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Fan balloting for NASCAR hall ends in late September

By Bob Henry

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Published: September 11, 2009

CHARLOTTE - The days are winding down for fans to cast their votes for the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, with the five inductees to be announced Oct. 14.

Fans wishing to cast their ballots, through NASCAR.com, have until Sept. 27. The halls voting panel will meet in Charlotte about two and a half weeks later, in the days leading up to the NASCAR race weekend at Lowes Motor Speedway. That group will meet behind closed door to debate and vote on the 25 nominees.

A formal announcement will follow in a news conference at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Speed's coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET with a live show and candidate features. Programming is scheduled throughout the day, including live coverage at 4 p.m. news conference.

"There is only one 'first' when it comes to the NASCAR Hall of Fame," said Hunter Nickell, Speed's president, "and ... the experience deserves extraordinary treatment."

The voting panel includes representatives of NASCAR, the hall, track ownership groups, retired drivers, team owners, crew chiefs and members of the working media.

The nominees: Bobby Allison, Buck Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt, Richie Evans, Tim Flock, Bill France Jr. and Bill France Sr., Rick Hendrick, Ned Jarrett, Junior Johnson, Bud Moore, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, David Pearson, Lee Petty, Richard Petty, Fireball Roberts, Herb Thomas, Curtis Turner, Darrell Waltrip, Joe Weatherly, Glen Wood and Cale Yarborough.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground in Charlotte on Jan. 25, 2007, and is scheduled to open May 11, 2010.

Expected to cost more than $195 million, it will feature a theater, memorabilia and interactive exhibits. The city is paying for most of the building construction through a hotel/motel tax. The remainder of the funding comes from bank loans backed by sponsorships and sales of commemorative bricks.