I suspect it's because nobody likes going to Atlanta.
if Atlanta got it, where in the world would they put it? the logical place is near/next to Atlanta Motor Speedway, but it's out of the way for the tourist types, unless they want to drive 30 miles or so to see it. It'd have to go near/in downtown and that's a sure way to kill the project..
"I suspect it's because nobody likes going to Atlanta."
Charlotte's no tourist mecca, I assure you (having lived there for 3 years).
Nascar was born in Atlanta at the old Peach Bowl. A customer of mine told me his daddy owned the Peach Bowl and they were behind on their rent. The old man sent him down there to collect the rent or kick them out. They didn't have the money and offered them stock instead. The old man told them "hell no".