Group Convenes to Discuss Regional Motorsports Agenda

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce -- A unified regional effort is underway to identify initiatives that need the support of area organizations to keep motorsports as a vital and growing industry for our economy.

Representatives gathered this week in an effort to collaborate on a Motorsports Agenda that can be shared throughout the Charlotte Region. The meeting was led by Winston Kelley, Duke Power VP of Government, and Business Relations and Humpy Wheeler, President and General Manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

“We are here today to take next steps in a collaborative manner to protect and promote the motorsports industry, ” said Wheeler.

Attendees included representatives from the following organizations: Bank of America, Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, JHE Production Group, Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Motorsports Association, Roush Racing and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The group identified existing initiatives and discussed opportunities to work together to demonstrate support on many levels. The initiatives that the group will focus on include tourism and promotion, public policy, workforce development and economic development.

“We will work to ensure that we’re not duplicating any effective efforts already underway and identify areas of common interests that we can work to jointly advance, ” said Kelley. “This is our chance to get behind the sport and industry that many of us have grown up enjoying and we recognize the strong economic impact it has on our region. ”

More than 90% of NASCAR teams are located within 60 miles of the Charlotte region. More than 77% are within the Cabarrus, Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties. The motorsports industry has a statewide impact of more than $5 billion.

For more information, contact:

Winston Kelley, Duke Power, (704) 382-5783

Humpy Wheeler, Lowe’s Motor Speedway, (704) 455-3239

Jerry Saunders, Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce, (704) 782-4000

Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, (704) 378-1300

Scott Carlberg, Charlotte Regional Partnership, (704) 347-8942

Tim Newman, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, (704) 339-6038

Melanie O’Connell Underwood, Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce, (704) 664-6922