(CHARLOTTE) -- North Carolina concludes its annual two weeks in the spotlight this weekend with the Coca-Cola 600. Qualifying for Sunday's event is Thursday night.

The All-star Challenge kicks off the festivities every year, but there have been rumors and rumblings about moving the All-star event to other cities. "We can put that totally to bed right now. It's going to stay here," said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Bruton Smith.

Smith's company owns Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord and five other tracks on the NASCAR circuit. He believes the pending NASCAR Hall of Fame and support from the community make moving the event a bad idea. "In two years we'll have the 25th anniversary of the All-star. It's the biggest all-star event of all sports anywhere in the world, and it's here and Charlotte is lucky to have it and it stays here."

NASCAR's All-star race has been held at Lowes Motor Speedway in all but one year since 1985.

(Contributions from Woody Cain - WBT)