NASCAR Acceleration Weekend returns in 2013

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This season’s champion claims his crown in mid-November, and is then regaled during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards in Las Vegas at month’s end. Then, silence. NASCAR’s offseason begins, as does the wait before a season begins anew.

For the second-consecutive year, that wait becomes a bit shorter and fans’ passion gets rewarded a tad sooner. NASCAR announced today the return of NASCAR Acceleration Weekend, a fan-friendly season-launching event that celebrates the past, present and future of the sport. Next year’s NASCAR Acceleration Weekend will again take place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center from Feb. 8-10, 2013.

The weekend’s activities begin Friday, Feb. 8, with the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 induction into the Hall of Honor. The five inductees – Buck Baker, Cotton Owens, Herb Thomas, Rusty Wallace and Leonard Wood – will be honored during a dinner and ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center. At the same event, Ken Squier and Barney Hall will be presented with the inaugural Squier-Hall Award for Media Excellence for their significant contributions to the success of NASCAR during their distinguished careers as media members.

The following day, Saturday, Feb. 9, the NASCAR Preview 2013 begins at 7 a.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center. Similar to last year’s event, the all-day fan festival will feature autograph and on-stage Q&A sessions by top drivers from all three national series. The event will also include a look at the new 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars and paint schemes, interactive displays, giveaways and activities for fans of all ages. The complete schedule, including driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer autograph and Q&A sessions, will be announced at a later date. 

On Sunday, Feb. 10, the newly inducted NASCAR Hall of Famers and/or their representatives will be on hand at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the unveiling of the granite markers on the Ceremonial Plaza. The newly unveiled Hall of Honor exhibits commemorating their careers in NASCAR will also be open to the public.

Tickets for all events during the 2013 NASCAR Acceleration Weekend go on sale Oct. 9, 2012. They are available online or at the NASCAR Hall of Fame box office.