The Nascar Hall of Fame Nears Completion 

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

            Construction workers at the NASCAR Hall of Fame placed the building's last metal beam Tuesday, about two years after the project broke ground.

            The Hall is expected to open in mid-May 2010, when it will also host a convention of the National Rifle Association. The Hall will feature a theater, NASCAR memorabilia and interactive exhibits.

The adjacent office building, a private tower that will hold NASCAR's media group, is scheduled to open this spring.

The project's total cost is $209.8million, not including the office building. That price includes $195million from the city, paid for mostly through a hotel/motel tax. Lauth Properties, a private developer, is paying $14.8million for the parking deck.

Through December, about 43 percent of the total budget had been spent, according to a monthly construction update from the city.