Promoter discuses NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway

ROCKINGHAM — Thunder rolled near Thunder Alley Thursday afternoon as race promoter Bob Sargent met with local leaders hours after the announcement that NASCAR is returning to Rockingham Speedway.

Sargent, president of Track Enterprises, said the news of the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck series races on Easter weekend of 2025 seems to be garnering “great response” from across the nation.

The promoter also teased a third series, saying that an announcement would be coming “hopefully soon.”

Track Enterprises works closely with NASCAR, including a recent race in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is always looking for new venues, Sargent said.

“Obviously with the history, the nostalgia and all the money that’s been pumped into this place recently — and more to come — this was on our radar to come take a look at,” Sargent said regarding bringing the races to Rockingham.

“So we drove down here … struck a deal, got ahold of NASCAR to see if they had a date and interest in the place,” Sargent continued. “They did, so all the parties got together.”

Although NASCAR doesn’t guarantee dates, Sargent said the hope is to keep racing coming back to the iconic track “for years to come.”

“Their business model has always been the successful ones can continue with their schedule,” Sargent said. “So we plan on working very hard and diligently in making this a very successful event to secure further NASCAR races.”

The revival of North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023 was likely a factor in Rockingham getting a date, Sargent said.

The Rock was purchased for $2.8 million in August of 2018 and reopened for events in 2021, hosting MB Drift, the FASS Big Rig Series, Allison Legacy Racing Series and the Carolina Mini-Stock Challenge, in addition to a circus, rodeo and the Hot Rod Power Tour.

“Give NASCAR kudos, they are really thinking out of the box now,” Sargent said. “Whether it’s coming back to old school facilities like this or listening to the fans…”

Rockingham Speedway beat out North Wilkesboro in a Twitter poll by NASCAR on NBC, taking 50% of the vote.

“The fans were loud in supporting both North Wilkesboro and Rockingham, Sargent said. “So that played a big part in it.”

Sargent added that the racers also have an influence on the schedule, “and they wanted to come race here at Rockingham.”

Many of today’s top drivers were in the Craftsman Truck Series race in 2013, including: Bubba Wallace; Ryan Blaney; Tyler Reddick; Joey Logano; Chase Elliot; and Kyle Larson. Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Bush drove in the 2004 Xfinity race.

Sargent said the crowd for the races April 18-19 is expected to total 20,000-25,000, seated along the front grandstands.

The stands between turns 1 and 2 — which were in place when NASCAR was last at the track for a truck race in 2013 — have recently been taken down, and the stands along the Thunder Alley backstretch were moved by a former owner.

Sargent said using the temporary stands that can seat 4,000 and the addition of a hospitality village on the backstretch with trackside viewing for campers could add another 5,000 to the attendance.

There was a “great contingent” of NASCAR personnel on site earlier in the day looking at the garage and suite areas, Sargent said, seeing the upgrades and what has to be done before the race.

There aren’t a lot of major upgrades needed to the facility, Sargent said, but there are some “smaller details” that have to be addressed with the track sitting idle for so long.

“NASCAR has improved their safety requirements tremendously over the years, society in general has changed,” Sargent said. “So all the amenities for concessions, scoreboard, things that you would naturally think are ready to go at a venue, when they sit for a while, they need upgrades.”

Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump thanked Sargent and the track owners for “making this happen.”

County Manager Bryan Land echoed Crump’s thanks from the community and said there have been efforts to lure NASCAR back since the races were pulled.

“We look forward to working with the community and everyone involved,” Sargent said. “It’s a blessing to be able to come to a facility that this much support is in the community and I think that means a successful event when you get this much positive push for this thing.

“We have all this nostalgia, all this history to build on, all the memories and the stories from different generations that came here … and we’re going to capitalize on that.”

County Commissioner Jason Gainey said that when he was growing up, the Rock was a popular track because it was small enough to view the entire race.

“I bet there’ll be more than three lead changes in 400 laps,” Crump said, eliciting a few laughs. “I hate to throw a gauntlet down to North Wilkesboro, but I’m willing to take that bet.”

Sargent said he expects to see comments from current and former drivers, especially from the younger ones who get to race at the Rock “and start proving (themselves) on a historic track like this.”

The races are bound to be a boom for tourism in Richmond and surrounding counties.

Richmond County Tourism Director Meghann Lambeth and Phil Werz, president of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, were also at the track Thursday afternoon, along with other representatives from the county and city of Hamlet.

“The long-awaited checkered flag is finally in sight,” Lambeth told the RO. “Seeing the return of NASCAR to the Rock is truly a historic day for our community and the positive impact, not only in tourism, but our local economy, is going to be tremendous.

“We are ready to ROCK!”