Mark Dyer Quotations

You fall in love with these cities, and there wasn't one dud in the process, even though we thought there might be. I think RIR and Richmond have been elevated as NASCAR went through this.

We think that would probably go beyond the bounds of good taste.

Both of their proposals were outstanding and the passion and enthusiasm the people involved showed for the NASCAR Hall of Fame has made a lasting impression on all of us.

The ballroom is a terrific feature. Induction banquets will be held there, as well as other NASCAR official events. The banquet hall is owned by the city and run by the city, so lots of non-NASCAR events will be held in banquet hall, too. They really need a facility of this size.

We could have taken a bit more time in getting this done, but it's not like an Olympic process where you don't talk to the city for another 12 years. We have two big races a year at Richmond International Raceway. The last thing we want to do is string them along; we couldn't do that in good conscience.

When it came right down to it, I think the heritage of the sport meant a lot.

It's difficult because everyone wants to know why. It's about the cities still in the process, and it's frustrating to not be able to talk more freely about it. (Richmond and Kansas City) both had proposals that were credible, and you could visualize it working. But it's a question of who presents the best overall approach of the five.

Add all that up, and fans can spend a whole week in Charlotte and really experience the sport and its history. It puts an exclamation point on the experience.

The induction process has to have the highest integrity among fans, drivers, teams sponsors. Everybody in the sport has to view this as highly credible. I think the bar (for induction) will be pretty high.

There were times when he started looking a little frailer, but mentally he never became frail. Mentally, he never stopped charging. He was still working until the last minute, and that's the way he wanted it.