In the aftermath of last week’s announcement that NASCAR will build its hall of fame in Charlotte, N.C., I find myself feeling the need to defend NASCAR, a handful of rich people and Charlotte’s mayor, city council and power elite – all at the same time.

How in the world did that happen?

Then I listen to critics talk about how it’s wrong for Charlotte or any other city to pay for a museum for NASCAR, which is indeed one of the most efficient money manufacturing entities in the world today.

Hey, it’s easy to say NASCAR “ought” to pay to build its own hall of fame. Gas “ought” to still cost 59.9 cents a gallon, if you ask me, but there are details that get in the way. Silly little things like reality.

NASCAR isn’t paying for its hall of fame because it doesn’t have to.

Charlotte and four other cities were invited to bid on the right to build the museum and they chose to do so because they believe it will be asset to the community and its economy.

It’s an investment, and any investment has risks. But the people in position to make such decisions in Charlotte have decided this is a risk worth taking, and if they hadn’t, Atlanta; Daytona Beach, Fla.; Kansas City, Kan.; and Richmond, Va., were lined up to take it in their place.

NASCAR chairman Brian France and his family have a lot of money in the bank. They got it by investing three generations into stock car racing and helping it grow into a thriving, profitable business. In NASCAR, they’ve built a brand that gives them the strength to get things done, like getting this museum project off the ground and to the stage that was reached with last week’s announcement.

A lot of very smart people in Charlotte believe this is a good business deal. Some people feel otherwise, and that’s fine.

What bothers me, though, is this whole “welfare for billionaires” junk. It’s just silly.

Charlotte isn’t paying NASCAR and the Frances $150 million. Charlotte is building a $107.5 million showplace along with a $43 million ballroom for its convention center. That money’s going to be spent to build something Charlotte will own and operate. When it’s done, the NASCAR hall and the new arena will breathe new life into downtown Charlotte and the city will be the better for it.

Yes, NASCAR gets a cut of the revenue generated by the museum. But the deal has a provision that if there is an operating deficit, those payments are deferred.

NASCAR and Charlotte will be in this together, and they’ll have an incentive to work in concert so the deal works for everyone. I can’t see what’s so wrong with that.