2016 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class Announced

Exciting times at the NASCAR Hall Of Fame announced its Class of 2016 this week. It's the seventh year of the Hall of Fame, and the class includes lots of outstanding drivers as well as Charlotte's own Bruton Smith, founder of Charlotte Motor Speedway. Here's the details from the official press release:

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 20, 2015) – NASCAR announced today the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The five-person group – the seventh in NASCAR Hall of Fame history – consists of Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, O. Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner. In addition, NASCAR announced that Harold Brasington won the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. Next year’s Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, broadcast on NBCSN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, live from Charlotte, North Carolina.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in a closed session in Charlotte to debate and vote upon the 20 nominees for the induction class of 2016 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton announced the class and Landmark Award winner, respectively, this evening in the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Great Hall.

The Class of 2016 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, retired competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and, for the second year, the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (Kevin Harvick). In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional Voting Panel members recused from voting as potential nominees for induction (Jerry Cook and Robert Yates). The accounting firm of Ernst & Young presided over the tabulation of the votes.

Voting was as follows: O. Bruton Smith (68%), Terry Labonte (61%), Curtis Turner (60%), Jerry Cook (47%) and Bobby Isaac (44%).

The next top vote-getters were Red Byron, Benny Parsons and Rick Hendrick.

Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Buddy Baker, Alan Kulwicki, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin and Benny Parsons.

The five inductees came from a group of 20 nominees that included, in addition to the five inductees chosen: Buddy Baker, Red Byron, Richard Childress, Ray Evernham, Ray Fox, Rick Hendrick, Harry Hyde, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Hershel McGriff, Raymond Parks, Benny Parsons, Larry Phillips, Mike Stefanik and Robert Yates.

Nominees for the Landmark Award included Brasington, H.Clay Earles, Raymond Parks, Ralph Seagraves and Ken Squier. It is awarded to competitors or those working in the sport who have acted as a NASCAR ambassador through a professional or non-professional role. Anne B. France won the inaugural award last year.

Class of 2016 Inductees:

Jerry Cook

Jerry Cook made his name in modifieds, winning six NASCAR Modified championships, including four consecutively from 1974-77. All the while, he was vying with another driver from his hometown of Rome, New York, nine-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans, for supremacy in NASCAR’s open-wheel realm. After retiring from racing in 1982, Cook stayed with the sport and helped shape the series known today as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Cook served as the series’ director when it began in 1985 and remains with NASCAR as competition administrator.

Bobby Isaac

Bobby Isaac’s uncanny skill at drawing speed from a race car puts him on a short list of NASCAR legends. His 49 career poles ranks 10th all time. Maybe more impressive: Isaac captured 19 poles in 1969, which still stands as the record for poles in a single season. Isaac began racing in NASCAR’s premier series in 1961. He finished runner-up in the series standings in 1968 behind NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson. In 1969, he finished sixth in the standings after posting 17 wins and those 19 poles. In 1970, Isaac won the championship posting 11 victories, 32 top fives and 38 top 10s in 47 starts. Isaac won 37 races in NASCAR's top series, ranking 19th on the all-time list.

Terry Labonte

Terry Labonte is a two-nickname NASCAR star. Early in his career he was known as the “Iceman” for his coolness under pressure. But his demeanor belied his determination. Later in his career he became known as the sport’s “Iron Man” thanks to 665 consecutive starts in NASCAR’s premier series, a record which stood until 2002. Winning two premier series championships, in 1984 and ’96, is impressive; the 12-year gap distinguishes Labonte further. No other driver has won his first two championships that far apart and Labonte is one of only six drivers with championships in two decades. Labonte’s stellar career is tucked between perfect bookends – his two Southern 500 wins, in 1980 and 2003. His 361 top-10 finishes ranks 10th all time.

O. Bruton Smith

O. Bruton Smith, executive chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., promoted his first stock car race in Midland, North Carolina at the age of 18. Smith’s early endeavors included operating the National Stock Car Racing Association – seen as an early competitor to NASCAR – and building Charlotte Motor Speedway. CMS became the foundation of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which currently owns eight NASCAR tracks hosting 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and additional high-profile motorsports activities. Smith took SMI public in 1995, the first motorsports company to be traded at the New York Stock Exchange. He was inducted into the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame and National Motorsports Press Association’s Hall of Fame, both in 2006; and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Curtis Turner

Called by some the “Babe Ruth of stock car racing,” Curtis Turner was among the fastest and most colorful competitors in the early years of NASCAR premier series racing. Turner competed in NASCAR’s first “Strictly Stock” race in 1949 in Charlotte and was the only driver to win a NASCAR premier series race in a Nash. He posted his first of 17 career victories in only his fourth start on Sept. 11, 1949, at Langhorne (Pennsylvania) Speedway. Although many of Turner’s victories came on short tracks and dirt ovals – much of his career pre-dated NASCAR’s superspeedway era – he won the 1956 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the first American 500 at Rockingham Speedway in 1965. He remains the only series driver to win two consecutive races from the pole leading every lap. He also won 38 of 79 races in which he competed in the NASCAR Convertible Division.

Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:

Harold Brasington

Harold Brasington, a South Carolina businessman, believed in Bill France’s fledgling NASCAR business, created the sanctioning body’s first superspeedway – a one-of-a-kind egg-shaped oval, paved on an old cotton and peanut field. Expecting 10,000 fans to show up at Darlington Raceway’s first competition on Labor Day of 1950, 25,000 spectators showed up for the inaugural Southern 500 – NASCAR’s first 500-mile race. Darlington's success inspired Brasington to extend his reach north -- to North Carolina. He employed his track building and promoting expertise, helping in the creation of Charlotte Motor Speedway and building North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina.

About the NASCAR Hall of Fame

Conveniently located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010, and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio. The venue is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seven days a week and has an attached parking garage on Brevard Street. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. nascarhall.com

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR XFINITY Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series, one local grassroots series and three international series. The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit http://www.NASCAR.com and follow NASCAR at www.Facebook.com/NASCAR and Twitter: @NASCAR.

Fourth Ward Christmas Home Tour

As usual the Holiday Home Tour in Fourth Ward was magical and one of Charlotte’s most special Holiday events. I am always amazed when I do this tour how enchanting it truly is.

Somehow every year it has so many delightful visual and sensual sights, sounds and smells in that eight or ten square block area, accessible, walkable and so much fun. Of all the events I cover during the Holiday Season I so look forward to the Fourth Ward Tour.

Art at McKeithen Residence

This year, the new addition to the tour was the McKeithen Residence at 324 West Ninth Street.

Chandelier at McKeithen

In years past the McKeithen home hosted the Charlotte Bronze Handbell Players on the front porch and visitors did not have access. This year however we toured this home in awe of the owners’ extraordinary art collection displayed throughout. The McKeithen family sponsors a gallery at the Mint Museum Uptown Charlotte.

McKeithen parlor

The Phillips Residence, one of the few remaining  residences in its original location in Fourth Ward, was built in 1903 with eleven foot ceilings. Muddy River Distillery was serving rum drinks to visitors on the New Orleans themed third floor. We are invited to tour the distillery and will be reporting on that later in this blog.

Stairway with rum at the top

The Lee Residence at 316 West was moved from Graham Street. It is totally at home in its present location.

Kitchen at the Lee Residence

There were eight fabulous residences and seven restaurants offering tastes and tidbits for your enjoyment, it is truly a beautiful experience to share with family and friends.

So many stories, so much history. Newcomers to Charlotte will love exploring the history of this magical neighborhood that expresses who we are, where we came from, and what we are about even today, giving them an insight into the community they are now a part of. See you next year. www.friendsoffourthward

Roberto Marquez of Mexico at LaCa Projects

I really love this gallery. It’s always an unexpected treat to attend the openings of the amazing artists that exhibit their extraordinary work at LaCa.

Roberto Marquez is no exception. I think what intrigues me the most about the LaCa Projects is the diversity of work and the special personalities of the artists. So wonderful to have access to the artist and have them be so available.

Roberto Marquez

The artist and a patron

After viewing the paintings and having lengthy conversations with the other patrons, including the gallery owner Walter Dolhare, we spoke with Marquez in depth about his life and the inspirations for his art.

Another art-loving patron

For me, the paintings are a combination of religion and eroticism with turmoil, struggle and personal sadness. We spent some time discussing “Dilemma” which I would love to take home with me so I could see it every day.

“Dilemma” 

Our evening was enchanting and as usual the wine and food were perfection as was the gallery director, Neely Verano, with her charming husband by her side supporting her return from maternity leave. She is perfect for the gallery and so lovely in every way.

Director Neely and Husband

If you can, be sure to visit this extraordinary exhibit. Someone needs to buy my favorite painting so we can keep it here in Charlotte.

The Roberto Marquez exhibit has been extended through March 13, 2015.
www.lacaprojects.com 1429 Bryant Street just off west Summit Ave. 704 837 1688

WFAE Hosts Community Theater Panel in Charlotte

Panel participants, from left to right: Mike Collins, host of Charlotte Talks, Ron Law from Theatre Charlotte, Matt Merrell from Davidson Community Players, Ginger Heath from Union County Playmakers and John Rambo from Hickory Community Players.

Mike Collins and four of our most talented directors gathered on the stage at Theatre Charlotte to tape a broadcast for WFAE’s Charlotte Talks in December of 2014.

 Matt Merrell and Ron Law 

Mike was charming as usual and led the group through questions and answers about the how, when and why of community theater in our city and surrounding areas.

There are approximately 7000 community theaters in the country and Charlotte boasts possibly the oldest longest running theater, Theatre Charlotte. Ron Law offered some great information and statistics about community theater that surprised and delighted the capacity crowd of actors, directors, young actors from NC School of the Arts and surrounding theaters.

Matt Merrill of Davidson Community Players, Ginger Heath, who is forming a new group this year, the Union City Playmakers and John Rambo with the Hickory Community Theater were all present and had plenty to say about this truly grass roots art form.

Community theater is made possible by volunteers, donations and local businesses. About 50% of funding is provided through the Arts and Science Council (85% of that is through contributions from folks like you), and 50% comes from ticket sales and concessions.

Ginger Heath

Then there was the conversation about the quality of the plays, the subject matter, and the impact local theater has on our children.

Piedmont Players in Salisbury perform plays that take audiences out their comfort zone

In all, the forum for community theater was a huge success, answering questions and providing information for us all.

The panel was recorded live for Charlotte Talks host Mike Collins, at Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. You can listen to the entire broadcast on the WFAE.org website, Charlotte Talks Dec 9th 2014.

Connecting The World:The Panama Canal at 100 at the Mint

First Dredges Through the Gatun Locks by Alison Skinner Clark: Strolling over the locks

“The Eighth Wonder of the World.” “The Thirteenth Labor of Hercules.” “The Big Ditch.” The Panama Canal deserves all these titles as the exhibit now showing at the Mint Museum through clearly demonstrates. It is intriguing as well as unbelievable what human beings will do to achieve connectedness. 

Steam shovel bucket discovered sunk in mud. Weighing 75 tons it was used to widen the Canal in the 1930s.

Through science, organization, sheer willpower, and massive expenditure of capital, America made the Canal work. When the first ship passed through the Canal on August 15, 1914, history was made.

Dr. Jonathan Stuhlman, curator of the exhibit

Wells Fargo is the lead sponsor for the Mint Museum’s fascinating exhibit and like the Canal has linked the Atlantic and Pacific coast for 160 years.

In the Tropics by Frederick March Church: Artist's depiction of this exotic and wildly dangerous country

Our overall reaction to this exhibit was one of wonder and amazement. It’s a great history lesson allowing the viewer to see into a time without reservation. 

The locks attracted many tourists before completion

Described by some as a “volatile, invasive attack on the earth,” the canal raises many questions.  Can you hear the planet groaning? Do we have the right to invade the earth to such an extent? 

The shear enormity of what man is capable of to further our evolution and bring us closer to one another is depicted in this exhibit.

T.R in Panama by Edward Laning: Teddy Roosevelt visited Panama to see the canal in progress

Connecting the World: The Panama Canal at 100 is on display at the Mint Museum Uptown through Feb. 1, 2015. Visit  www.mintmuseum.org for more information.

Steve Plaxco, Exhibit Chief