Iconic Track Where Dale Earnhardt Jr. Frighteningly Replicated Father’s Crash Teases Return

Places and memories go hand in hand. Sometimes a place becomes a reminder of some unsavory memories, whereas, at times, a memory instantly takes one back to a particular place. This is probably something that JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr will relate to after this recent announcement.

As per reports, Rockingham Speedway’s owner recently opened up about the prospects of the speedway’s return in the upcoming season. Dale Earnhardt Jr has some scary memories attached to the track, which was formerly known as the North Carolina Speedway.

Could NASCAR return to Rockingham Speedway in 2024?

Reportedly, the owners of the Rockingham Speedway are working tirelessly in efforts to bring the ‘Rock’ back. With millions of dollars invested in upgrades, it is expected that the track will be ‘race ready’ by February next year. Recollecting how the track used to be a crown jewel for the NASCAR community, Speedway owner Daniel Lovenheim expressed his disappointment with the fact that it had been basically abandoned for the past 20 years.

WATCH THIS STORY: 5 Times Dale Earnhardt Proved He’s “The Intimidator”

Trying to revive the ‘Rock’ for the past two decades, the Speedway received $10 million in 2021 in the form of COVID recovery grants which were used to lay down a new racing surface. And now, as shared by Sports Business Journal reporter Adam Stern, there are some recent developments shared by the owners.

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When Dale Earnhardt Jr Almost Replicated His Father’s Crash

On February 25, 2001, a week after losing his father to a fatal crash at Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Jr. showed up in North Carolina to race in the NASCAR Winston Cup race. Reminiscing about what exactly he felt at the moment, as per Bleacher Report, Earnhardt Jr shared in a 2011 media interaction, “I never wanted to see another racetrack or race car.”

However, coming to terms with the fact that his father had brought him to this point of his career, the Daytona 500 winner added, “What else am I going to do? I would be a fool to squander it.” 

But as soon as the green flag dropped at the track, his #8 took a really hard hit into the very first lap of the race.

As a limping Dale Jr climbed out of the car, the spectators watched in disbelief. Earnhardt Jr was taken to the infield medical center and was pronounced ‘okay.’ While talking about what went through his mind, he said,

“It (lap belt) was tight going down into three. I checked up and somebody didn’t. I cared less that I crashed. It was embarrassing that I wrecked the car, but it didn’t break my heart any worse than it was broken.”

The race was later halted due to rain and postponed to Monday. Earnhardt Jr finished the race in the 43rd position.

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