As Jesse Love celebrated in victory lane at Rockingham Speedway this past Saturday (before his disqualification), NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace made a bold prediction that sent ripples through the racing community: Cup Series racing would return to “The Rock” by 2027. The sold-out grandstands, six-hour autograph lines, and electric atmosphere during NASCAR’s return to the historic 0.94-mile oval after a 12-year absence seemed to validate his vision.
Many fans remembered the days of Richard Petty when he notched up 11 wins, the most by any driver in history. This list also includes legends like Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon, so it was a feeling of nostalgia for many fans who witnessed the Truck and Xfinity Series races last weekend. From its 1965 opening through 2004’s final Cup race, Rockingham Speedway stood as a cornerstone of NASCAR’s identity before being stripped from the schedule.
Now that NASCAR has brought the lower series back into the mix at the Rock, the question is, will the Cup Series return to the iconic racetrack? Well, Kasey Kahne, who made his comeback, was all in for this event, “I mean, the Cup race could probably be really good here. It used to be, I used to enjoy watching it or being a part of it, the one year.” However, the return of the premier series at the Rock isn’t straightforward, and veteran journalist Bob Pockrass shared tentative plans on when the premier series could return to the historic venue.
Two-Year Timeline for Rockingham’s Cup Return
Bob Sargent, president of Track Enterprises, who oversaw the facility’s preparation for NASCAR’s return, couldn’t have been more pleased with the weekend’s execution. “I’m pretty hands on, so I talked to them from Thursday night, when we got here, to all day today,” Sargent told The Observer. “Talked to a lot of different people at NASCAR, whether they were here or weren’t here… And the teams that were here, we talked to them a lot. Older, veteran drivers that I got relationships with, they were texting me, calling me.”
However, transforming Rockingham Speedway from a successful Truck and Xfinity venue to a Cup-ready facility represents a massive undertaking. As Bob Pockrass noted, “This was a big lift just to have Xfinity and Trucks. It would take a lot more work and a lot more dollars. We’re talking lots of zeros to get it ready for a cup event, for the infrastructure and everything.” From expanded parking to upgraded amenities, the path to Cup racing would require substantial investment and approximately two years of development.
“What a great weekend at Rockingham. Is a Cup Series return even necessary?”
Fast Thoughts with @bobpockrass: pic.twitter.com/J1oLTYwt7z
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 20, 2025
Despite these challenges, Sargent believes the weekend proved that Rockingham Speedway belongs in the Cup conversation. “Yes, absolutely, with the caveat that NASCAR is a big, worldwide entity, and when you look at dates, there are only so many,” he said. “But I feel comfortable, and am not saying anything out of line that, yes, we did everything we needed to do… It’s a process. But we are on the radar. We are in that process.”
Unlike previous resurrection attempts, this effort seems to have staying power. When Dan Lovenheim purchased the dilapidated facility in 2018, he found nothing but “rust and rot.” Rather than repeating past mistakes, Lovenheim hired professionals specializing in track revivals and followed their guidance. The $9 million repaving project funded by North Carolina’s $50 million racetrack rehabilitation initiative transformed the crumbling surface into a racing marvel.
“It’s hard not to think about the possibilities for the future,” said Bryan Land, Richmond County manager who once worked in the track’s infield diner. “But right now, I think we all are just excited to see racing at The Rock this weekend. We’ve been here before. But this time… it feels different.”
While Kenny Wallace’s 2027 prediction creates an unofficial deadline, the overwhelmingly positive response to NASCAR’s return suggests the timeline could accelerate if investment follows enthusiasm. For now, Rockingham’s success story continues to unfold, one race at a time. As per Wallace, a vast corruption investigation revealed the reasons why NASCAR cut ties with Rockingham Speedway before the venue reemerged in the racing scene. And interestingly, the governing body wasn’t in control of renewing the dates of the race track on the schedule back in 2004. So, it goes to show that getting the Cup Series back to the Rockingham Speedway is going to be a huge undertaking.
Kahne’s Return Highlights NASCAR’s Historic Homecoming
As Kasey Kahne battled damage to finish 15th in NASCAR’s triumphant return to Rockingham Speedway, his presence embodied the full-circle moment that “The Rock” represents for American motorsport. The 45-year-old veteran, who hadn’t competed in NASCAR since health issues forced his 2018 retirement, specifically chose this venue for his comeback. The same track where he took his first stock car laps, made his Xfinity debut in 2002, and nearly won as a Cup rookie in 2004’s finale before the facility was abandoned.
While early contact with William Sawalich and Katherine Legge derailed Kahne’s chances at victory, the Richard Childress Racing driver expressed no regrets about his return, noting, “I enjoyed every bit of it” despite the disappointing result. His teammate Jesse Love’s victory (later nullified by disqualification) underscored the bittersweet weekend. But Kahne’s openness to future NASCAR appearances—“Maybe there’d be a chance down the road”—added another layer to Rockingham’s resurrection story.
Behind the scenes, Kenny Wallace’s bold prediction of Cup racing returning to Rockingham by 2027 gained credibility as the $9 million repaving project showcased a facility transformed from “rust and rot” into a racing marvel. Track Enterprises president Bob Sargent acknowledged the substantial investment needed to make The Rock Cup-ready. But confirmed they’re “on the radar” of NASCAR’s decision-makers. If anything, this will be a tricky decision for the governing body as they might find themselves tangled in their expansion project while catering to the revival of a historic track.
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