We’re simply days away from NASCAR’s newest effort to return to the historic Rockingham Speedway. Whereas the Cup Sequence drivers get pleasure from their one and solely off-weekend of the 2025 season, the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Sequence fields will head to ‘The Rock’ in a shocking revival of the North Carolina observe. The Vans will run on Friday, April 18 whereas the Xfinity drivers will participate within the ‘essential occasion’ on Saturday, April 19.
Talking on it final 12 months, NASCAR’s Govt Vice President Ben Kennedy mentioned of the observe: “Rockingham Speedway has a storied historical past in NASCAR, so we stay up for the return of the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence and NASCAR Truck Sequence to the famed racetrack. The vacation race weekend at The Rock will supply the chance to showcase the longer term stars of the game at a venue with a wealthy historical past.”
Will probably be the primary Truck Sequence race at Rockingham since 2013 and the primary Xfinity race there since 2004. Rockingham additionally hosted Cup races from 1965 via the 2004 season. However after almost 4 many years, the game deserted the observe partly as a result of declining attendance. But it surely was additionally a sufferer of NASCAR’s ‘modernizing custom’ tactic, a now notorious phrase used to elucidate the shuttering of historic tracks in favor of recent, cookie-cutter services in profitable markets. Rockingham is positioned in a painfully rural a part of the state with lower than 10,000 residents. It was additionally arduous to justify with Charlotte Motor Speedway simply 80 miles away.
There was a short effort to revive Rockingham within the early 2010s with the Truck Sequence, however it solely lasted two years. The primary revival failed as the cash rapidly dried up, and the observe has been auctioned off a number of instances within the final twenty years. All hope was misplaced however after a good older North Carolina brief observe rose from the grave in 2023 (North Wilkesboro), there was renewed hope that Rockingham might return.
The American Rescue Plan
So, how precisely is that this efficiently taking place in 2025? It isn’t dissimilar to the occasions surrounding North Wilkesboro Speedway’s unlikely resurrection. After falling into disrepair, North Wilkesboro was miraculously restored and now hosts the All-Star Race yearly. The funds for the venture got here from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which deliberate to assist the nation recuperate from the affect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stimulus package deal was signed into legislation by then-president Joe Biden in March of that 12 months.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper proceeded to allocate thousands and thousands of {dollars} to a few race tracks within the state – together with $10 million directed in the direction of Rockingham for infrastructure functions. Lower than one 12 months later, the 1.017-mile observe underwent a whole repave, up to date garages, a brand new media heart, and a number of other different enhancements.
The ultimate NASCAR Cup race at Rockingham in 2004, the place Matt Kenseth beat Kasey Kahne in a photograph end.
Picture by: Motorsport Photos
“Rockingham Speedway is proud to welcome NASCAR and particularly race followers from all around the state again to Richmond County,” mentioned Rockingham Speedway proprietor Dan Lovenheim when the return was formally confirmed. “Our workforce has put an incredible quantity of labor and sources into modernizing the property and offering the world with a vacation spot to be happy with. This second validates our plans. We’ve refreshed the complete facility and are keen to point out race followers what we’ve accomplished.
“We’re wanting ahead to partnering with Observe Enterprises and NASCAR to host the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence and NASCAR Truck Sequence over Easter Weekend. We’re additionally grateful to Governor Cooper and the North Carolina Legislature for sharing and investing in our imaginative and prescient. We will’t wait to see the inexperienced flag wave once more on NASCAR racing at The Rock.”
The entry checklist for this weekend additionally options the return of former Rockingham race winner Kasey Kahne, who will run the Xfinity race for RCR. Will probably be his first race in a NASCAR inventory automotive in almost seven years. 4-time Indy 500 starter Katherine Legge may even participate within the Xfinity race.
75 drivers have entered this weekend’s occasions with 35 on the Truck Sequence entry checklist and 40 combating for the 38 spots within the Xfinity Sequence discipline.
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR XFINITY
NASCAR Truck
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