NASCAR Returns to Rockingham
The sounds of NASCAR radiating loudly from the insides of The Rock racetrack in Rockingham, North Carolina have been missed since 2004 when the 1 mile long track was closed after 40 years of hosting NASCAR events. North Carolina NASCAR fans can finally stop weeping over the quiet that is now Rockingham Speedway because the noise is coming back. That’s right, in 2012 NASCAR is coming back to Rockingham. On April 15, 2012 the Camping World Truck Series is going to race at this historic speedway.
This was not a small decision that was taken lightly. The decision for NASCAR to come back to Rockingham was one that was influenced by local and state officials, sponsors, NASCAR, and of course the owner, Hillenburg. For those of you who don’t remember, Hillenburg purchased the track when it went to auction for $4.4 million. That was in 2007, and three years before that it was purchased for $100.4 million by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Hillenburg is going to have to put more money into the track to make sure it is in top shape for the April race. Most of the $1 million will go to installing the SAFER barriers (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction). There are other track improvements that will be made on top of that. There will be a tire test that needs to be completed before the race. All of these improvements were originally predicted by Hillenburg when he purchased the track, especially if he wanted to hold bigger races.
North Carolinians, NASCAR fans, and those at the Rockingham Speedway are not the only people full of excitement about the return of the legendary track where racing greats like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and David Pearson have battled it out. Current NASCAR drivers are also ready for the track to be apart of the schedule again. The Camping World Truck Series defending champion, Todd Bodine said, “For us to be the first series to come back here, it’s an honor…We can’t wait for The Rock to come back to life with NASCAR.”
Are you ready for The Rock?
