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  1.   Cooper posted:
  03.15.2010 - 1:58 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later
North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located in Rockingham, North
Carolina. It is affectionately known as "The Rock" and hosted two NASCAR
Cup Series, the Subway 400 (1966-2004) and the Pop Secret Microwave
Popcorn 400 (1965-2003), as well as two Busch Series races, the Goody's
Headache Powder 200 (1982-2004) and the Target House 200 (1984-2003).
Rockingham has hosted Automobile Racing Club of America and USAR Hooters
Pro Cup series races since 2008.[4] Currently, the track is home to the
Buck Baker Driving School, and also the Fast Track High Performance
Driving School[10], which is owned by new track owner Andy Hillenburg,
and is used extensively for NASCAR testing.

It has been used often for television and movie filming, and the 2004
ESPN telefilm 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story was filmed at the track along
with some scenes from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. For
the filming of the later movie, the walls were repainted to resemble
famous tracks on the NASCAR circuit. It also was the site of the 2007
Bollywood film Ta Ra Rum Pum.

The track opened as a flat, one-mile oval in 1965. In 1969, the track
was extensively reconfigured to a high-banked, D-shaped oval measuring
slightly over one mile in length. The track surface is rather abrasive
compared to other tracks on the circuit, due to the high sand content of
paving compounds made from local materials. This abrasiveness
notoriously contributed to excessive tire wear. This characteristic is
often cited as a demanding element of racing at the facility,
necessitating strict management of tire wear by teams.

In 1997, North Carolina Motor Speedway merged with Penske Motorsports,
and was renamed North Carolina Speedway. Shortly thereafter, the infield
was reconfigured, and competition on the infield road course, mostly by
the SCCA, was discontinued. North Carolina Speedway played host to two
NASCAR Nextel Cup races each year through 2003.

In 2008, a new half-mile oval was built behind the backstretch for
driving schools, but quickly became a popular test track for NASCAR race
cars in preparation for races at Martinsville Speedway, as the tracks
are similar in length and radius of turns. Since Rockingham is not on
the NASCAR circuit, testing is unlimited. (Martinsville cannot be used
for Sprint Cup testing.)


  2.   LongTallJones posted:
  06.09.2010 - 10:19 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Tires, Tires, and Tires! Like Darlington, it had tourchered the tires
and it was tough because of it.


  3.   Jason posted:
  06.26.2010 - 4:41 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

A lot of current fans probably don't realize that Kyle petty is actually
one of the Rock's all time best drivers. He scored 3 wins and 5 poles.


  4.   RaceFanX posted:
  12.06.2010 - 1:03 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

First NASCAR track to appear on the USA version of Top Gear, the track
was used as the last part of an old-school "Moonshiner Challenge" in the
show's third episode. The show's hosts drive their banger rides around
the Rock's infield road course (I didn't know Rockingham had one) while
being chased by a Dodge Charger cop car driven by "The Stig," the show's
masked "tame racing driver."


  5.   Anonymous posted:
  01.28.2011 - 2:47 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Apparently it is off the ARCA schedule completely for 2011. Hopefully
they will go back soon.


  6.   Grady posted:
  03.21.2011 - 9:32 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

Rockingham was a great track....a personality of it's own...and great
racing on top of it all....NASCAR really pulled a blunder taking the
rock off the schedule.....I miss it


  7.   Grady posted:
  03.21.2011 - 9:39 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The Best driver ever at the rock was Cale Yarbourgh...top 10 avg fin all
time....and most laps led out off all drivers and 7 wins...Richaed Petty
is 2nd even though he won more the Cale at the Rock had he;d retired aa
few yrs sooner than he did he's be the all time best Cale was the man!


  8.   KurtBusch22Fan posted:
  04.23.2011 - 2:33 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Jamie McMurray has the longest winning streak at the track before it was
taken off the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series schedules. He won the final 4
races.


  9.   Anonymous posted:
  04.24.2011 - 10:50 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The average age of ARCA race winners at Rockingham is 19.


  10.   Alex posted:
  08.18.2011 - 12:22 am
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They just installed SAFER barriers and may get a Nationwide or Truck race.


  11.   Talk4Tar posted:
  09.03.2011 - 1:20 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Governor Bev Perdue and Rockingham Speedway owner, Andy Hillenburg are
scheduled to make a joint announcement on the facility's growth and the
potential economic boost it will have to Richmond County, the city of
Rockingham and the state of North Carolina (Rockingham Speedway), rumor
has it that the track will get a NASCAR Truck Series race in 2012.(9-3-2011)

Source: Jayski.com


  12.   Talk4Tar posted:
  09.07.2011 - 4:05 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Truck Race April 15, 2012!


  13.   Schroeder51 posted:
  12.01.2011 - 2:29 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

It's nice to see NASCAR returning to this track. Glad to see the track
did not die like I thought it would when they dropped the Cup date.


  14.   keith gouldin posted:
  02.17.2012 - 12:54 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

bigfishcaught@g mail,com i have a goodyear racing tire off of driver
dale jerretts #88 car that was driven on oct 22 2000 at rockingham track
its left rear tire rock written in yellow with 1.75 speed 110.418 a crew
menber gave this tire to a friend of mine he has passed a way be i know
its real how do i get papers on this tire my friend use to work in the
pits for diffent nascar teams please let me know


  15.   J. Thomas posted:
  05.18.2013 - 10:05 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I think there should be a history of the Rockingham Speedway
posted--giving details of the race track from its beginning (1965) to
the demise. I think it had a great deal to offer to. The story should be
told. Maybe it is on here somewhere, but I haven't found it.


  16.   drummer1964 posted:
  06.27.2013 - 5:56 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I was there, and I was darn glad to see Richard win !


  17.   Phil H posted:
  12.18.2013 - 2:01 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

unfortunately, looks like Rockingham has been shuttered like North
Wilkesboro.
they cancelled UARA races there at the end of 2013 and there are no
races scheduled there for 2014, most notably the Truck Series race. Too
bad.Thought it might make a comeback. Hopefully, I am wrong and it will
get something going.


  18.   Anthony posted:
  06.11.2014 - 6:01 am
   Rate this comment:      (3)      (0)

GREAT TRACK!!! Screw you Bruton Smith.


  19.   Big Mac Fan posted:
  08.21.2015 - 9:56 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

BRING IT BACK!


  20.   Travis Simpson posted:
  10.17.2015 - 11:14 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

No matter what this track will always be known to me as the last great
NASCAR track. I love its sister track Darlington Raceway. I have always
wanted to go to a race at North Carolina Speedway, but I guess that will
never happen thanks to NASCAR. This is why I now watch ARCA, they use
tracks NASCAR has abandoned.


  21.   sam wilson posted:
  10.25.2015 - 6:23 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (1)

we need this in cup, get rid of summer michigan race an put this back
in, with a night race


  22.   Tylor Thaber posted:
  10.25.2015 - 6:29 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

@21 Track's closed buddy. Oh and I don't think it has lights.


  23.   Tylor Thaber posted:
  01.10.2016 - 10:30 pm
   Rate this comment:      (2)      (0)

Will see a Super Cup Stock Car Series race later this year. Something is
better than nothing I suppose. #REOPENNORTHWILKESBORO


  24.   Tylor Thaber posted:
  01.10.2016 - 10:39 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

https://racingnews.co/2015/12/15/2016-super-cup-stock-car-series-schedule/ Well, it's a start. Rockingham will see a race later this year, it seems.


  25.   Big Mac Fan posted:
  01.10.2016 - 10:59 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Awesome. I don't care if it never runs Cup again, I just want it to keep
running races.


  26.   88&4Fan posted:
  01.11.2016 - 9:07 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Nice. I know this is wishful thinking but I'm hoping this leads to some
NASCAR races again.


  27.   Jaws_Fan posted:
  01.11.2016 - 12:43 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

^ It will unfortunately never happen because that moron in charge of
NASCAR feels it is not a "marketable" location for casual fans.


  28.   Nathan8848 posted:
  01.11.2016 - 10:47 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (1)

This track just won't die. It sounds like the locals don't like it. If
the Trucks couldn't revive it in 2012-2014, then it mostly likely most
series won't.


  29.   Nathan8848 posted:
  01.11.2016 - 10:49 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

*most likely the series won't return.


Not sure what happened there.


  30.   23andJoe posted:
  01.24.2016 - 7:23 pm
   Rate this comment:      (5)      (11)

Rockingham is yet another exhibit of the fickle, hypocritical nature of
the NASCAR "Fan".

"We want Rockingham!" "Give us races at Rockingham!" "Down with the
cookie-cutters, up with The Rock!"

NASCAR: *schedules races at Rockingham*

Fans: *Nobody comes*

NASCAR: Okay then... *Takes races away because nobody came*

Fans: "NASCAR sucks!" "How dare they take away the Rock's races!" "We
want the Rock!"

Sigh...


  31.   Big Mac Fan posted:
  01.24.2016 - 7:37 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (1)

I live 1,128 miles away from Rockingham. Doubt I could attend a race
there in the near future. And the reason why few showed up to the Truck
race was because the hard-core fanbase in that region was already driven
away by NASCAR's antics.


  32.   Alex posted:
  01.24.2016 - 7:39 pm
   Rate this comment:      (12)      (0)

NASCAR got 27,500 fans at the first Rockingham truck race. Most truck
races can't even draw 10,000 fans because no one EVER goes to them. That
many people for a track without highway access in a pretty sparsely
populated area and NASCAR's least attended series is pretty damned
impressive.

Can't let facts get in the way of your constant need to attack NASCAR's
fans.


  33.   b4il3y posted:
  01.24.2016 - 11:41 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (1)

Alex just said everything that needed to be said.


  34.   joey2448 posted:
  03.29.2016 - 3:29 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Can anyone provide dates and years when the track was repaved? I was
looking at some old pictures of the mid-90's and it appears the track
had been newly paved around that time.


  35.   28DaveyAllison28 posted:
  03.29.2016 - 5:40 am
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

It was paved summer of 1994, go back watch a few minutes of the 1994
spring race on YouTube and then go watch the 1994 fall race (which was
one best races ever at The Rock) and you will see the difference.


  36.   Nathan8848 posted:
  04.12.2016 - 10:38 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Will be sold to highest bidder.


  37.   that e-guy posted:
  04.13.2016 - 12:50 am
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

I wish I was rich.


  38.   Braindead Zombie posted:
  04.13.2016 - 9:22 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Hopefully whoever buys it will bring it back to NASCAR, at least in the
truck series.


  39.   Tylor Thaber posted:
  04.13.2016 - 9:50 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

There are plans for it to hold a super late model race later this
year...we'll have to see if that happens.


  40.   Football Fan posted:
  07.22.2016 - 3:15 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Great track... killed for 2 tracks that can never provide as much action
combined than this track. What a shame. In my opinion, NASCAR should try
1 RACE here with the Sprint Cup series and if the fans love it, give it
a race, and if not, then I guess give it the life long boot (Which would
suck...)


  41.   rw posted:
  09.15.2016 - 3:51 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Missing The Rock each passing day, was great for brief time that ARCA
was there.


  42.   Anthony posted:
  09.15.2016 - 6:53 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Its a shame that the speedway boom resulted in every track being built
the same 1.5 miles long. Pity they couldn't have built a track just like
Rockingham.


  43.   Tylor Thaber posted:
  09.15.2016 - 9:22 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Has seen a bit of testing this year, mostly in Super Late Models. The
Stock Car Super Cup Series was planning on coming by for a non-points
event this fall, but that was cancelled about two weeks ago. I don't
think Rockingham's dead YET, though it could be a few years...


  44.   kup posted:
  11.29.2017 - 8:20 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

NASCAR CUP
Rockingham Speedway
1965-2004 # races: 78

UPS: universal points system.
Driver's UPoints = Miles / Aver.Finish

1 708 Dale Earnhardt 19 475 / 11.4
1 587 Darrell Waltrip 24 439 / 15.4
1 579 Richard Petty 21 954 / 13.9
1 553 Cale Yarborough 16 929 / 10.9
1 521 Terry Labonte 21 745 / 14.3

1 422 Rusty Wallace 17 920 / 12.6
1 360 Bobby Allison 17 817 / 13.1
1 331 Bill Elliott 20 097 / 15.1
1 272 Ricky Rudd 21 620 / 17.0

1 090 Mark Martin 14 819 / 13.6
1 065 Dave Marcis 23 332 / 21.9
1 028 Sterling Marlin 15 521 / 15.1
1 016 Harry Gant 14 320 / 14.1

874 Buddy Baker 15 290 / 17.5
855 Dale Jarrett 13 173 / 15.4
846 Geoffrey Bodine 14 374 / 17.0
838 Ken Schrader 16 348 / 19.5
820 James Hylton 13 608 / 16.6

763 Kyle Petty 17 171 / 22.5
737 Buddy Arrington 14 147 / 19.2
723 Michael Waltrip 15 540 / 21.5
699 Morgan Shepherd 13 278 / 19.0
659 David Pearson 9 550 / 14.5

639 Dick Brooks 10 606 / 16.6
639 J.D. McDuffie 14 573 / 22.8
637 Neil Bonnett 9 742 / 15.3
615 Benny Parsons 11 133 / 18.1
610 Jeff Gordon 9 150 / 15.0
604 Jeff Burton 8 571 / 14.2

590 Bobby Labonte 9 029 / 15.3
578 Ernie Irvan 8 618 / 14.9
558 Jimmy Means 13 001 / 23.3
530 Donnie Allison 8 473 / 16.0
511 Ward Burton 7 767 / 15.2

489 Brett Bodine 12 165 / 24.9
446 Alan Kulwicki 7 314 / 16.4
436 Richard Childress 7 372 / 16.9
426 Ricky Craven 7 291 / 17.1
406 Tony Stewart 4 388 / 10.8

336 Tim Richmond 5 102 / 15.2
261 Matt Kenseth 3 968 / 15.2
200 Kasey Kahne 400 / 2.0
170 Mike Alexander 1 953 / 11.5
161 Ryan Newman 1 995 / 12.4
146 Skip Manning 1 962 / 13.4
120 Harold Smith 480 / 4.0
109 Jamie McMurray 1 579 / 14.5


  45.   Jimmie4life posted:
  08.03.2018 - 3:38 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Rockingham is a great track, and I think it's done for good, just like
North Wilkesboro, and that is sad.


  46.   Mile501 posted:
  08.30.2018 - 8:50 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

A group of Raleigh investors Thursday bought the Rockingham Speedway.

The buyer, Rockingham Properties LLC - of which Dan Lovenheim is
majority owner - will finalize paperwork on the purchase of the
Rockingham Speedway Thursday.

Lovenheim could not provide details on the plans for the property
Thursday afternoon, but said they are "remarkably encompassing."

Tax Administrator Vagas Jackson said the property is currently valued at
$2,993,324, down from $6.85 million when it last went up for sale in
November 2016. Jackson said the value decreased because of the
combination of key parts of the original structure no longer being
there, the track not being used and the wear and tear associated with that.

From:
www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/24526457/rockingham-speedway-sold-investors

...maybe this is good news?


  47.   RaceFanX posted:
  08.30.2018 - 10:05 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Rockingham is so off the beaten path this is one case where land
redevelopment likely isn't the goal.


  48.   Cornys posted:
  08.30.2018 - 10:10 pm
   Rate this comment:      (1)      (0)

Would love to see an IndyCar race at this track if it was updated. Would
put on one heck of a show. Series needs more ovals. ISC doesn't
understand how to market IndyCar events it seems. Others make them work
(not all of course) but ISC always fails to do so.

$3,000,000 is really cheap to me, but then again, what value is there at
this point and how much updates would the track need to host ARCA,
IndyCar, ect?

Can the raceway be used to host events other than racing? That would be
a BIG question.


  49.   Not Sure posted:
  08.30.2018 - 10:58 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

If you click on the link to the Richmond County Daily Journal article it
has more details Jayski didn't provide:

"A wave of nostalgia for the Speedway's heyday has swept the area and
the sport of late as signage has been cleared to make way for an
expansion of U.S. 1. Earlier this month, Riley Puckett, caretaker for
the track, took a back-hoe to the plaster street sign which prompted a
mad dash to preserve the history that involved the likes of Dale
Earnhardt Jr. and Kyle Petty."

"A few days later, a crew removed a granite marker denoting a parking
lot as 'Darrell Waltrip Blvd.' in honor of his accomplishments at the
track."

"Lovenheim could not provide details on the plans for the property
Thursday afternoon, but said they are 'remarkably encompassing.'

"Tax Administrator Vagas Jackson said the property is currently valued
at $2,993,324, down from $6.85 million when it last went up for sale in
November 2016. Jackson said the value decreased because of the
combination of key parts of the original structure no longer being
there, the track not being used and the wear and tear associated with that."

Unfortunately, I think the fat lady is warming up.


  50.   Timothy Eklund posted:
  12.19.2018 - 8:19 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Per rockinghams twitter: "Our present this holiday season to everyone
who's following our progress, how about a track clean of debris & weeds
and now prepped for some upcoming repairs!!! Our crew has worked
tirelessly on this. We've got a long road ahead of us, and we know how
to get there!" Could we see a nascar return in the future?


  51.   Trent posted:
  03.13.2019 - 11:53 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Unfortunately when they took the track off the cup schedule, i was too
young to know what nascar was. but as i got older i started buying the
EA sports Nascar games on ps2 and i loved Rockingham on those games and
now i wish nascar could bring it back in real life


  52.   34McDowellFan posted:
  03.21.2019 - 7:54 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The track keeps teasing a return and it's clear their goals are to be
back in the Cup Series.

All we can do now is hope it happens, and I'm really hoping it does,
being born in 2001 I never got to watch a CUP race at Rockingham live
(Watched the 2 truck races) but I'd love to see them come back

If the track also gets an Xfinity race, McMurray needs to come out of
retirement to got for 5 in a row


  53.   Sector posted:
  08.26.2019 - 2:52 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

For real? Is this part of the "2021 revamped" schedule we're going to
get? I approve. It would be extremely interesting if they were to use
Rockingham as the championship four season finale race for sure.

Makes you wonder what else is going to be added to and released from the
schedule. I have a feeling Iowa is an obvious one. Hope we get a couple
more road courses in the process. Canadian Tire Motorsports, Mid-Ohio
Sportscar Course and Road America would be great additions along with
Rockingham and Iowa.


  54.   George_Costanza posted:
  08.26.2019 - 2:54 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I think Gateway is another obvious choice.


  55.   Sector posted:
  08.26.2019 - 2:57 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

I completely forgot about Gateway after just watching the IndyCar race
there last night haha! Agreed.


  56.   Yeet posted:
  04.06.2020 - 7:10 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The first race of the NBCSN Short Track iRacing challenge begins. 6 Cup
drivers will compete today, the race will consist of two 35-lap races,
with the 2nd race being inverted. The two winners will advance to the
championship (if we have two different leaders)


  57.   A posted:
  04.19.2020 - 11:54 am
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

The last Cup race at Rockingham from 2004 is on FS1 right now!


  58.   DI9_ForLife posted:
  11.05.2020 - 6:36 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

Sounds like racing is returning to the Rock in the form of the CARS Late
Model Tour


  59.   Mile501 posted:
  12.08.2020 - 12:29 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

During the broadcast from the last Cup race here in 2004, Mike Joy noted
that there was never a weekend sweep (Cup/Busch) in this track's
history. The two series raced together on the same weekend 42 times, but
the same driver never won both races.


  60.   Yeet posted:
  12.15.2020 - 2:58 pm
   Rate this comment:      (0)      (0)

While NASCAR tests out the Gen 7 car on the high banks of Daytona,
another historical test is taking place...

For the first time in years, race cars have been ran in Thunder Valley
as the CARS Tour opened a Hoosier Tire test today in anticipation of the
race this March.

Track looks surprisingly well, some of the surface looks like it needs
touching up however, but it's a great push for more activity to come in
the future for The Rock.


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