NASCAR considering moving The Winston

CONCORD, N.C. -- Since the inception of The Winston 17 years ago, Charlotte has played host to NASCAR's all-star event every year but one, 1986, when it moved to Hampton, Ga.

Don't be surprised to see a second such address change in 2003.

The latest in a string of annually-renewed contracts between NASCAR and Lowe's Motor Speedway that has kept The Winston in Charlotte since 1987 expires following the May 18 running of the star-studded event.

Subsequently, rumors have surfaced that NASCAR might move the event -- by far the richest race per mile run -- to another venue next year, namely one that currently hosts just one race per season.

	Jeff Gordon captured The Winston in 2001. Credit: ASP

"I think it would give some of these tracks, perhaps that only have just one event, a shot at having another event," said Rich Habegger, NASCAR Winston Cup Series director for Sports Marketing Enterprises. "Vegas, Texas, Kansas City, Chicago, places like that, where the fans can see more than one race a year. There's been all kinds of things talked about, move it every year, all that."

NASCAR vice president for corporate communications Jim Hunter told NASCAR.com that nomadic nature was NASCAR's original thought process for The Winston.

However, Charlotte's proximity to the R.J. Reynolds' headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C., has rooted the race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"When NASCAR and Winston first came up with the idea of this all-star event, the original idea was to move the race around like other all-star events," Hunter said.

"Have it this year in Charlotte, next year in Atlanta, next year in Richmond, maybe even Bristol, and keep moving it from track to track so that fans everywhere would have an opportunity to see the race at the track nearest their home. Winston kept it in Charlotte because it's so close to Winston-Salem."

Habegger agreed that the Charlotte's contiguity to Winston-Salem had been a major determining factor in the past, but that it was ultimately NASCAR's option to move the race if they so desire.

"We did have a contract in the past where we were obligated to have this race here in Charlotte," Habegger said. "That contract is now gone. NASCAR has the option of moving it around, in conjunction with us."

Michael Waltrip under the lights at The Winston, 2001. Credit: ASP

Hunter backed that up, and said that fan feedback of late has shifted towards a moving all-star weekend, like that which the NBA and Major League Baseball use.

"Over the years, we've said as long as Winston's happy (we'll keep it in Charlotte)," Hunter said. "But in fan letters, the momentum has swung to the fans wanting this race moved around, as it was originally intended."

NASCAR president Mike Helton said it will remain a yearly decision on where The Winston will be held.

"We take one year at a time, but the original concept was to move it around so that fans across the country from different regions could experience and all-star version of Winston Cup racing," Helton said. "We deal with all races on a yearly basis, including that one, The Winston."

One man who doesn't want it moved is Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler. Wheeler said earlier this week that, according to a study at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, The Winston dumps some $75 million into the annual Charlotte-area economy.

	Humpy Wheeler

Overall, he said, the "10 days of Charlotte" -- that being the Wheeler's affectionate name for the weeklong period from The Winston through the Coca-Cola 600 -- add more than $160 million to the city of Charlotte.

Therefore, Wheeler and the city of Charlotte plan to fight tooth-and-nail to keep The Winston at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"It should stay here. This is the place for it," Wheeler said.. "The teams are already here, it's not a weekend you have to spend on the road. And we're going to promote the hell out of it.

"We have been through this time and again when the contract has run out. We had it here first and then it went to Atlanta. Well, to get it back we went to the format we have now, the 10-lap shootout, and we asked RJR to let us try it like that. Obviously it's worked out."

Wheeler said Lowe's Motor Speedway has shown its devotion to The Winston with several track upgrades, including the multi-million dollar lighting system put in place in 1998.

"We lit this place, and a revolution in Winston Cup racing was started," Wheeler said. "Look at all the superspeedways that are lit now. We did that to keep The Winston. That was one of the deals, we had to come up with something different and unique.

"I don't think there's probably a track that hasn't said, 'Hey, let's bring it up here.' I don't blame them for that but it won't work anywhere else. This is the place it's got to be."

"This race would be a doozie wherever you run it," Hunter said. "It does seem the question comes up every year on whether the race should be moved around or continue to be run in Charlotte? That's an interesting question."