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Sprint Cup
CUP: Biggest Month In Charlotte History?
Charlotte will be a happening place this month...
The 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. (Image: NASCAR Hall of Fame)
May is always a busy month in the metro Charlotte area, but it’s safe to say this month likely will generate more racing buzz than ever before in the area’s long and rich racing history.
On deck this month in the Charlotte region:
• The much-anticipated NASCAR Hall of Fame opens to the public May 11 in Uptown Charlotte. SPEED is the official broadcast network of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. For a full list of Hall stories, see: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/2010-nascar-hall-of-fame-preview-on-speedtvcom/.
The inaugural HoF class is Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. The new facility is state-of-the-art, with enough unique attractions to keep fans coming back many times over. And the facility will further enhance NASCAR’s position with other major league sports.
“I think it’s huge. I think it really signifies where our sport is today and its significance and the role that it plays in major sports,” said Jeff Gordon. “I think that’s what the NASCAR building as well as the Hall of Fame being in Charlotte really means. It takes us to that next level of professionalism and I think that the class (of inductees) is pretty awesome. I think they are all well deserving to be in there and to be the first class. I can’t wait to go to the induction ceremony, and I know that it is something that I’m going to be very proud of for our sport and for those individuals that it has come this far, and how (the sport) is being represented today.”
SPEED’s live coverage of the NASCAR Hall of Fame begins May 11 at 9 a.m.
• The Sprint Pit Crew Challenge takes place May 19 at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte. The event includes a team contest, which last year was won by Jeff Burton’s Richard Childress Racing team. There are also individual competitions for front-tire changer, rear-tire changer, jackman and gasman. Team competition will follow individual competitions. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to individuals and team winners, compliments of Sprint, Craftsman and NASCAR.
Television coverage begins May 19 at 9 p.m. ET on SPEED.
• On Friday, May 21, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with North Carolina Education Lottery 200. SPEED will televise the race live, starting with the “NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup” at 7:30 p.m. ET.
• The following evening, May 22, is the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which will be televised live from Charlotte Motor Speedway on SPEED, starting at 7 p.m. ET.
“That event is just incredible, especially for the fans,” said Mark Martin, a two-time All-Star winner. “I think the competitors love it too, but the fans really love it. It’s really exciting. There couldn’t possibly be a better place to have it than Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s perfect. It’s a weekend that I think everybody looks forward to and somebody comes out of there with a big trophy and a big check. Everybody walks out of the grandstands with a smile on their face.”
“I think there is a smile on everyone’s faces, from the competitors to the fans to a great facility, great race track, we are all at home,” added Jimmie Johnson, who like his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Martin is a two-time All-Star winner. “They find different ways to make it more exciting each and every year and then obviously at the end, the paycheck for $1 million bucks to the winner motivates everybody and it is off the races. I am excited for it. I really look forward to the date each year and I enjoy the tags on television where it is counting down. It keeps it fresh in my mind of what is around the corner. I know that in our sport, we have a true All Star event and we really put on a great show and everybody is out there giving 100 percent.”
For more on the Sprint All-Star Race, check out: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-nascar-sprint-all-star-race/
• The day after the All-Star event, the action moves back to Uptown Charlotte for the induction of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. The event will be televised live on SPEED, May 23 at noon ET.
Roger Goodman, who has directed every kind of television event imaginable, from the Presidential Inauguration to the Academy Awards, Super Bowl halftime shows and Olympic Games, is leading the SPEED/FOX Sports production team for the network’s live and exclusive coverage of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 23 at noon ET.
• Last but certainly not least is the running of the longest race in NASCAR, the May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This year’s race will feature an elaborate pre-race show, saluting veterans of foreign wars.
Add it all up, and it’s a huge month for race fans and the state of North Carolina alike.
Economic impact studies show the back-to-back race weeks featuring the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 22 and May 30 Coca-Cola 600 will generate more than $200 million for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Iredell counties, with more than 400,000 race fans from 50 states and several foreign countries attending motorsports-related events.
“Charlotte is truly the No. 1 destination for race fans,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The experience they have in this region, with the team shops, festivals and at Charlotte Motor Speedway is something they cannot get anywhere else in the world.”
Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEEDtv.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening is set for May 11, 2010. Outdoor Opening Ceremonies are May 11th from 9 to 10 am ET free of charge, open to the public. Outdoor festivities including driver appearances and concerts May 11th from 10 am until 8 pm ET open to the public, free of charge. Tickets to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. The countdown to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is on! Visit www.NASCARHall.com/50days for daily updates about the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
On deck this month in the Charlotte region:
• The much-anticipated NASCAR Hall of Fame opens to the public May 11 in Uptown Charlotte. SPEED is the official broadcast network of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. For a full list of Hall stories, see: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/2010-nascar-hall-of-fame-preview-on-speedtvcom/.
The inaugural HoF class is Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Junior Johnson, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. The new facility is state-of-the-art, with enough unique attractions to keep fans coming back many times over. And the facility will further enhance NASCAR’s position with other major league sports.
“I think it’s huge. I think it really signifies where our sport is today and its significance and the role that it plays in major sports,” said Jeff Gordon. “I think that’s what the NASCAR building as well as the Hall of Fame being in Charlotte really means. It takes us to that next level of professionalism and I think that the class (of inductees) is pretty awesome. I think they are all well deserving to be in there and to be the first class. I can’t wait to go to the induction ceremony, and I know that it is something that I’m going to be very proud of for our sport and for those individuals that it has come this far, and how (the sport) is being represented today.”
SPEED’s live coverage of the NASCAR Hall of Fame begins May 11 at 9 a.m.
• The Sprint Pit Crew Challenge takes place May 19 at Bobcats Arena in Charlotte. The event includes a team contest, which last year was won by Jeff Burton’s Richard Childress Racing team. There are also individual competitions for front-tire changer, rear-tire changer, jackman and gasman. Team competition will follow individual competitions. Trophies and prizes will be awarded to individuals and team winners, compliments of Sprint, Craftsman and NASCAR.
Television coverage begins May 19 at 9 p.m. ET on SPEED.
• On Friday, May 21, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races under the lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with North Carolina Education Lottery 200. SPEED will televise the race live, starting with the “NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup” at 7:30 p.m. ET.
• The following evening, May 22, is the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which will be televised live from Charlotte Motor Speedway on SPEED, starting at 7 p.m. ET.
“That event is just incredible, especially for the fans,” said Mark Martin, a two-time All-Star winner. “I think the competitors love it too, but the fans really love it. It’s really exciting. There couldn’t possibly be a better place to have it than Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s perfect. It’s a weekend that I think everybody looks forward to and somebody comes out of there with a big trophy and a big check. Everybody walks out of the grandstands with a smile on their face.”
“I think there is a smile on everyone’s faces, from the competitors to the fans to a great facility, great race track, we are all at home,” added Jimmie Johnson, who like his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Martin is a two-time All-Star winner. “They find different ways to make it more exciting each and every year and then obviously at the end, the paycheck for $1 million bucks to the winner motivates everybody and it is off the races. I am excited for it. I really look forward to the date each year and I enjoy the tags on television where it is counting down. It keeps it fresh in my mind of what is around the corner. I know that in our sport, we have a true All Star event and we really put on a great show and everybody is out there giving 100 percent.”
For more on the Sprint All-Star Race, check out: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-nascar-sprint-all-star-race/
• The day after the All-Star event, the action moves back to Uptown Charlotte for the induction of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class. The event will be televised live on SPEED, May 23 at noon ET.
Roger Goodman, who has directed every kind of television event imaginable, from the Presidential Inauguration to the Academy Awards, Super Bowl halftime shows and Olympic Games, is leading the SPEED/FOX Sports production team for the network’s live and exclusive coverage of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 23 at noon ET.
• Last but certainly not least is the running of the longest race in NASCAR, the May 30 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. This year’s race will feature an elaborate pre-race show, saluting veterans of foreign wars.
Add it all up, and it’s a huge month for race fans and the state of North Carolina alike.
Economic impact studies show the back-to-back race weeks featuring the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 22 and May 30 Coca-Cola 600 will generate more than $200 million for Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Iredell counties, with more than 400,000 race fans from 50 states and several foreign countries attending motorsports-related events.
“Charlotte is truly the No. 1 destination for race fans,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “The experience they have in this region, with the team shops, festivals and at Charlotte Motor Speedway is something they cannot get anywhere else in the world.”
Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEEDtv.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame Grand Opening is set for May 11, 2010. Outdoor Opening Ceremonies are May 11th from 9 to 10 am ET free of charge, open to the public. Outdoor festivities including driver appearances and concerts May 11th from 10 am until 8 pm ET open to the public, free of charge. Tickets to enter the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. The countdown to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is on! Visit www.NASCARHall.com/50days for daily updates about the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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