Atlanta vies for racing shrine

ATLANTA - Tourism officials revved their engines Tuesday, treating NASCAR executives to a helicopter tour and downtown rally in hopes of winning a stock car racing hall of fame that could mean millions of dollars to the area's economy.

About 15 NASCAR executives were the guests of honor as everyone from civic leaders to Georgia's governor touted Atlanta's $92 million package as superior to those from Charlotte, N.C., Daytona Beach, Fla., Kansas City, Kan., and Richmond, Va.

"There are other cities that have a lot of history about NASCAR, but NASCAR is a growing company that's one of the best-marketed companies in the world today and they understand what keeps companies growing," Gov. Sonny Perdue said. "They understand it's about the future. Atlanta is about the future."

The pitch began with a helicopter tour of downtown Atlanta, over the proposed hall of fame site owned by media mogul Ted Turner. It would sit next to Centennial Olympic Park, near Atlanta's planned world-class aquarium, the CNN Center and a planned new location for the World of Coke.

Billie Hannah, of Villa Rica, Ga., was one of the downtown workers at a rally who joined the crowd waving black and white checkered flags and viewing a dozen or so stock cars on display in the park.

"It's really cool, and I think it would be good for business," said Hannah, a Tony Stewart fan who said she would visit the museum with her family. "There are a lot of NASCAR fans around here."

NASCAR Chief Operating Officer George Pyne insisted that NASCAR, which hopes to pick a site for the museum by the end of the year, has no favorites among the contenders.

"Every location can make a compelling case that they can house the NASCAR hall of fame," he said. "It will be a level playing field and the decision will be made on what's in the best long-term interest of the sport."