Governor Perdue speaks with the media.

With the stroke of a pen today at Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, flanked by Bobby Allison (left) and Ned Jarrett (right) and surrounded by students from Lake Norman Elementary School, signed Senate Bill 322 into law, making stock car racing the official state sport.

With the stroke of a pen today at Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue signed Senate Bill 322 into law, making stock car racing the official state sport and adding to the history of fabulous firsts at the historic 1.5-mile superspeedway.

The students from Lake Norman Elementary and Mount Mourne I.B. who sponsored the bill pose with Governor Perdue and Marcus Smith.

Governor Bev Perdue and Marcus Smith with members of the North Carolina Motorsports Advisory Council (L to R) Dr. Ahmed Soliman, Ian Prince, Chris Kouri, Derek Chen, J.D. Gibbs, Doug Herbert, Karen Ray, Kelley Earnhardt, Steve Earwood and Winston Kelley.

Governor Perdue poses with grassroots racers from Charlotte Motor Speedway's Summer Shootout Series.

NASCAR Hall of Famers Ned Jarrett and Bobby Allison talk with students from Lake Norman Elementary School.

Ned Jarrett and Bobby Allison pose with teachers from Lake Norman Elementary School.

Marcus Smith addresses the media and special guests.

Governor Bev Perdue greets the students who originated the bill.

Governor Bev Perdue prepares to sign the bill with NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Ned Jarrett, Marcus Smith, David Ragan, members of the North Carolina Motorsports Advisory Council and the students and teachers from Lake Norman Elementary School.

Marcus Smith, Ned Jarrett and Bobby Allison pose with the students who originated the bill.

Students from Lake Norman Elementary School and Mount Mourne I.B. gather around Governor Bev Perdue and NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Ned Jarrett along with David Ragan to watch as the bill is signed into law.

Governor Perdue shows off Ned Jarrett's NASCAR Hall of Fame ring.