Charlotte still choice for NASCAR shrine

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The race for the rights to NASCAR's Hall of Fame is in its closing laps, and chairman Brian France remains insistent that three cities are still in contention.
Technically, that's true.
In reality, the stock car racing shrine is Charlotte's to lose.
France will never come right out and say that, though. NASCAR's top boss instead continues to count Atlanta and Daytona Beach, Fla., among the legitimate contenders.
But for either city to actually win the rights, Charlotte would need to veer sharply off track.
Several NASCAR sources told The Associated Press on Monday that the Queen City is the leading contender to land the Hall. The sources, all of whom have firsthand knowledge of the negotiations, asked to remain anonymous because details were still being worked out. One of the issues under discussion is NASCAR's request for a low-cost rental agreement on its Charlotte offices.
The Charlotte Observer, citing four unnamed sources, first reported in its Monday edition that Charlotte's selection "was nearly certain."
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