CONCORD, N.C. (May 14, 2003) – The walls of the Sam Bass art gallery, located less than a lap away from Lowe’s Motor Speedway’s high-banked oval, are alive with vivid recollections of racing’s most exciting and endearing events.

Visitors are often overcome with a sense of time frozen in place as they view the paintings – as if Jeff Gordon’s first win were only yesterday; Richard Petty’s seventh championship had just happened; and Mark Martin is just beginning to celebrate his $1 million victory in the Coca-Cola 600. Individual moments, protected from the present behind the glass plates of their frames, hang in anticipation of being freed by the imagination of race fans.

NASCAR artist and motorsports designer Sam Bass is the man whose skills with a brush and paint have immortalized the greatest race car drivers of our time. The gallery bearing his name is a walk-in, three-dimensional experience of things past, where a glance in any direction recalls the driving talent of Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon, Harry Gant, Bobby Labonte and many others.

“It’s a pleasure for me to experience and interpret the world of NASCAR racing on canvas,” Bass said. “I enjoy taking a moment in time that lasts only a fraction of a second and preserving it for generations of race fans.”

Just as important to the artist is that his gallery produce in its visitors a sense of motion and life in order to honor the drivers and races depicted. To accomplish this, Bass and crew “re-theme” the hundreds of paintings on display every three months – a task that often involves redecorating and re-hanging from floor to ceiling and wall to wall – ensuring guests a new experience every time they come to Charlotte for a race or other event.

Not all of Bass’ work easily fits in a frame. From his first car design for Bobby Allison in 1987 to his many creations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports – to name only a few – the artist has brought a fresh and colorful look to the sport of stock car racing. The Sam Bass Gallery displays dozens of examples of team graphics packages and car paint schemes he has designed.

The 10,000-square-foot building on Performance Drive in Concord that is currently home to the Sam Bass collection of original paintings and fine art, limited-edition prints also gives visitors a look at some of the artist's rare personal racing mementos such as historic sheet metal, driver helmets and uniforms.

A tour of the Sam Bass Gallery is a pilgrimage thousands of race fans a year eagerly anticipate. Adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway, the gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, year round. Visit www.sambass.com on the Internet or phone 800/556-5464 for more information. Admission is free. Tours may be arranged through the gallery coordinator.