March 6, 2006

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - The first NASCAR Hall of Fame apparently will be located where many of its teams are - in Charlotte.

A week after the Charlotte Observer reported the museum would be awarded to the city, NASCAR on Monday issued a statement that it would "have a special announcement" regarding the Hall of Fame at 4 p.m. EST at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The Observer had reported that NASCAR had accepted Charlotte's bid of $137.5 million to build the museum, beating offers by Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Florida.

According to NASCAR.com, 90 percent of the teams are based within 60 miles of Charlotte.

"To make a Hall of Fame successful they need drivers to make appearances," Charlotte-based team owner Felix Sabates told NASCAR.com on Saturday while in Mexico City for Sunday's Busch Series race. "These guys are not going to get in an airplane to fly to Atlanta to do appearances."

Sabates also said it would be much easier for drivers to make appearances in Charlotte, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., who lobbied for the city.

"Little E said, 'If they call me to come do something I'll get in my car and go to downtown Charlotte, but I'm not going to Atlanta,'" Sabates said. "That had a lot of influence on the decision."

Yup yup@ We knew this was coming 90% of the teams and drivers are in the area. Now some people are very happy, and others are griping about it and the costs asscoaited with it. What do you guys think? As big of a deal as they are making? work 150million?