Track News: Could NASCAR racing return to Rockingham? (Update)

According to spotter Freddie Kraft, the one-mile Rockingham Speedway could return to the NASCAR calendar in 2025, hosting races for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as the ARCA Menards Series.

If all goes well, this could be the precursor for the return of the Cup Series to Rockingham.

“There was other schedule news I heard this week that’s pretty much confirmed,” Kraft said on Monday’s episode of “Door Bumper Clear.” “Rockingham is back. Not for the Cup cars. ARCA, Xfinity, Trucks (on) Easter weekend. Friday-Saturday show, no Sunday.”

If Rockingham were to return to the NASCAR schedule in 2025, it would be the first time the track would hold a national series race since the 2013 North Carolina Education Lottery 200, which was the last of two Truck Series races held at the facility in an attempt to rejuvenate interest in the track. When the Truck Series didn’t return in 2014, however, those plans were mostly scrapped.

“This track used to be the crown jewel for the community and for the last 20 years it has basically been all but abandoned,” said Daniel Lovenheim, owner of Rockingham Speedway.

It’s been nearly two decades since a Cup Series race ran at Rockingham Speedway.

Lovenheim bought the track five years ago and has been working to lure NASCAR back to “The Rock.”

In 2021, Rockingham speedway received $10 million in COVID recovery grants from the state.

Add another $10 million in upgrades out of his own pocket and Lovenheim says, “this will be race ready by 2024.”

— WFMY —