With brick program at HoF, you can be a part of history

Halls of Fame, like the new NASCAR one being built in downtown Charlotte, are places where artifacts and interesting objects are housed for viewing by people interested in a certain activity.

Rarely are there artifacts from fans themselves.

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The NASCAR Hall of Fame is about to change that, starting with its Commemorative Brick Paver program to be launched Friday morning on the site of the Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte.

Imagine going to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and taking your group to your very own "exhibit" in the Ceremonial Plaza just outside the entry doors. By purchasing one of the bricks that make up the plaza, you can do just that.

"It's a way that NASCAR fans and the community can literally help lay the foundation for the Hall of Fame," said Hall of Fame director Winston Kelley. "I don't know of any other fan base anywhere in the world that is any more devoted, any more loyal or any more literally fanatical about the sport, their favorite driver or their favorite racetrack than NASCAR fans are.

"As a part of the Commemorative Brick Paver program, they can have their name with their favorite driver likeness, track or team embodied in front of the Hall of Fame. It's a tremendous gift opportunity for them to honor someone in their family or someone that's been important to them in their life."

The brick pavers come in two sizes, 4x8 and 8x8. The former allows three lines of customized inscription, and the 8x8 can have up to six lines of inscription or four lines plus a driver likeness, team or track logo.

More than 40 drivers are participating in the Commemorative Brick Paver program, along with International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. facilities and most of the current teams involved in the three NASCAR national series.

"At our media event last week, Jimmy Spencer pointed out the importance of his wife in his life and his career as well as the many team owners he drove for," Kelley said. "Literally, the thousands and hundreds of thousands of people that will come into the NASCAR Hall of Fame will get to see a brick with their name on it that is a part of helping to build this tremendous facility."

For fans, the potential benefit of being part of the Hall of Fame is a way to signal their passion for the sport. At least The King thinks so.

"Fans are what makes it work and there wouldn't be a NASCAR if it weren't for the fans," Richard Petty, the seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion said. "There wouldn't be Richard Petty, racecar driver, if it weren't for fans.

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"This is a way for fans to be involved. They can't drive a racecar, can't own a car, whatever, but they show their loyalty to Earnhardt or Petty or Waltrip or whoever, and it shows that at that particular time in my life, I was a big race fan, and that matters.

"A lot of people want to see their name in something. They can see this, their kids can see, their grandkids can see, their buddies can see, and they then become part of history."

Kelley said that interest and excitement is on the rise for the Hall of Fame, and the Commemorative Brick Paver program is going to add more.

"The more that I see people, there is such a general excitement and enthusiasm that I hear and sense and feel from folks around the Charlotte community and the NASCAR community," he said.

A certificate of authenticity accompanies every brick purchase, along with a map of the site to tell buyers where their brick is located. Some NASCAR affinity groups, such as the Official NASCAR Members Club, will have their own sections in the Ceremonial Plaza.

Beginning Friday, fans can purchase their Commemorative Brick Pavers by clicking here or by calling (888) NHF-BRKS (888-643-2757). Prices are in line with most collectible and commemorative purchasing. Replica bricks, suitable for display at home or in the office, are also available. A portion of any purchase, brick paver or replica, is also tax-deductible.

Kelley said the goal was to sell out the first run of pavers and move onto other areas on the property designated for additional bricks.

"It depends on what size bricks that fans purchase," Kelley said.

The bricks are available on a limited basis while supplies last and installation will be completed in time for the NASCAR Hall of Fame's grand opening.

Friday's launch of the program, slated for 10:30 a.m. ET, will include presentations of Commemorative Brick Pavers honoring NASCAR legends such as Petty, Dale Inman, Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison, the late Benny Parsons, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham, Greg Biffle and others.

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Kelley said that the Hall of Fame was progressing well toward its scheduled open date in the spring of 2010.

"I've always broken it down into different buckets. You've got the building design and construction bucket, the exhibit development bucket and then the other partnerships we're working on," Kelley said. "Building design is complete, with just a few minor tweaks, and construction has begun on the Hall of Fame side. Steel started going up on the Hall of Fame itself in September and it's on schedule. The themes of the exhibit designs are done, and we're in the process of artifact acquisition. The partnerships, everything from potential sponsorships, are going on, and we've had some nice conversations with those folks."