Wallace, Logano sign autographs at Cabarrus Visitors Bureau

By Sara Gregory
Kannapolis Citizen
Though another race week has passed, some happy fans have preserved racing memories for history and had the chance to preserve their own stories.
On May 16, officials collected oral histories at the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau to preserve the county’s history.
The oral histories will become part of the museum planned by the Kannapolis History Associates. The chamber is still recording memories for those with stories to tell.
“People can come in if they have memories they would like to save for posterity,” said Judy Root, the chamber’s communications director.
Also on the first Friday of race week, the chamber hosted racing up-and-comers Joey Logano and Chrissy Wallace.
“People were actually camping out when we got here at 8,” said Cordelia Anderson, the leisure and technology marketing manager for the Visitors Bureau.
Logano and Wallace joined photographer Anita Rich, who signed copies of her book of NASCAR portraits. The three met with fans and signed autographs as part of National Tourism Week.
The timing of National Tourism Week and the races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway — racers competed in the Sprint All-Star race the following day — prompted the visitors bureau to emphasize the impact of racing on the area.
“In the past, we’ve focused more on celebrating industry partners,” Root said. “This year we thought it’d be nice to do something for the race fans.
“It shows the fans something special.”
Rich’s book, “Portraits of NASCAR,” comes after three years of photographing racers and owners at home and with their families.
Rich, who did the book with friend and racer Robin Dallenbach, knew nothing about NASCAR when she began.
“I moved here about 10 years ago, and at night I would hear cars racing.”
As she started to learn more about NASCAR, she said she realized nothing focused on the family.
And as she photographed racing legends, from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Bobby Labonte and Bill France, she learned about the pressures racers face and the support racing families give each other.
Wallace, who comes from a long line of racers, said she loves the chance to meet with fans. She turned 20 on May 15 and celebrated with dinner and birthday cake with her family.
A female in a male-dominated sport, Wallace said her success and Danica Patrick’s has prompted lots of parents have shared their dreams for their daughters to get into racing.
“They want their daughters to get involved because they see how well me and her are doing,” Wallace said.
And the competitive nature makes her work harder.
“If you’re a female in racing, you’ve got one shot,” she said.
Contact Sara Gregory at 704-797-4257 or sgregory@salisburypost.com.