MONTGOMERY — In the race to acquire the NASCAR Hall of Fame, one team has fallen off the pace and is going behind the wall. The Daily Home learned from both NASCAR and Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office, the state of Alabama has withdrawn from consideration for the proposed project.
“We’ve looked at it very, very carefully,” Wade said. “We think it’s in our best interest to focus on what we already have.
“We really appreciate NASCAR for the opportunity to be included.”
On Tuesday, Ramsey Poston, NASCAR managing director for Corporate Communications, said Birmingham-Talladega had withdrawn from consideration on Monday.
Alabama pulling out leaves six locations still vying for the spot: Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Kansas City, Kan.; the state of Michigan; and Richmond, Va. Those cities still have until the end of May to submit a bid.
The Talladega-Birmingham site was not among the first group interested in bringing the project inside its borders. It was only after the first faction was announced that Alabama became involved in attempts to acquire the project.
Wade said from beginning to end their involvement was “five-to-six weeks.”
“This was something that was going to take major corporate and government commitment to have any chance of succeeding,” Wade said. “After talking with government officials who would be involved with it, we felt it wasn’t on our list of priorities.
“It’s been a hallmark of this administration to look at projects with the best interest of the Alabama taxpayer. Either we find a way to for it to make sense or we don’t do it.”
Wade indicated that the state would be best served by focusing on the two major NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeed-way and the state’s four major automotive manufacturers.
The money other cities have reportedly committed to bringing in the project started high and continues to grow. Most put the figures for many of the cities at between $60-70 million. The Charlotte Observer recently reported that the total cost could be in excess of $100 million.
“To me, that’s very surprising,” Wade said. “Each city has to look at it and see what makes sense for them.”
In addition to money being poured into other cities projects, names have also been connected to certain cities’ ventures in hopes of gaining support. Charlotte named Rick Hendrick an “honorary grand marshall” to the project. Also not helping Alabama’s effort, Bobby Allison, even came out in support of the hall of fame landing in Charlotte.
While it was billed as Talladega-Birmingham, Wade said initial thoughts for an area for the site had it landing closer to Birmingham. Talladega is already home to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
