Those who have followed NASCAR since the sport’s early days understand the importance of Rockingham Speedway. The impact of this track cannot be overstated amid the changing landscape of racing. From hosting the tribute paid to the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. to Kasey Kahne’s exploits at the track, Rockingham has seen it all. But since 2004, it had turned into a forgotten era of NASCAR.
After months of revival plans, fans at the North Carolina venue were finally treated to a taste of the good old days this weekend. The awaited return of Rockingham had everyone talking, more in good than bad ways. This includes veterans, Alexis Ericson and Brad Gillie, who had their personal edgy insights on the 2025 North Carolina Education Lottery 250.
Undeniably, Rockingham offered a breath of fresh air for NASCAR fans in North Carolina. Though smaller in size with a near-20,000-seat capacity, the track delivered big on energy and enthusiasm. Fans packed the stands to witness high-stakes racing at one of NASCAR’s most historic venues. After a 21-year absence, the Xfinity Series made its return, while the Truck Series came back after a 12-year hiatus. While fans have shown their love by marking in attendance, do the veterans, who have lived the olden days, approve of this comeback?
Following the weekend, experts Alexis Erickson and Brad Gillie sat with Doug Rice on the Fast Talk presented by Toyota program to discuss the post-race excitement. They were quick to give their flag of approval to this epic return. “I would say that it was a very successful return,” Alexis shared. “I mean, it seemed like they had great crowds all weekend. Now granted, I think it holds maybe 20,000 people, so you’re not talking about the same level of crowds as, say, Bristol or what we’ve asked of fans on Easter weekend in the past. But the folks that came were treated to great weather and a fantastic show.”
Alexis also pointed to the overall energy of the crowds. “I thought that the racing that was provided on that new pavement from the Trucks and ARCA and Xfinity Series cars—you know, it was entertaining. So I think all around it was a really great event weekend for Rockingham’s return,” she said.
Not just an exhilarating day, but Alexis confirmed that it was entertaining for fans and critics alike. Meanwhile, Brad Gillie, the much-loved broadcaster, spoke in detail about his love for carnage.
“This was a win all the way around. Everything that Alexis just said. Look, I am a big fan of what is the impact on the community. The racetrack has nothing to do with it. The racing was pretty cool though, because we did have carnage, chaos, and violence, which I am a big fan of,” he said while expressing his excitement. “And we had drama as well, including a disqualification. But for Rockingham, for Richmond County, North Carolina, for the people of that area, there was an energy, there was a vibe, that everyone bought all in—the entire community.“
Rockingham Speedway
The disqualification that he mentions here at the 2025 North Carolina Education Lottery 250 is Jesse Love‘s miserable moment. Heading into overtime, Love stuck to Sammy Smith’s bumper, and when the flag went green, Love darted through. Taking the inside line, Love dashed through to hold the lead while Smith couldn’t do anything but watch. When the checkered flag dropped, Love was heading to the Victory Lane, but once NASCAR began inspection, they found an issue with his rear suspension that disqualified him, handing Smith the win.
In the aftermath, Smith went on to say, “It’s a tough way to win that, but I feel like we’ll take ’em any way we can get ’em. We waited here to see what happens, but overall, it was a good day, and I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made recently. I’m kind of speechless, to be honest with you. There’s obviously been some issues for about two hours now, so me and my crew chief stayed around. I’ve got nowhere else to be besides church tomorrow for Easter, and decided to hang around for a little bit. So, I’m glad I stayed.”
Meanwhile, the carnage came in waves throughout the weekend. Most interesting was in the Xfinity Series, where a late multi-car wreck took out several top contenders, including Ryan Sieg. On the other side, in the Truck Series, early contact left Toni Breidinger’s truck with significant front-end damage, leading to an unscheduled pit stop. A viewing experience like this certainly brought Brad Gillie’s approval for both days.
It is notable that neither of the two veterans was on-site at The Rock, yet their reviews look overwhelmingly positive. One can only imagine how much louder their praise would be if they experienced the energy and atmosphere in person!
Gillie also took the time to praise the entire management for the two days. “And so many different things they did right, from all of the things that were happening in town, to the things that were happening on the racetrack, to the fact that you could have hopped on an Amtrak train in Raleigh, North Carolina, and made a train ride down to avoid driving yourself and traffic. And all of those great things that went on with it. This, to me, was a success in every single way possible,” he iterated.
Rockingham– paving the way for more revivals?
After NASCAR’s expansion west in the early 2000s, Rockingham Speedway lost its Cup Series dates to tracks like California and Texas, leading to its decline. The facility sat abandoned and deteriorating for years, until Dan Lovenheim took the initiative to bring it back. While the return of Rockingham has generated a lot of excitement, it has also raised quality concerns among fans.
Both the Xfinity and Truck races were a litmus test this time. And the fact that both series put on a great show with a packed house is huge. Eyeing this reception, there remains a chance of this track hosting a NASCAR Cup Series race in the near future, which was already a staple between 1966 and 2004.
While a $10 million overhaul funded by pandemic recovery grants sufficed this time, other tracks also eye a hopeful restart. With historic venues like North Wilkesboro making a return in 2023, other tracks such as Pikes Peak International Raceway and Iowa Speedway are also rumored to return. It will be interesting to see how this pumped comeback pans out for the entirety of the sport.
What are your thoughts on the Rockingham Speedway races this weekend? Share your opinions in the comment section below.
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