Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Christopher DiCicco

The NASCAR Hall of Fame was designated to be built in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 6, 2006 and groundbreaking began in 2007. It is projected to be opened for visitors in 2010. The Hall of Fame will be a welcome asset for tourism in Charlotte plus create jobs for the locals. It will have an office building that will house the business operations of marketing the image and licensing. The Hall of Fame has also adopted the words “Racing was built here Racing belongs here” as its slogan.

Besides being a very modern building that captures the spirit of racing, the Hall of Fame has as its first mission to pick the first inductees. There are some unofficial Hall of Fame sites where people are taking polls and we’ll take a look at some of the popular drivers getting voted for.

Lee Petty

Lee Petty had 54 victories and is the father of Richard Petty. He raced during the 1950s an 1960s when it really began to take off. His home state is also in North Carolina. He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

Richard Petty

He is getting a lot of votes at unofficial Hall of Fame sites and it is to no surprise. Richard Petty has 200 wins and 7 championship titles. He and Dale Earnhardt are the only two drivers in NASCAR’s history to have 7 championship titles. Richard Petty was dubbed the title of the “King of Racing.” He is the son of Lee Petty who was also a championship driver.

Bobby Allison

Here is another well-known name is racing. He has 84 victories with 3 Daytona 500 championships.

Cale Yarborough

Cale Yarborough has 83 victories plus he’s famous as being the only driver to win 3 straight championships. He is ranked 5th in the All-time winner’s list. He has also been the winner of the Daytona 500 four times.

Bobby Isaac

Bobby Isaac had to leave a race in 1977 because of heat exhaustion. During the time they were treating him he had a heart attack and died. In his short life of 45 years, he would achieve 37 victories. He would also set 28 world land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah (outside of the competition). He would eventually be named as one of 50 of the all-time great drivers. He is also a 1979 inductee of the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

There are other driver greats being considered including Buck Backer, Clay Earls, Tim Flock, and Junior Johnson.

Charlotte, North Carolina is a perfect location for the NASCAR Hall of Fame because there are over 50 teams of the Busch, Craftsman Truck, and Nextel Cup Series Championship competition all in close proximity to Charlotte. And Charlotte was the home of the first premier race in 1949. That’s why they say racing started in Charlotte and should remain in Charlotte.

Chris DiCicco is owner, senior editor and website developer for NASCARsupershop, a NASCAR Apparel and Memorabilia Store for every NASCAR Fan. We carry the internets largest selections of NASCAR products all in one place for your shopping convenience.

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By Bob Pardue

Charlotte’s skyline can be seen for several miles as you travel on Interstate 77 in the Piedmont area. At night, the city glistens with beautiful skyscrapers and street lights. Since its beginnings, Charlotte has rapidly grown into a center for finance and banking. It is the second largest financial capital in the United States. “Queen City” is Charlotte’s nickname.

As the county seat, Charlotte is located in Mecklenburg County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and is just above the South Carolina border. Charlotte’s population was estimated at approximately 584,658 in 2003 and is still growing. Nearby cities include Monroe (NC), Concord (NC), Rock Hill (SC), Pineville (NC), Statesville (NC), and Lancaster (SC).

The area attracts folks from all around for business, shopping, dining, recreation, and entertainment. Many people visit Charlotte from South Carolina for work or play. For those who live in the area, Charlotte is only a couple of hours away from the Appalachian Mountains and several hours from the Atlantic coast.

Charlotte, North Carolina Attractions and Events

Charlotte offers activities for all ages. The city’s night life is always moving with live entertainment and music concerts, ball games, restaurants, comedy clubs, movie theaters, and more.

Shoppers can visit one of several malls including the Eastland Mall, South Park Mall and the Carolina Place Mall (Pineville, South Charlotte). The huge Concord Mills Mall in Concord, North Carolina is just a short drive from Charlotte. At Eastland Mall, an indoor ice skating rink has provided many years of enjoyment for families.

Charlotte Festivals

Charlotte is also host to several big festivals and events throughout the year. One is the Festival in the Park, which takes place in Freedom Park. This early fall event has been held in Charlotte since 1964. It is a family-oriented festival where all types of regional works of art and unique crafts are displayed. Entertainment and refreshments are provided.

Charlotte hosts the Great Grapes Wine & Music Festival, where more than 150 North Carolina wines are available for sampling. Live music and gourmet foods are also provided. Each holiday, Charlotte residents and visitors can enjoy a variety of events, from a grand fireworks display on the 4th of July to cheerful holiday parades.

Charlotte Museums

For the history buff, there are many fascinating museums to explore in Charlotte. Discovery Place in downtown Charlotte has always been a favorite for kids with many fun hands-on exhibits, an Omnimax theater, a space station, a rain forest, and more. Other Charlotte museums include the Levine Museum of the New South, the Mint Museum of Art, and the Charlotte Museum of History.

Family Fun in Charlotte

For the active family that’s visiting or those who live in and around Charlotte, there are many parks for biking or hiking on trails, picnics, and family relaxation. One can enjoy fishing, boating, and golfing at Lake Norman. Bird lovers can relax at the Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary.

Straddling the North and South Carolina border is Paramount’s Carowinds. The amusement park is filled with exciting rides for the young and old, entertainment and cartoon characters that will amaze the kids. Roller coasters, kiddie rides, twisting and twirling rides, wet rides – Carowinds offers something for everyone! During the hot months, the Carowinds water park and ocean-wave pool provide cool relief for thousands of visitors.

Charlotte, North Carolina is a great place to live or visit. Come see why Charlotte is one of America’s choice cities!

Bob Pardue is a professional stock photographer located in the Southeastern US. You can find rights-managed stock images for your publication at http://www.parduephotos.com

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