Richard Petty advocates for Rockingham Speedway’s return to the NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR last hosted its Cup Series at the Rockingham Speedway back in 2004.

Richard Petty advocates for Rockingham Speedway’s return to the NASCAR Cup Series

Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)

NASCAR is undergoing massive changes lately with the addition of brand new street courses and road courses. Amidst all the extravagance, NASCAR legend, “The King,” Richard Petty recently expressed his desire to see the revival of Rockingham Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

In response to a question posed by a Facebook user named Bubba Michael, Petty shared his fond memories of the track and explained why he believes Rockingham should make a comeback. “Eventually, I’d like to see Rockingham come back,” Petty stated with conviction. “To me, Rockingham was a racetrack where spectators could see all the way around, and it’s a very competitive track,” the seven-time champion said.

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Rockingham or the ‘The Rock’ is a three-groove speedway that can be run on the top, centre and bottom. It was a great view for the spectators and The King is vouching for its return. He states, “Rockingham would be my first choice among the tracks we used to run or any new track. I’d like to see them run Rockingham.”

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Rockingham Speedway, formerly known as North Carolina Motor Speedway, has a rich history in NASCAR, hosting its final Cup Series race in 2004. However, after a period of closure, the track was revived under new ownership in 2008. Since then, significant renovations and updates have taken place, transforming Rockingham into a facility capable of hosting large-scale racing events and festivals.

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Dale Inman backs Richard Petty’s suggestion that Rockingham will be a great track to revive

“The King” in NASCAR circles, celebrated victory on 11 occasions at The Rock. His triumphs included winning the second-ever race held at the track, solidifying his legacy as a dominant force on this unique circuit. With 16 top-three finishes, Petty’s track record at Rockingham speaks volumes about the competitive nature of the venue. 

Richard Petty and Dale Inman
Richard Petty and Dale Inman

Petty’s sentiment was echoed by Dale Inman, a legendary figure in NASCAR history, who added, “Yeah, Rockingham would be great because it is close to home, too.” The former crew chief humoured saying, “I guess Richard won a bunch of races down there, and Kyle [Petty] was really good down there, so yeah. Because it is close to home would be big for me.”

As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule was recently released, featuring a mix of traditional tracks and newer locations, the question of Rockingham’s return gains significance. With 33 unique tracks mentioned in the upcoming calendar year, Richard Petty’s advocacy for Rockingham could influence discussions about future additions to the schedule.

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