Charlotte's proposal for the NASCAR Hall of Fame was one of three finalists.

Sabates: Charlotte logical choice for Hall

Official announcement to be made on Monday at 4 p.m. ET

MEXICO CITY -- Nextel Cup team owner Felix Sabates said NASCAR made the right decision in selecting Charlotte to host its Hall of Fame.

Sabates, in Mexico City for Sunday's Busch Series race, acknowledged on Saturday that a press conference is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. ET to make the announcement official.

	Charlotte's advantage is that it is near 90 percent of NASCAR teams.
	PRESENTATIONS • Hall of Fame presentations

"The most important factor was all the drivers are there,'' said Sabates, who partnered with fellow team owner Rick Hendrick in leading Charlotte's effort. "To make a Hall of Fame successful they need drivers to make appearances.

"These guys are not going to get in an airplane to fly to Atlanta to do appearances.''

Ninety percent of the NASCAR teams are within 60 miles of Charlotte, considered the birthplace of stock car racing. Sabates said several drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., went to NASCAR to argue on Charlotte's behalf.

"Little E said if they call me to come do something I'll get in my car and go to downtown Charlotte, but I'm not going to Atlanta,'' Sabates said. "That had a lot of influence on the decision.''

Atlanta and Daytona Beach joined Charlotte as finalists for the facility. Atlanta was considered the strongest competition.

"Atlanta was in the running until the last minute,'' Sabates said.

But Sabates said Charlotte made more sense, arguing the downtown area is more family oriented with neighborhoods and major townhouse projects.

ALSO NASCAR announced on Jan. 5 that three cities -- Atlanta, Charlotte and Daytona Beach -- are finalists for serving as the host site for the sport's first official Hall of Fame.  •   Complete story,  click here

"Think about this,'' Sabates said. "Would you want to go to Atlanta at 8 o'clock at night and walk around by yourself? I told [NASCAR president] Mike Helton one day, 'Do you want to take your wife and kids and walk the streets a few blocks away from the Hall of Fame in Atlanta?' He said, 'Why?' I said, 'Just try it and you'll see.'"

Charlotte leaders proposed $137.5 million to build the Hall of Fame in the downtown area, financed through a 2-percent increase in the Mecklenburg County hotel-room tax and from contributions from private and government business.

But Sabates said Charlotte's biggest resource was its close proximity to the teams, where hundreds of thousands of fans already flock annually to visit.

"It's the natural place to be,'' he said. "NASCAR did a pretty good job of negotiating themselves a good deal.''