How NASCAR’s unexpected return in Rockingam became possible

We are only a few days away from NASCAR’s latest attempt to return to the historic Rockingham Speedway. While the drivers of the cup series enjoy one of their only one and only off-wheelends of the 2025 season, NASCAR XFINITY and truck series fields will be the head of ‘The Rock’ in a stunning revival of the Northern Carolina track. The truck will run on Friday, April 18, while the Xfinity driver will participate in the ‘Main Program’ on Saturday, 19 April.

Speaking on this last year, NASCAR Executive Vice President Ben Kennedy said about the track: “Rockingham Speedway has a stored history in NASCAR, so we are ready for the then race to the then race for the return of NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR truck chain. Will do. “

This will be the first truck chain race in Rockingam since 2013 and the first Xfinity race since 2004. Rockingam hosted the cup race since 1965 during the 2004 season. But after about four decades, the game left the track due to a partial fall in appearance. But it was also a victim of the strategy of NASCAR’s ‘modernization tradition’, a notorious phrase was used in attractive markets to explain the shuttering of historical tracks in favor of new, cookie-cutter features. Rockingam is located in a painful rural part of the state with less than 10,000 inhabitants. It was also difficult to justify just 80 miles away with Charlotte motor speedway.

The truck series was a brief attempt to revive Rockingam in the early 2010s, but it lasted only two years. The first revival failed because the money dried up quickly, and the track was auctioned several times in the last two decades. All Asha was lost, but even after an old Northern Carolina short track from the tomb in 2023 (North Wilcaseborough), it was expected that Rocking could return.

US rescue plan

So, how is this actually happening successfully in 2025? This is not dissatisfied for the events around the unexpected revival of the Northern Wilkesboro Speedway. After falling into chaos, the North Wilcaseboro was miraculously restored and now hosts the All-Star Race every year. The funds for the project came from the US Rescue Scheme of 2021, which planned to help the country recover from the influence of the Kovid -19 epidemic. The excitement package was signed in the law by the then President Joe Biden in March of that year.

Northern Carolina Governor Roy Cooper proceeded to allocate millions of dollars for three race tracks in the state – including a $ 10 million direction to Rockingham for infrastructure purposes. After less than a year, the 1.017-mile track passed through a full representative, updated garages, a new media center and many other reforms.

Rockingham Speedway is proud to welcome NASCAR and especially race fans from across the state at Richmond County, “Dan Lowenehim, the owner of Rockingam Speedway, said that when officially confirmed the return. This moment values ​​our plans. We have refreshed the entire feature and are eager to show the race fans what we have done.

“We are eager to partner with track enterprises and NASCAR to host the NASCAR XFINITY series and NASCAR truck chain on Easter weekends. Can’t wait for. ”

The admission list for this weekend also has a return to former Rockingam Race winner KC Kahne, who will run exfinity race for RCR. This will be his first race in the NASCAR stock car in about seven years. Four times Indy 500 Starter Catherine Leg will also participate in the exfinity race.

75 drivers have entered the end of this week with 35 in the truck chain entry list and 38 in the Xfinity Series Field later this week.