCAR Fl. tags to pay for part of Daytona HOF? Daytona Beach has some high-powered opponents in the race to land the NASCAR Hall of Fame museum, and it is important that the state step up to sweeten the offer One plan that met near-universal support during the last legislative session was a specialty Florida license plate featuring NASCAR, the proceeds of which could be earmarked to pay for a portion of the museum's cost and maintenance. The idea was lumped in with an omnibus sports bill that collapsed in the session's last days. Now lawmakers are gearing up for a special session as soon as next month to set up rules for voter-approved slot machines. That would be an excellent time to expand the list of topics legislators can tackle to include the tag. NASCAR may make its decision in December. This is a vital issue for Daytona, Volusia County and, indeed, all of Central Florida. History and civic pride dictate that the museum of the sport that was invented on the sands of Daytona Beach and boosted into a national obsession by the Daytona 500 be built here. One problematic aspect of the proposal last session by DeLand Republican Rep. Pat Patterson is that NASCAR would be getting far too much of the money from the tag proceeds. That bill designated 85 percent of the license-plate proceeds -- up to $1.2 million a year -- toward the museum's construction. Another 10 percent would go to NASCAR's pocket to advertise Florida race events. That's too much, and it's a lot more than other sports organizations get. It would be more fair to pay NASCAR up to 5 percent for licensing and royalty fees. Spend the rest for motor-vehicle safety or another noble cause. (In part from Orlando Sentinel)

Aug 31, 2005

Pearson and Yates to be honored at NC Auto Racing HOF: David Pearson and Robert Yates, two of racing's elite competitors, will be honored by the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame at its annual induction ceremonies on Oct. 12 at Mooresville's Charles Mack Citizens Center. Pearson, a three-time NASCAR champion and one of stock car racing's most celebrated drivers, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yates, a championship team owner and engine builder, will receive the coveted Snap-On Golden Wrench Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport. "Both of these men brought something different to the sport," said Don Miller, co-founder and chairman of the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame. "David was an extremely talented driver and Robert was an equally talented engine builder before becoming a team owner. Both men set a competitive standard for the sport that continues to be the yardstick by which success is measured today." For more information about the museum and the ninth annual induction ceremony, log on to www.ncarhof.com

Aug 24, 2005

Richmond touts HOF bid: The group trying to lure the NASCAR Hall of Fame to the city highlighted Richmond's roots in racing and diverse tourist attractions Tuesday, when a delegation of NASCAR officials wrapped up a tour of possible locations. Richmond, which has hosted NASCAR races for more than a half-century, was the last stop in a five-city tour that also brought the officials who will participate in the decision to Daytona Beach; Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; and Kansas City, Kan.  Daytona Beach's Green Flag Committee presented its proposal this month. "Each city has unique qualities," said George Pyne, NASCAR's chief operating officer. "What stuck in my head was within 300 miles, there are 55 million Americans, and so when you walk away from Richmond, that's what you walk away thinking about." During their presentation, Virginians Racing for the Hall of Fame also highlighted Richmond's proximity to tourist destinations such as Colonial Williamsburg, Civil War sites, Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens amusement parks, the nation's capital and the oceanfront. (Orlando Sentinel)

Aug 23, 2005

NMPA votes Smith into Hall of Fame: No matter where NASCAR decides to put its Hall of Fame, one that's been up and running for a long time got three new members Monday -- three good ones. The National Motorsports Press Association voted Bruton Smith, Paul Sawyer and Butch Lindley into its Hall at Darlington Raceway. It's particularly fitting that word of Smith's selection comes this week, as the NASCAR Truck, Busch and Nextel Cup series prepare to race at Bristol Motor Speedway, the track that more than any other provides a signature of what Smith has done for stock-car racing. "Naturally, I am honored," he said Monday. He'll be inducted with Sawyer and Lindley on Jan. 21 in Charlotte. "Any time such a distinguished group honors you for the things you've done, that's great." (Charlotte Observer)

Kansas City makes HOF pitch: On Thursday, the amalgamation of politicians, businesspeople and community groups that formed to pitch Kansas City met with a delegation of NASCAR officials and made their spiel. They conducted a site tour, they extolled the benefits of building the 100,000-square-foot, $100 million project in Wyandotte Country and they listened. None among the Kansas City group expected to hear NASCAR chief operating officer George Pyne or any of the others in his delegation issue any definitive answers on their bid, so they were not disappointed when none were forthcoming. Pyne said his group, which has now toured four of the five communities in the running to land the hall, would retreat to NASCAR headquarters and begin the winnowing process. He said the NASCAR board of directors will be brought in at some point and that eventually Kansas City; Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; or Daytona Beach, Fla., will be awarded the hall. “We’ve told everybody that we’d like to make a decision by the end of the year,” Pyne said. But, he added, that deadline is tentative because NASCAR does not want to “box itself in with an unrealistic timeline.” So the wait for the Kansas City backers may be longer than hoped. Pyne said very little that would make the wait any easier. With visits already conducted everywhere but Richmond, Pyne was asked whether a lead candidate has emerged. “No,” he said. “Everywhere you go, you like what you see. I can say it will be a hard decision, and the proposals have been very good.” (Kansas City Star)

Aug 18, 2005

Wheeler thinks NASCAR will make another stop by Charlotte: NASCAR leaders who toured Charlotte Wednesday may be back for a second look at the proposed site for a Hall of Fame. That's what the president of Lowe's Motor Speedway predicted Wednesday night. The NASCAR committee was scheduled to tour Kansas City on Thursday. Humpy Wheeler said he expects NASCAR to narrow the list of contenders and revisit the sites before making a final decision. Wheeler also said he hopes to use the October race at the speedway as another opportunity to sell Charlotte to NASCAR. A spokeswoman for Charlotte Center City Partners said Wednesday night that the NASCAR committee members commented over and over again how impressed they were at the number of fans decked out in yellow who lined the streets uptown during a bus tour for NASCAR. (WSCOTV.com)

NO NASCAR Rally for Kansas City HOF stop, today:  Unlike Atlanta, Daytona Beach and Charlotte, there will be no booster rallies, no pleas for fans to line sidewalks and no chamber of commerce-issued checkered flags being waved Thursday in Kansas City, Kan. Instead, there will be facts, figures and tours as people hoping to lure the NASCAR hall of fame to Kansas City highlight the specifics of their bid. "Ours," Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger said, "will be a very businesslike presentation." The object of the presentation is a delegation of NASCAR officials arriving Thursday morning in Kansas City. The delegation, charged with visiting the five communities that have submitted bids to be host to the hall, already has been to three of the potential host cities and will visit the fifth next week. It has the job of further scrutinizing bids submitted to NASCAR in May. The NASCAR officials will also hear from political, business and civic leaders Thursday and visit the proposed site of the hall in the Village West development near Kansas Speedway. (Star-Telegram)

Aug 17, 2005

NASCAR in Charlotte on HOF tour: The yellow billboards throughout the region say the NASCAR Hall of Fame "belongs here." The message inside the Charlotte Convention Center today will be slightly different: "The NASCAR Hall of Fame will thrive here." The message is aimed at a team of NASCAR's leaders who will spend six hours hearing Charlotte's pitch for a $137.5 million shrine to stock-car racing. Charlotte's built-in fan base, financial plans and proximity to race teams would give the hall of fame staying power here, said Tim Newman, chief executive of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. "It will be just as successful 10 years and 20 years down the road as it is on opening day," he said. (Charlotte Observer)

Aug 16, 2005

NASCAR Executives head to Atlanta for HOF bid: Tourism officials revved up their engines here today, hoping to blow past the competition and land a NASCAR hall of fame that could mean millions to the area's economy. About 15 NASCAR executives were expected to meet with Atlanta leaders and hear their $92 million pitch to become the home of the stock car racing group's planned hall. Atlanta is competing with Charlotte, N.C., Kansas City, Kan., Richmond, Va., and Daytona Beach. Shortly after 9 a.m., a helicopter made several passes over the downtown site Atlanta leaders are offering for the museum. Downtown "ambassadors," in their trademark blue shorts and white pith helmets, held a giant NASCAR banner on the proposed site, owned by Ted Turner. It would neighbor Centennial Olympic Park and sit near Atlanta's new, world-class aquarium and a planned new location for the World of Coke. (Daytona News-Journal)

Parsons to be inducted into Motorsports Racing Hall of Fame of America: Benny Parsons, an analyst for TNT and NBC, will be inducted into the Motorsports Racing Hall of Fame of America on Thursday August 18, at the State Theatre in Detroit, just five miles from where his racing career started on Six Mile and Woodward in 1960. Joining Parsons among the nine inductees are Indianapolis 500 winner Tom Sneva, and LeMans 24-hour king Hurley Haywood. The weekend will be a busy one for Parsons, the 1973 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Champion and 1975 Daytona 500 winner, who will call two races on TNT; the NASCAR Busch Series Domino’s Pizza 250 on Saturday at 3 pm ET, and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series from Michigan presented by Transporter 2 on Sunday at 2:00 pm ET. (Turner Sports. PR)

Aug 11, 2005

GA. State Attorney General orders HOF plans to be open:  A week before NASCAR executives' Aug. 16 visit to inspect Atlanta as the proposed site for a Hall of Fame to honor stock car racing, Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District released the long-awaited -- and protected -- plans for the downtown attraction. The bid committee also revealed Bill Elliott, a Dawsonville, Ga., native and multiple national winner of the most popular driver award, has agreed to lead the committee in its efforts to outbid its five rival cities. Elliott will be honorary chairman of the bid team. Renderings of the proposed $100 million NASCAR Hall of Fame for downtown, including the exterior and main lobby and a high-tech video computer animated flyover of the plans, are on the official Web site, www.halloffameatlanta.com.  Atlanta boosters believe the hall would be a huge asset to downtown, adding another tourist destination to the area around Centennial Olympic Park, which will soon boast the new Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coke. "This is a high stakes venture with formidable competition. We're excited about our prospects for winning the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but we don't want to take anything for granted," said Scott Wilfong, president of SunTrust Bank Atlanta, a NASCAR sponsor, and co-chair of the bid committee, in a statement. (Much more at Atlanta Business Chronicle)

Charlotte plans Rally for NASCAR officials visit on HOF: The NASCAR site visit task force will come to Charlotte on Wednesday, August 17 to review Charlotte’s proposal to land the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The visit is centered at the Convention Center and will include an intense proposal review with the NASCAR team and the Charlotte Hall of Fame Committee leaders, a business leadership lunch, a tour of the Center City and a press conference before the NASCAR team leaves. As part of the tour, Charlotte’s television and radio stations are providing everyone in the area a tangible way to “welcome” and show support to the visiting NASCAR officials. Ten radio and 4 TV stations will host mini-rallies at key points in the city along the route for the bus tour. Anyone wanting to show support is invited to attend one of the lunchtime rallies, wear your NASCAR Hall of Fame T-shirt (or something yellow), make a sign and line the streets to show our community’s support for the Hall of Fame. (Rally locations and more at WSCOTV)

Aug 10, 2005

Daytona Unveil HOF plans to NASCAR officials on stop: Business leaders tried to dazzle NASCAR officials Tuesday with a plan to build a hall of fame -- complete with a thrill ride -- to both honor the second-most popular sport in the nation and entertain its fans. Construction of the 80,000-square-foot hall, including a 90-foot tower filled with stock cars would be beside Daytona USA, and include demolition of an existing administration building. Fans could visit both attractions for one ticket -- price yet to be determined. "We wowed them," said Kathy Milthorpe, senior vice president of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and a member of the presentation team. George Pyne, NASCAR chief operating officer, said Daytona Beach has a good chance in the competition with Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Richmond, Va. "These people have a vision for what a hall of fame should be," Pyne said. That vision includes a thrill ride modeled after Daytona International Speedway with six cars to give fans the experience of racing. Pyne said the potential long-term operating success would be an important factor in NASCAR's choice of a site. Local organizers stressed the strong Central Florida tourism market with 50 million visitors a year. (More at Daytona News Journal)

Aug 9, 2005

Daytona releases $105 mil. HOF Bid:  Volusia County is the first pit stop for NASCAR as the racing organization nears a final decision on where to put the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Supporters say the facility is the perfect complement to Daytona International Speedway, WESH 2 News reported. On Tuesday, business leaders and the community will get one final chance to rev up support for a multi-million-dollar NASCAR attraction in Daytona Beach. NASCAR officials will visit the Speedway, the first of five meetings before deciding which city will land the Hall of Fame. Daytona Beach is competing against Atlanta, Charlotte, Kansas City, Kan., and Richmond, Va. A Green Flag committee has released some details about the $105 million museum, including a high-tech tower of champions interactive theater, a NASCAR bridge of history and a video play station attraction called "You're In the Drivers Seat" that links visitors to a remote-controlled version of a race car. (Video and more at WESH)

Aug 5, 2005

NASCAR says its up to cities on proposal privacy: NASCAR gave tacit approval Thursday for Atlanta officials to make public their bid to win stock car racing's hall of fame, saying the local bid committee should abide by state laws. But comments by NASCAR officials also suggest the racing circuit has sent mixed signals to Atlanta and four other cities about how much they should disclose publicly about their bids to snare the sport's version of Cooperstown. NASCAR said it left it up to each city to determine whether to keep its bid records secret. "Certainly our advice has always been to comply with local and state laws," said Mark Dyer, NASCAR's vice president of licensing. "We haven't seen any release, but we would certainly expect them to stay in compliance with the ruling." Central Atlanta Progress officials have contended for months that their decision to keep bid details under wraps was, in part, at the request of NASCAR. The group also said it didn't want its competitors for the hall — Charlotte, Daytona Beach, Fla., Richmond and Kansas City, Kan. — to gain an advantage by learning details of Atlanta's bid. (More at Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Aug 3, 2005

Atlanta to reveal HOF bid plans under Open Records Act: Georgia's attorney general declared Wednesday that the bids for two sports prizes sought by metro Atlanta — NASCAR's hall of fame and the 2009 Super Bowl — are open to the public despite claims that they were private campaigns run by the local business community. Each bid, which committed millions of dollars in public money and involved elected officials, including Gov. Sonny Perdue and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, is subject to the state's Open Records Act and should be disclosed within the next three days, Attorney General Thurbert Baker said. The Atlanta bid proposes to build a $92 million shrine to stock car racing on land owned by Ted Turner near Centennial Olympic Park downtown. Nearly one-third of the money to build the hall of fame — $25 million — would come from the state. The city could kick in an additional $5 million in tax incentives. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

July 26, 2005

NASCAR HOF to be be narrowed to two or three by Sept.: Like your mother said, first impressions count, whether you're on a date, at a job interview or trying to become NASCAR's Cooperstown. After visiting the five competing cities next month, NASCAR officials will winnow the list of possible locations to two or three in September, a spokesman said Monday. The five competing cities -- Daytona Beach, Atlanta, Charlotte, Richmond and Kansas City, Kan. -- get one last chance to make the case they should host the temple of stock car racing. NASCAR will send a group of about 10 executives to conduct one-day tours in each community next month. The first city will be Daytona Beach on Aug. 9. Atlanta will be Aug. 16, followed by Charlotte on Aug. 17, Kansas City, Kan. on Aug. 18 and Richmond, Va. on Aug. 23. (News Journal)

July 21, 2005

Charlotte talks acceleration of road project in hope of NASCAR HOF: The I-277 loop is critical to the efforts of those pushing for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  On Thursday, Charlotte Department of Transportation officials discussed an accelerated plan for modifications to the road, including how to provide access to the proposed hall of fame. Public and business response to prior workshops this year on CDOT's transportation study has been a plus. "I'm feeling very encouraged by the progress we are making and by the community response," said Howard Landers, CDOT transportation planner. "This is more of that, again focused on this one element." If the modifications are approved by the federal government, then state and local officials can inform NASCAR of that part of the equation being guaranteed. (News 14)

July 13, 2005

HOF visitation dates set: Charlotte will get its chance to impress NASCAR with its plans for a hall of fame for stock-car racing during a visit on Aug. 17. That's Charlotte's date on a tour of the five cities that submitted proposals before May 31. NASCAR officials also will go to Daytona Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, to Atlanta on Aug. 16, to Kansas City on Aug. 18 and to Richmond on Aug. 23. In each city, member of the NASCAR delegation will meet with local organizing officials, tour the prospective site location and discuss each proposal in detail. (ThatsRacin)

July 11, 2005

Atlanta's NASCAR HOF Bid Website: Want a peek under the hood or to see the race notes of Atlanta's local NASCAR bid committee? Lots of people do, so Atlanta's NASCAR Hall of Fame Bid Committee will be making information about the proposal available on the (www.halloffameatlanta.com) Web site. "We've put together a strong proposal and continue to be in constant communication with NASCAR," said Mark Lazarus, President of the Turner Entertainment Group, Co-Chair of the local bid committee and a NASCAR partner. "We're approaching the race for the Hall of Fame the same way NASCAR teams approach a race. You prepare the best you can, and adapt as the race progresses. NASCAR still needs to weigh in with their thoughts once they've reviewed the proposal, so we need to be flexible. We're still a long way from the finish line." Information about Atlanta's bid that has been released to-date is currently posted on www.halloffameatlanta.com. Additional information and updates about the status of Atlanta's bid will be posted on the site over the next several months. Fans and supporters also can sign up to become part of the committee's 'Pit Crew' and be among the first to receive newly released information about Atlanta's bid. (Atlanta NASCAR HOF PR)

July 9, 2005

Atlanta's HOF bid plans kept under wraps: Atlanta's NASCAR hall of fame bid team pulled the cover off its new Web site Friday, complete with the hall's would-be logo and an image of Centennial Olympic Park under a fireworks display. But the site, www.halloffameatlanta.com, leaves out a number of key details, even a rendering of what the attraction might look like. The home page image is of Centennial Olympic Park during an imagined event, and not the proposed racing shrine. Atlanta is in a tight race with four other communities — Kansas City, Kan., Charlotte, Richmond and Daytona Beach, Fla. — to become NASCAR's Cooperstown. Some of those efforts have launched Web sites and all have released renderings, finances and other details of their NASCAR proposals to the public. But details of Atlanta's bid, which intends to spend as much as $25 million in state money, are still under wraps. The Atlanta bid committee has refused to show the public any part of the proposal it delivered to racing officials in May. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has sought the bid materials under the Georgia Open Records Act. But bid officials, through their attorney, have said their effort is private and not subject to the state's open records law. The Journal-Constitution on July 6 wrote a letter to state Attorney General Thurbert Baker arguing the bid team should release detailed information and asking Baker to enforce the open records act. (More at AJC)