Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory raised $6.4 million in his run as the Republican nominee for governor.

McCrory, who entered the race after his fellow Republican candidates were well underway, raised $1.1 million from Oct. 19 to the end of the year, according to campaign finance disclosure reports.

McCrory's biggest donors in the quarter included Morrisville developer Benjamin Ward, NASCAR chief executive Brian France, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, Jerry Smith, president of the Le Bleu water company, Ronald Day, chief operating officer of RBC Centura Bank.

He also received major contributions from the N.C. American Indian PAC, the Green Industry Council, the N.C. Association of CPAs and the N.C. Chiropractic PAC.

McCrory spent about $6.4 million on his campaign, leaving him with $66,700.

Pat McCrory is doing well with Nascar.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee has picked up at least $70,000 from executives and owners of car-racing businesses and their wives.

Donors include such racing bigwigs as Brian France, chairman and CEO of Nascar; Hendrick Corp. Chairman Rick Hendrick and his wife; Gillett Evernham Motorsports owner Ray Evernham; and team owner Felix Sabates.

He's also received donations from Charles Ricks, Robert Rice and Scott Lampe, executives with Hendrick Motorsports; Greg Fornelli, president of Stock Car Steel; Nascar executives Paul Brooks and Rex Caton; and Marcus Smith, who sits on the board of directors of Speedway Motorsports.

McCrory had a major fundraiser including Nascar driver Brian Vickers and team owners Hendrick and Sabates in February, but he doesn't have the racing vote entirely locked up.

Democratic rival Beverly Perdue had a Nascar fundraiser of her own, headlined by Hendrick, Sabates and Fornelli, back in October.

It's not clear if the Nascar folks have changed lanes or not.