Speedway honors 102-year-old woman
By Steve Lyttle - slyttle@charlotteobserver.com
Nannie Sue Neal, a Waxhaw resident recognized as North Carolina's oldest living breast cancer survivor, was named Wednesday as honorary race director of Friday night's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
She was honored at a luncheon at the track Wednesday, one day before her 102nd birthday.
Speedway officials named Neal to the honorary position in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but she is no stranger to the world of stock car racing.
"We know better than to schedule things with her on Sundays, because we know she'll be watching the NASCAR race," granddaughter Bettylyn Krafft said Wednesday.
As honorary race director, Neal will attend the drivers' meeting before Friday night's Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage, will be introduced to fans on the pre-race stage, and then will take a lap in the pace car. While she is a longtime NASCAR fan, the only other race she attended was in 1999 at Rockingham Speedway. She left that race early because of bad weather.
"I can't believe that I am going to Charlotte Motor Speedway," Neal said.
She has been recognized by the American Cancer Society as the state's oldest living survivor of breast cancer -- a 57-year survivor, in fact. Neal had planned to become a nurse but left nursing school after the Great Depression so she could make money as a seamstress and by baking for wealthy families in town. Her husband of 59 years, James Ernest Neal, died in 1990.
"I might look like a road map, but I'm still here and I'm still alive," she said.
Neal said she has watched three generations of Earnhardts race and admitted to being a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan.
"I am so excited to be a part of the race on Friday night, but what I really hope is that Dale Jr. wins the race on Saturday," she said Wednesday.
The week's main racing event is the Bank of America 500, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series race, Saturday evening.
updated by @stars-radio: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
