The 2011 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET in the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte, N.C. The highlight of this year’s event is the official induction of the 2011 Class of Inductees: Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, Bud Moore, David Pearson and Lee Petty.
However, the prestigious annual ceremony, which features presentations about each inductee from prominent members of the NASCAR community, will move from May to January starting in 2012.
“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,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France.
“We believe we can complement the star-studded main event with a full slate of activities that will draw fans from around the country. 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” said Tim Newman, chief executive officer of Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
“Getting inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a lifetime achievement for these legends,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “The move to January ensures the spotlight is on them for this special honor.”
As a result of the schedule change, voting for the 2012 class will take place on June 14 inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Fans who purchase a ticket that day can attend this special event.