From the Hall of Fame ...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- NASCAR.COM writers' observations from the Hall of Fame grand opening:

• Fifteen minutes to go until the opening ceremony, and there's quite the festival atmosphere building.

Grand Opening

• Menzer: A celebration
• Fans revel in history
• Doors officially open
• Photo Gallery: Opening
• Complete story archive
• HOF: Special Coverage

SPEED Special

• Part 1: Open door to history
• Part 2: First-class look
• Part 3: Reliving moments

• Lug Nut, Charlotte Motor Speedway's mascot, is working the crowd outside the Hall. Opening ceremony minutes away.

• The first driver on stage is none other than Ron Hornaday. There's Bobby Allison ... and Rex White ... and Terry Labonte ... and Rusty Wallace.

• This isn't exactly chamber of commerce weather, with overcast skies and just this side of chilly for the outdoor ceremony.

• Winton Kelley steps to the mic at 9:03 a.m. ET. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is off and running.

• Ceremonies are under way with Winston Kelley welcoming the crowd and a introducing short video clip of how the HOF came to be.

• The national anthem is sung by a choir made up of members of the 82nd Airborne. That is how the song is supposed to be sung ... the don't mess around. Maybe as impressive were the the campaign streamers on the division's flag.

• It's interesting to see the seating arrangement on stage. Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip are sitting near bud Moore, who fielded cars for both legends.

• Darrell Waltrip is wearing what can only be described as a neon pink tie. Does that thing have a volume button?!?

• Truck Series rivals Ron Hornaday and Jack Sprague are seated next to one another on the podium. Maybe they could duke it out for old time's sake.

• Interesting that South Carolina resident Cale Yarbrorough is not here.

• We're now in the "politician" portion of our program. North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue just finished speaking, and now it's Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx's turn.

• Who knew? N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue just endorsed the concept of moonshine running and avoiding the tax man.

• Awkward? Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory sits two seats to right of Gov. Bev Perdue on the Hall stage. He lost to her in this past gubernatorial race.

• Somebody somewhere is pulling some strings. ... How in the world is it not raining?!?

• Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory just admitted to sneaking into a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As political revelations go, it wasn't exactly Watergate.

• Another observation: There's a huge banner covering part of the Hall's front. The first car visible on the inside is David Pearson's as it sits on the Glory Road exhibit.

• The first actual NASCAR participant to speak is Hall of Fame honorary chair Rick Hendrick.

• Honorary Hall chair Rick Hendrick recalled going to the NFL Hall of Fame for Joe Gibbs' induction; says this Hall is "second to none."

• Brian France starts by saying that if it's his turn, fans are getting closer to the getting in the door of the Hall.

• Uh oh ... the first rain drops are beginning to fall. Get a move on!!

• Richard Petty and Junior Johnson drive their cars into the ceremony grounds, just as the rain starts to fall.

• The King arrives in style, driving the 43 car.

• The doors of the NASCAR Hall of Fame are officially open!

• It's a full-fledged deluge outside, forcing media types to Plan B. And if there's anything some media types don't like it's Plan B, whatever that might be.

• The fan Q&A with Junior Johnson and Richard Petty isn't working out to plan. It's outside and it's raining big time!