News-Record.com

See, the Observer reported in Monday's paper that Charlotte is the "leading candidate" for the HOF according to "several sources." (In the next paragraph, they say it's four. Four, several, whatever.)

NASCAR on Monday immediately denied that a deal with done, which AP writer Jenna Fryer reported and immediately dismissed in an AP story that moved for Tuesday's papers.

In today's paper, the Charlotte paper paired thatsracin's Jim Utter with Jim Morrill, one of its go-to reporters, and produced a story saying that Charlotte will indeed get the HOF. This time the paper cites three unnamed sources but doesn't qualify them as NASCAR officials, team owners or anyone else. And the story doesn't say if these three were among the four the paper cited last time.

Yep, that's journalism in action.

But before you come down too hard on the Charlotte paper, remember: NASCAR has already made up its mind and thinks somehow that the news will somehow be better if it announces it on its own schedule. Five bucks says the top NASCAR sources being cited are either Mike Helton or some folks whose offices aren't more than a few steps away.

Here's a news flash: People will still come to the event even if it's not a surprise party.

5:45 p.m. update: Now the AP is playing the anonymous source game. From a Jenna Fryer story that just moved:

Two people in NASCAR who are close to the negotiations told The Associated Press later Wednesday that although Charlotte is the leading candidate, the deal isn't complete and talks were ongoing. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because no deal is done.

One person said NASCAR Chairman Brian France spent Tuesday in Charlotte meeting with city leaders but left without a deal.

More later, maybe.