Charlotte, NASCAR fans eagerly await Hall of Fame opening

Autoracing Betting Lines

05/10/2010 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The month of May will be unlike any other for the City of Charlotte, as Tuesday's much-anticipated opening of NASCAR's new Hall of Fame kicks off a long list of race activities in the Queen City.

Since its groundbreaking on January 25, 2007, the NASCAR HoF, located in the city's downtown area, has evolved into a 150,000-square-foot entertainment center honoring the history and heritage of the sport.

NASCAR announced in March 2006 that Charlotte was awarded the site of its Hall of Fame, with the city topping Atlanta, Kansas City, Daytona Beach, FL and Richmond, VA in its proposals to construct and fund the HoF.

It makes sense for Charlotte to have the hall, since it is NASCAR's "hub city," and since most NASCAR teams have their race shops located in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

A NASCAR hall was long overdue, since other major professional sports in this country had landmarks constructed many decades ago to house memorial items and honor illustrious athletes in their respective sports.

"I think it's huge," said Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR champion. "I think it really signifies where our sport is today and its significance and the role that it plays in major sports. I think that's what the NASCAR building as well as the Hall of Fame being in Charlotte, N.C., really means."

Among some of the features in the $195 million NASCAR HoF include a 64-foot- wide curved projection screen inside a 275-seat theater and several floors of interactive exhibits and artifacts, including dozens of historic cars.

"One of our objectives was to have something for everybody, whether you are a diehard NASCAR fan or whether you have never been around the sport, whether or not you're five years old or 85 years old...if you want to see the history or do something hands on," NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley said. "The exhibit design team did a fabulous job, and our team acquiring the artifacts and NASCAR's team helping us with us with all the props and the media videos are absolutely incredible."

The NASCAR HoF will hold its first induction ceremony on May 23. NASCAR founder Bill France and his son, Bill France Jr., a former NASCAR chairman, as well as drivers Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Junior Johnson make up the 2010 inaugural induction class.

"It feels good," seven-time NASCAR champion Petty said of his induction. "I felt like this was a race...you feel good finishing in the front five."

The five-member induction class for 2011 will be revealed later this year.

May traditionally has been a busy month for racing in Charlotte, with the running of the all-star race followed by the longest event of the season -- 600 miles -- at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

This time, Charlotteans and NASCAR fans have a lot more to roar about.

Jazzsportd Autoracing Betting News

<< Bengals agree to terms with S Wilson
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals came to terms with veteran safety Gibril Wilson on Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. "We're excited to have Gibril join our secondary group," said B

<< Monfils wins Madrid opener
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Athletic Frenchman Gael Monfils was among Monday's first-round winners at the $3.6 million Madrid Open, a clay-court French Open tune-up. The 12th-seeded Monfils handled fellow Frenchman Stephane Ro

<< Suns' 'synergy' carries them to conference finals
PHOENIX (AP) -Coach Alvin Gentry calls it ``synergy,'' a word that means, essentially, something greater than the sum of its parts.That's perfect for these upstart Phoenix Suns. They are, in simpler terms, a lot better than just about anyone expecte

<< USA loses again, Canada wins again at Worlds
Cologne, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Patrick Galbraith made 30 saves and Stefan Lassen scored the overtime winner, as Denmark took a 2-1 win over Team USA to hand the Americans their second straight loss of the tournament. Coming off a

<< Cowboys, Rams swap former first-round picks
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys acquired offensive tackle Alex Barron from the St. Louis Rams in exchange for linebacker Bobby Carpenter on Monday. Carpenter, the 18th overall pick out of Ohio State in 2006, has appeared

Lions sign safety Brown >>
Allen Park, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Lions signed safety C.C. Brown on Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Brown spent last season with the New York Giants after playing the first four years of his career with the H

Serena, Venus advance in Madrid >>
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 Serena Williams and her former top-ranked sister Venus highlighted Monday's second-round winners at the $4.5 million Madrid Open, a clay-court French Open tune-up. The reigning Australian Op

Tigers' Willis scratched from start >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis has been scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the New York Yankees because of an illness. Instead, Brad Thomas will start for the Tigers. Thomas also

LPGA golfer Blasberg dead at 25 >>
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg has died of unknown causes, according to the Tour and her agent Chase Callahan. Blasberg, 25, was in her sixth season on the LPGA Tour. She turned professional in

Stinnett kicked off Creighton basketball team >>
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Creighton basketball coach Greg McDermott has reportedly kicked guard P'Allen Stinnett off the team. Stinnett had been suspended late in January by former head coach Dana Altman for "conduct not accept

Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship

(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.

MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts US credit cards needs.