Kansas City, Mo. ? Billing Kansas City as “North America’s Infield,” supporters of a proposed NASCAR Hall of Fame near Kansas Speedway on Thursday hailed the metro area’s central geographic location as a reason why the $100 million facility should be built here instead of the Southeast, where NASCAR racing has its roots.

Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger discusses the Kansas City, Kan., proposal for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Boerger spoke at a news conference Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Kan., is among seven sites that were asked by NASCAR to submit proposals for the hall by May 31. The others are Atlanta; Michigan; Birmingham/Talladega, Ala.; Richmond, Va.; Daytona Beach, Fla.; and Charlotte, N.C. Michigan and Birmingham/Talladega decided not to offer proposals.

Proponents of the Kansas City location said it made sense for the hall to be in the center of the U.S., where more people had access to it.

“I think that’s our advantage,” said Jeff Boerger, president of Kansas Speedway.

While revealing little about financing prospects, leaders of a team that has been working on Kansas City’s proposal since January told members of the Kansas City Area Development Council that the area had a legitimate shot of landing the coveted shrine to auto racing.

“This is probably one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever seen,” Boerger said. “We are in a position to win.”

The bid proposes a 130,000-square-foot building on a hill near the intersection of interstates 70 and 435 east of Kansas Speedway. It would be sheathed in smooth metal. At night, a six-story wall of cars inside would be illuminated, making it visible from the highways.