Rockingham Speedway is making a comeback in the latest attempt to bring NASCAR racing back to the historic venue. Over the only off-weekend for the Cup Series in 2025 (Easter), the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series will race at ‘The Rock’ in a thrilling revival of the North Carolina track. The Trucks will compete on Friday, April 18, and the Xfinity cars will headline the event on Saturday, April 19.
“Rockingham Speedway has a rich NASCAR history, so we are excited for the return of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series to this iconic racetrack,” stated Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Venue and Racing Innovation Officer. “The holiday race weekend at The Rock will provide an opportunity to showcase the future stars of the sport at a venue with a storied past.”
This will mark the first Truck Series race at Rockingham since 2013 and the first Xfinity race since 2004. The track also previously hosted Cup races from 1965 through the 2004 season. While there was a short-lived attempt to revive it in the early 2010s with the Truck Series, it only lasted two years. The first revival failed due to financial issues, and the track has changed ownership multiple times in recent years.
The American Rescue Plan
So, how is this revival happening successfully in 2025? It’s a similar story to the unexpected revival of North Wilkesboro Speedway. After falling into disrepair, North Wilkesboro was restored and now hosts the All-Star Race annually. The funding for this project came from The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, aimed at aiding the country’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper allocated millions of dollars to three race tracks in the state, with $9 million earmarked for Rockingham for infrastructure improvements. Less than a year later, the 1.017-mile track underwent a complete repave, upgrades to garages, a new media center, and other enhancements.
The final NASCAR Cup race at Rockingham in 2004, where Matt Kenseth beat Kasey Kahne in a photo finish.
Photo by: Motorsport Images
“Rockingham Speedway is excited to welcome NASCAR and race fans from all over back to Richmond County,” expressed Rockingham Speedway owner Dan Lovenheim. “Our team has worked tirelessly to modernize the property and provide the area with a facility to be proud of. This moment validates our efforts. We have refreshed the entire facility and are eager to showcase our improvements to race fans.
“We are thrilled to partner with Track Enterprises and NASCAR to host the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series over Easter Weekend. We are grateful to Governor Cooper and the North Carolina Legislature for supporting and investing in our vision. We cannot wait to see NASCAR racing return to The Rock.”
