Full Throttle

The Charlotte City Council agreed Monday to increase the NASCAR Hall of Fame budget by $32 million to boost exhibits and pay for unexpected building costs.

The 9-2 decision came after council members chastised city staff and other hall planners for not telling them sooner about the price hike. Council members complained of early, “lowball” estimates of the exhibit costs. They asked how the extra money would help attendance. And they said they felt trapped.

The vote brings the project’s total cost to $195 million – all of it paid for by a mix of hospitality taxes and money from land sales. Most of the project’s funding comes from a hotel room tax that can not be used for anything else.

Of the additional money, $17 million will be used to improve the range of exhibits in the building, which is scheduled to open in April 2010. The hall’s designers say interactive exhibits – rather than more static, museum-like stations – are essential for attracting visitors and making the project a success.

IN OTHER NEWS YOU CAN LOSE:

Joe Gibbs Racing has signed young New Zealander (Mt. Maunganui) Cody Cooper to a contract.

What you say Joe has enough “youngins” under contract now, and where the hell will Joe put him, Cup and NNS are full-up with drivers.

Fear not, Joe may be “full-up” with 4 wheel drivers but he was short of two-wheeled riders.

Cody Cooper has signed to ride for Joe Gibbs Racing, Motocross team (JGRMX) to contest the 2009 AMA Supercross and FIM World Supercross Championship Series as well as the AMA Toyota National Motocross Championship. Copper will be joined by Josh Grant in the two rider Yamaha backed line-up.

So there, Joe knows what he’s doing.