North Carolina’s racing pride is coming back next year. Rockingham Speedway was long regarded as a -rite of passage for NASCAR legends like Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, and others. The racing stars still hanging around are returning to their beloved racetrack. For instance, Jamie McMurray, a 7-time Cup Series race winner whose Xfinity record in Rockingham is jaw-dropping. But fans took note of another NC veteran who scripted history on the track – Kyle Petty.

The renowned NASCAR broadcaster had a few adventurous runs at the track himself. Kyle Petty took charge of the famed 1.017-mile oval or ‘Big Rock’ three times in the early 1990s, every time starting from the pole. He toppled decorated racers like Mark Martin, Darrell Waltrip, and Dale Earnhardt – who tipped their hats in praise. Now fans demand a Petty comeback to the hallowed track.

Kyle Petty memories stirred at the Rock

When Dan Lovenheim purchased the racetrack in 2018, its dire state was moving. Rockingham Speedway consisted of crumbling buildings, rusted metal in the grandstands, and weeds seeping through the pavement cracks. So Lovenheim and his team embarked on a five-year mission – to revive the racetrack that holds countless grand memories of NASCAR. Two decades ago, Jamie McMurray won his fourth consecutive Busch series race at the track in 2004. He passed Kevin Harvick for the lead with 20 laps to go and held off a hard-charging Martin Truex Jr. for the win. So soon after Lovenheim announced unveiling the Speedway to Xfinity and Craftsman Truck fans for April 18-19 next year, McMurray hopped aboard.

The veteran driver, now a Fox analyst, returned to the Rock for a Goodyear tire test in an ARCA car. “It was cool to get back in here and kinda see the track. It looks like it’s in really good shape,” McMurray said. He added, “It does appear that the track is fairly wide … the groove might widen out a little bit, which makes for good racing…There’s some incredible races that happened here, so I’m glad that they’re going to come back and give it a shot.” Yet besides McMurray’s surprise return, we can also expect a few more veteran faces popping up. Case in point – Kyle Petty, who also whipped up immense enthusiasm with his Rockingham victories a decade before McMurray did.

In 1990, Kyle Petty recorded his first ‘Rocky’ win. He became the first Winston Cup driver to win from the pole since Rusty Wallace accomplished the feat in 1989. Petty led 432 laps, including 233 of the final 240, and averaged 122.842 mph. His performance prompted admiration even from the Intimidator, as Dale Earnhardt Sr. said, “That boy [Petty] sat on the pole and ran a smart race. My hat is off to him.” That was only the first of three victories that Petty went on to secure in Rockingham. His October 1992 win was the most dominating – he led 484 of 492 laps and edged a hard-charging Ernie Irvan by 0.97 seconds to clinch the glory.

These memories are still fresh in ardent NASCAR fans’ minds. So the clamor for Kyle Petty’s return is on the rise.

Fans wish to see the Petty magic

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For sure, Jamie McMurray‘s return has triggered ripples of excitement in the community. His sighting at the tire test at Rockingham Speedway was enough to titillate fans. But one strong section of the fans also demanded to have a similar sighting of Kyle Petty. The 8-time Cup Series race-winning veteran ran his last race in 2008. And fans wish to see him come back: “I’m still waiting for the announcement that Kyle Petty is coming out of retirement for the Rock.” Petty’s indomitable presence in the Fox broadcast and NASCAR analysis videos already enthrall fans. So somebody else rooted for this possibility: “That would be incredible.”

After all, Kyle Petty’s appearances at the Rock were phenomenal, to say the least. During his 1992 victory, he averaged 130.748 m.p.h., breaking the track record of 127.292 m.p.h. set by Davey Allison. His rival Ernie Irvan saluted him: “Kyle really got the handle on this racetrack.” Now in 2024, fans are demanding to see that Petty magic flourish yet again. “He did kick a— there for a few years….,” one fan admitted. Somebody else felt a tug at his heart’s strings as he hopes to see Petty race again. “Why are you trying to give me hope? It’s not gonna happen, but why are you doin this to me?” 
Another fan even charted Petty’s possible solutions for a comeback race. “Hey…I’d be all for it. 😁 Give him a JGR or JRM ride, I bet he wouldn’t be too far off the pace.”

Evidently, Rockingham Speedway’s comeback is stirring Kyle Petty memories. As McMurray seeks to run the hallowed racetrack, who knows, maybe we will see Petty too?