04:05 PM EDT on Thursday, October 13, 2005

By BOBBY SISK / 6NEWS

6NEWS

Charlotte's vision of the NASCAR Hall of Fame

We're now in the midst of the big fall race week and if local leaders get their wish there will eventually be another major attraction for NASCAR fans.

Charlotte is competing for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but a new poll shows the majority of locals may never step foot inside.

In this year's Carolina’s poll 6NEWS asked the question; if the hall of fame is located in Charlotte, how likely is it that you will visit this attraction once it's completed?

Six out of 10 people surveyed said they would likely "not" attend. Is this a bad sign? Mayor Pat McCrory says that number actually sounds good.

In a region where 24,000 people work in the racing industry and where 1.25 million racing fans visit each year McCrory says the NASCAR Hall of Fame “just makes sense.”

"This is going to be something that is extremely interactive and it is going to be an experience," McCrory said.

But is it one people who already live in the region will support? The Carolinas poll revealed 61 percent of the 923 people surveyed would not visit the hall among them, Gerald Oldiges.

"I would say I'm not that enthused about it and it is unlikely I would attend it," Oldiges said.

Oldiges said he may eventually change his mind, but right now, he's just not a NASCAR fan.

"I would definitely go," NASCAR fan Katie Stanley said.

Stanley is such a fan she moved to Charlotte six weeks ago partially because of an interest in racing. The hall of fame is right up her ally.

"I’m a NASCAR fan. I have been for about five years. So I can't think of anywhere better or any other place it would be," Stanley said.

McCrory has an optimistic outlook on the poll’s results.

"That means 40 percent would be willing to attend in this entire region and that is well over a million people," McCrory said.

Original estimates put attendance between 400 and 500,000 people a year. And that's from the entire nation. The mayor said the city is in contact with NASCAR officials almost weekly and he says he feels there is still a very "good" chance of beating the competition.

Charlotte is competing with four other cities for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. They include Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond and Kansas City. The mayor expects a final decision in early December. In the meantime, the city has approved an increase in the hotel motel tax to pay for the project. The estimated cost is $137.5 million.