Race Week highlights Memorial Day weekend in Charlotte

Race Weeks in Charlotte promises to be different again this year.

First, it’s just Race Week — no “s” — thanks to a scheduling change that kept NASCAR’s All-Star Race in Texas again.

This year, the race festival traditionally held in uptown Charlotte gets a new home: Circle K Speed Street heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord on Friday and Saturday, May 27-28.

What hasn’t changed: the Coca-Cola 600, a Memorial Day weekend staple.

Former Cup Series champion Chase Elliott entered the weekend atop the points standings, followed by Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch and Charlotte native William Byron.

Qualifying for the 600 is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday. NASCAR’s longest race is scheduled for 6 p.m. next Sunday and will air on Fox.

Carolina Panthers receiver DJ Moore will be the honorary pace car driver for the 63rd edition of the 600.

The Race Week schedule also includes:

▪ ARCA General Tire 150, 6 p.m. Friday

▪ Truck Series NC Education Lottery 200, 8:30 p.m. Friday

▪ Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 300, 1 p.m. Saturday

As for the race festival, Grammy-nominated rapper Flo Rida will perform Friday night, while Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller will take the stage Saturday night.

Public hearing on proposed Meck budget

A $2.1 billion budget for fiscal-year 2023 proposed by Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio on Thursday will face public comment this week.

Diorio’s budget projects increased property and sales tax revenues without rate increases in the coming fiscal year. It also includes:

▪ Half of what Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools requested;

▪ a 5% salary increase for county employees;

▪ a minimum wage increase for county workers from $15 to $20 an hour;

▪ $12.7 million for affordable housing;

▪ a plan to close the Juvenile Detention Center.

Anyone who wishes to speak at Wednesday’s 6 p.m. public hearing can sign up on the county website, or reach the county clerk at 980-314-2914 or clerk@MeckNC.gov by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The meeting can be watched on the Government Channel or online at watch.mecknc.gov.

Commissioners are expected to adopt the new budget June 22.

University-area site up for rezoning vote

Charlotte City Council will decide on a rezoning petition that could bring up to hundreds of townhouses and single-family homes to the University City area.

Red Sea Properties has asked that a 133-acre site along University City Boulevard, northeast of Interstate 85, be rezoned from single-family residential to mixed use.

The site plan for Caldwell Park includes up to 184 townhouses and 397 single-family lots.

An agenda for Monday’s 5 p.m. meeting is available at charlottenc.gov. The meeting will be broadcast on the Government Channel and the city’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

3 From CharlotteFive

▪ Experience a night of fun blending regional comedians with poets and spoken word artists from around the country at Laughs and Stanzas, presented by Blumenthal Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. Free with registration. Register online. QC Social. 300 N. College St. https://bit.ly/3yGnEd2

▪ Bring your alien-themed VHS movies — the more obscure the better — for a special double-feature event at VisArt Video, VHS Potluck (Alien Edition). Free but donations appreciated. 7:30 p.m. 3104 Eastway Drive. https://bit.ly/3sCGsWC

▪ Soak in the spring weather and enjoy live music outdoors at the last evening of the Shoppes at University Place’s Spring concert series. Free. 6-9 p.m. 8929 J M Keynes Drive. https://bit.ly/38yElMB

Sports in Charlotte

▪ It’s another busy week for Charlotte FC. First is a matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Bank of America Stadium at 5 p.m. Sunday. Then it’s off to New Jersey’s MSU Soccer Park to face New York Red Bulls in a U.S. Open Cup match at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Charlotte then heads west to Seattle to take on the Sounders at 9 p.m. next Sunday.

▪ The Charlotte Checkers will play the Springfield (Mass.) Thunderbirds in a third-round AHL Calder Cup series. Games 1 and 2 are on the road. Game 3 is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Bojangles Coliseum. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will be played at the Bo next Sunday and on May 31.

▪ After a two-week homestand, the Charlotte Knights head up Interstate 85 for a six-game set against the Bulls in Durham beginning on Tuesday.

▪ The ACC Baseball Championship takes over Truist Field in uptown this week. Pool play runs Tuesday-Friday, with the semifinals on Saturday, and the championship game next Sunday.

Don’t Miss

Singer Halsey brings her “Love and Power” tour to Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $25. And make sure to read Théoden Janes’ concert review at charlotteobserver.com on Saturday.

Compiled by Rogelio Aranda