A piece of NASCAR heritage will never disappoint. The stock car racing series is getting ready to unveil a hallowed racetrack this Summer – Rockingham Speedway. The 1.017-mile racetrack had been a popular fixture on the Cup Series schedule for 40 years until 2004. The Craftsman Truck Series briefly raced on it for a two-year period until 2013. Now as Rockingham prepares to rock the schedule again, drivers are supremely pumped up – including the Most Popular Driver.

In fact, they are transferring their excitement to the eagerly waiting fans. NASCAR conducted an organizational test on Tuesday for both Trucks and Xfinity. The results included nostalgic blasts from the past, stunning speed, and of course, a breathtaking eagerness for the April schedule.

Rockingham is on everybody’s radar

To tread where legends have won races can be an exhilarating experience. ‘The Rock’ has witnessed several stellar racers, including Dale Earnhardt Sr., David Pearson, Terry Labonte, and Harry Gant. Mark Martin left a mark in Rockingham, as he collected 11 wins in 25 starts. Currently, Xfinity and Truck drivers are getting ready to leave some similar marks. A tune-up session was held recently at the racetrack, with fans allowed in free of cost to watch the test day activities. Ty Majeski aced the Truck schedule, turning a stunning lap of 166.547 mph. He broke Rusty Wallace’s last Cup Series test record of 158.033 mph.

While Ty Majeski turned heads, his fellow drivers were simply awestruck by Rockingham’s beauty. Among these stunned speedsters was Rajah Caruth – the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver and Bubba Wallace’s protégé. He proudly proclaimed after the test: “@Rockingham1965 is awesome! I hope it becomes a little weathered by the time we come back in April-a lot of grip today.” Rockingham Speedway has undergone significant touch-ups including a 2022 repaving project. A 2021 bill introduced by then-North Carolina governor Roy Cooper allocated funds to revitalize speedways – which included the ‘Rock.’

Rajah Caruth is hardly the only one smitten by the Rock’s aura. Kaden Honeycutt, who won the 2024 Snowball Derby, sent out a message to fans. He encouraged the community to fill up the grandstands: “I’m gonna let yall know right now @NASCAR fans. These stands at Rockingham need to be sold out for Aprils race. This was one of the greatest experience I’ve ever had in my lifetime. This race is going to be off the chain💀” Xfinity star Jesse Love also shared his thoughts: “Only got a couple laps today, but holy 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩. This place is awesome.” Truck veteran Ben Rhodes also commented: “It should be pretty fast.”

Drivers were drooling over the revived Rockingham track. The same goes for their diehard fans!

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NASCAR fans are pumped up

Well, NASCAR has seen a lot of racetracks undergo resuscitation projects in recent years. For instance, Dale Earnhardt Jr. helped breathe new life into North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023 – it was last shuttered in 1997. To see Rockingham Speedway enter this category is fascinating to fans. A fan wrote, “That track makes close racing and always has. I’m so glad it’s back and something else about Rockingham, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.” The last Cup Series race wrapped up in 2004, while the Truck Series left in 2013. For the time that it was active, the Rock dazzled all the way. Another fan tipped his hat to it: “The Rock was always one of my favorites. It’s perfect for NASCAR.”

Getting celebrity approval elevates Rockingham Speedway’s status to another level. That is because the drivers have tried and tested the newly paved asphalt track. Rajah Caruth, who topped the popularity charts last year, sent ripples of excitement among his fans. “Great getting to see you drive in person today! Can’t wait for April 😤,” somebody wrote. Caruth spent his childhood on iRacing and playing video games. So another fan was curious about what difference he felt: “How cool was it? The history of that place and the video games you raced there growing up.”

Besides hosting NASCAR races on all three levels, Rockingham Speedway has also conducted other races. These include Late Model events and the World of Outlaws. Ben Rhodes claimed that the last time he raced at the ‘Rock’ was in a 2012 Late Model race. So one fan alluded to those other events as well: “Went to the rock in 2008ish they had a super late race same weekend as WoO world finals. I think it is coolest asphalt track I’ve ever been to.”

Rockingham Speedway is stirring up excitement among both drivers and fans. Tune in for the action during the April 18-19 Easter weekend.