NASCAR fans wait for hours ahead of annual 'Undeck the Hall' event in uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Fans lined up around the block at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Monday in anticipation for the annual “Undeck the Hall” event in uptown Charlotte.

It's one of the last giveaways of the Christmas season in Charlotte, and it drives NASCAR fans to the city in droves.

Dozens of fans drove hours to wait for hours in long lines outside the Hall of Fame in uptown on Monday.

When the doors opened at 10 a.m., the fans started trading in their tickets for racing treasures at the “Undeck the Hall” Christmas event.

Ted Bosch camped outside the building for more than 13 hours so he could be the first in line.

"We've been here since 8:45 last night, so I'm cold," he said.

Bosc has only missed the giveaway once and it was when an ice storm forced him to stay home.  .

Every year, the dedicated NASCAR fans flock to uptown to take down Christmas decorations at the Hall of Fame.

"Anybody that gets a ticket gets to pick something off of a tree," said executive director Winston Kelley.

It's first come, first serve, so the fans who live for the races, race each other to take home memorabilia that NASCAR teams share with the Hall of Fame.

"Everything from die-cast, we've got caps, we've got a ton of things from Sprint," Kelley said. "We've got sheet metal, we've got gift cards from Outback."

Deanna Sebik drove two hours from Anderson, South Carolina to get three-lap ride-a-long tickets. In the spirit of the season, she's giving her tickets to someone else.

However, many others patiently waited in the long line for their own personal prizes.

The Hall of Fame started their annual Christmas giveaway when they opened their doors in uptown in 2010.

Cox Media Group