Rockingham local government has one goal: 'Bring back NASCAR'

After seeing North Wilkesboro brought back from the dead, Rockingham is hoping that they can one day bring NASCAR back to their track. Rockingham Speedway, formerly known as North Carolina Speedway, is a historic venue for stock car racing.

At Rockingham, NASCAR raced for years. However, as the years went on, new tracks were built and NASCAR went away. However, North Wilkesboro has people feeling nostalgic like anything is possible.

Rockingham Speedway features a one-mile oval as well as a 1.6-mile road course and “Little Rock,” the half-mile oval. There is also the dragway.

North Carolina received millions of dollars during the pandemic and there is still money to be spent at Rockingham. On the list of updates is a full repave of the track. There is currently a request for $4.99 million according to the Richmond County Daily Journal.

The Board of Commissioners, Finance Director, and the Commerce Department are hoping to improve the funding and plans for improvements. Right now, a small dispute over whether the half-mile Little Rock track needs funds approved while updates are still being done on the main track.

“My biggest thing,” said Commissioner Andy Grooms at a recent meeting, “is for that track, I want it [the money] to go [to] the big track. I don’t want anything that comes through this board…necessarily saying that we agree that you [Commerce] can look at this and spend it how you want. I want what we vote on…to go to that track and bring back NASCAR.”

The ‘obvious goal’ to get NASCAR back at Rockingham

While there were questions over the intentions of the other commissioners, the Vice Chairman reiterated that he was on board with the NASCAR plans. If you aren’t going to get the big show back in town, then what is the point?

“I think this board would agree that our number one goal here is to get NASCAR back in Rockingham,” Vice Chairman Dr. Ron Watkins assured the other commissioners.

Right now, it feels like these old tracks are the cool new thing. Nostalgia is a powerful tool. So, it makes sense why NASCAR and these local governments see value in investing in these facilities. North Wilkesboro, Rockingham, and Nashville Fairgrounds – all historic facilities that fans want to see return to the NASCAR circuit.

Chairman Jeff Smart made it clear – these funds are going to go towards improvements that will allow Rockingham to get NASCAR back in town.

“The obvious goal… [is] getting NASCAR back,” Smart concluded. “Not only for financial reasons but for quality of life. Bring it back. Let’s bring racing back to the rock. That’s what we are doing this for.”

It would be great to see the entire facility get a facelift. However, if they have to focus on just the main facility, that one-mile oval, then do that. That’s what will bring NASCAR back to Rockingham.