North Carolina State Sport

Stock Car Racing

Adopted on June 21, 2011.

Stock car racing became the official state sport of North Carolina when Governor Bev Perdue signed Senate Bill No. 322 on June 21, 2011 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

North Carolina State Sport: Stock Car Racing

On June 21, 2011 stock car racing became the Official State Sport in North Carolina (Session Laws 2011-187).

The effort to designate stock car racing as the Official State Sport was lead by team of students at Lake Norman Elementary and Mount Mourne IB School in Iredell County who referred to themselves as "the Pit Crew." Students presented the idea at a meeting of the Mooresville Board of Commissioners on February 21, 2011. Board members voted unanimously to support the efforts to propose the new symbol to the North Carolina General Assembly.

A survey on the Iredell-Statesville Schools Web site and a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/NCStateSport) helped others show support for the students' efforts.

The bill passed the North Carolina General Assembly on June 16, 2011 and was signed by Governor Bev Perdue on June 21, 2011 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Special guests included fourth and fifth grade students and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees.

North Carolina Senate Bill 322

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011
SESSION LAW 2011-187
SENATE BILL 322

AN ACT TO ADOPT STOCK CAR RACING AS THE OFFICIAL SPORT OF NORTH CARLOLINA

Whereas, stock car racing has played a significant role in the history, heritage, and culture of North Carolina; and

Whereas, stock car racing leads the way in the motorsports industry in North Carolina; and

Whereas, the motorsports industry has a six billion dollar economic impact in North Carolina annually and creates over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs; and

Whereas, North Carolina continues to grow and advance the grass roots of the sport of stock car racing with over 30 short tracks located throughout the State hosting over 700 events per year; and

Whereas, North Carolina educates and trains individuals in its University system and Community College system for jobs in stock car racing; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of the coveted stock car racing NASCAR Hall of Fame and the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of more than 90 percent of NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race teams; and

Whereas, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts three stock car races annually in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, the most in-season Sprint Cup events held at a single motorsports facility in the United States, and Charlotte Motor Speedway attracts more than one million visitors annually, most of whom are from other states; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of "The King," Richard Petty, stock car racing legend Junior Johnson, dubbed "The Last American Hero" by writer Tom Wolfe, and seven-time champion, the late Dale Earnhardt; and

Whereas, North Carolina is the home of stock car racing, and North Carolina is committed to the continued growth and popularity of the sport; and

Whereas, stock car racing should be adopted as the State's official sport; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. Chapter 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 145-36. State sport.

Stock car racing is adopted as the official sport of North Carolina."

SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 16th day of June, 2011.

s/ Walter H. Dalton

President of the Senate

s/ Thom Tillis

Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/ Beverly E. Perdue

Governor

Approved 12:10 p.m. this 21st day of June, 2011