NASCAR's Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the class of 2012 will be held in January, rather than May, according to a news release from the sanctioning body.
"After holding the inaugural induction ceremony in May of 2010, we quickly decided a move to January would give this event a life of its own and would ensure the inductees garner the appropriate amount of attention from the fans, the media and the local community," NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. "In addition to this being the right move for the inductees, we also feel like making this a stand-alone event will greatly benefit NASCAR fans across the country that are itching for news in the early parts of the year."
The move will not affect the upcoming 2011 induction, which is scheduled for May 23 in the Charlotte Convention Center's Crown Ballroom at the Hall of Fame. This year's inductees are Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson and Lee Petty.
Because of the date change, voting for the 2012 class also has been changed. Members of the voting panel now are scheduled to convene on June 14 to hear presentations and cast their ballots.
"The NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony is the Academy Awards of NASCAR," Tim Newman, chief executive officer of Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, said. "We believe we can complement the star-studded main event with a full slate of activities that will draw fans from around the country.
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"Race fans already flock to the Queen City in May and October. We plan to work with NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway and the many motorsports businesses in the region to develop January into another must-visit time for the race fan and another opportunity for us to fill hotels, restaurants and attractions."
The exact date for the 2012 ceremony will be announced at a later time.
