The NASCAR race season is pretty hectic for the teams, and they deserve some official felicitation. Especially, the winning teams need to be rewarded with celebrations to perfectly conclude the season. The NASCAR Awards Ceremony was conceived to cater to that idea and has been a tradition since 1981.
The Banquet, as it was formerly known, has been in various cities through the years. NASCAR has announced this year’s venue, which will be the first time that the ceremony will be held in NASCAR’s home, Charlotte. And the NASCAR world is enthused with the decision for obvious reasons.
What is NASCAR’s history with Charlotte?
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While the first NASCAR race was sanctioned to be held in Daytona in 1948, Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway hosted the first NASCAR Strictly Stock Series in 1949. Originally a 1.5-mile oval, Charlotte Motor Speedway was constructed in 1960 with a vision to have a Daytona-like track in North Carolina. With its importance and the footfall it witnessed, it eventually developed into a 2.25-mile track. It has been an essential part of multiple NASCAR series since. Charlotte came to be known as the Stock Car Racing Capital of the World, as it was home to most of the NASCAR teams.
These are the reasons that people tout Charlotte to be NASCAR’s roots. And while the NASCAR Awards were usually a trip and treat to the teams from NASCAR, hosting the ceremony in Charlotte will be like a homecoming. Fans in Charlotte reacted with much appreciation on the move when Bob Pockrass posted about the venue update on Reddit.
NASCAR Awards will be held in the Charlotte Convention Center, adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, on November 22nd this year. The regional series and international series awards will be doled out a day before the national awards, on November 21st, 2024. The event will only be aired with a two-day delay on November 24th, on the CW at 3 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR officials are also pumped about crowning the champions in NASCAR’s home. NASCAR’s Chief Partnership and Licensing Officer, Michelle Byron, said, “Being able to trace many of our sport’s racing roots back to the North Carolina area, you can feel the energy and passion for NASCAR from the fans in Charlotte. We’re excited to officially crown our champions in the Queen City.” Now, fans just needed a nudge towards delight amidst all the theatrics.
What do NASCAR fans have to say on the move?
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The NASCAR vibe in Charlotte is certainly unparalleled. Some of the most genuine and loyal fans of NASCAR are from Charlotte. To get a chance to see all their favorite drivers in the red carpet attire live will be truly a sight they’d love to behold. Amused with the news, one fan wrote, “This makes a lot of sense, honestly,” while another one added, “Hopefully it stays there going forward.”
Some fans thought that after having deviated from its 29-year-long commitment to New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where it all started, NASCAR has finally found its way to where the ceremony belongs. “This is probably the best move for this ceremony. It’s lost a lot of its luster when it kept moving after being at the Waldorf-Astoria for so long,” explained a fan.
The Banquet used to have burnout sessions and parades that led up to the actual ceremony when it was held in New York. But as NASCAR moved to Las Vegas and then Nashville, these build-ups to the ceremony somehow faded away. And so did the meals as of last year. So, the fans are simply welcoming the ceremony to where it belongs, even if it is without the pompous show. “Kinda surprised they don’t always do it in Charlotte. Makes way more sense than Nashville, Vegas, or New York,” wondered a fan.
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A user concluded the chain of comments by simply exclaiming, “lol they are definitely go back to there roots love it”.
It will be an event to watch out for as Charlotte hosts its first NASCAR Awards. Be sure to catch all the action. And for now, do let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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NASCAR fans, is Charlotte's latest bombshell the game-changer we've all been waiting for?
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NASCAR fans, is Charlotte's latest bombshell the game-changer we've all been waiting for?
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