[BringBackWilkesboro]

NASCAR.COM - Residents cling to hope of Rockingham revival - Feb 24, 2007

Hmm... Speedway Motorsorts Inc., Texas Motor Speedway, historic track closure... I think I've heard this somewhere.

[Mike24]

Bring back Rockingham!

I loved that track, and it sure didn't deserve to lose a date to California.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Mike24

Bring back Rockingham!

I loved that track, and it sure didn't deserve to lose a date to California.

I AGREE!!! In my opinion, NASCAR sat Rockingham up for failure. They wouldn't change the dates from the race immediately after Daytona or one of the final races of the year, in late October. The wind coming off the Atlantic in Feb can get absolutely miserable and not a whole lot better in the late fall.

Richmond had the same problem with its spring race but it petitioned NASCAR for a date change and it got it. Rockingham did the same and got butkus for their effort. When Penske finished with his track and ROckingham couldn't get enough people in parkas and snowmobile suits to fill the stands, NASCAR, in its infinite wisdom, decreed that "Rockingham just can't draw a crowd!"

BTW, does anyone know how Chris Browning, an employee of SMI and Bruton Smith and ex-president of Rockingham Motor Speedway, managed to get the position of president of Darlington? Now he works for ISC? Off hand I can't think of another single incidence of an SMI person going over to ISC.

[Bean]

But way back when, wasn't Richmond immediatley after Daytona?

[Quality88]

I read that article the other day BBW.... I have no doubt Na$car set Rockingham up to fail. All the drivers enjoyed the racin there... they just didn't enjoy the weather cause of the time of the year. Instead the race went to California. It should have just been put later in the schedule. But.. that's today's Na$car.... pi$$in on heritage for the all mighty $$$$$$.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by Quality88

I read that article the other day BBW.... I have no doubt Na$car set Rockingham up to fail. All the drivers enjoyed the racin there... they just didn't enjoy the weather cause of the time of the year. Instead the race went to California. It should have just been put later in the schedule. But.. that's today's Na$car.... pi$$in on heritage for the all mighty $$$$$$.

That sums it up quite well Q.

[Lefty Noob]

Okay, guys, let's not get off topic here.

This is a thread about the closure of Rockingham, so let's limit our discussion to that topic, okay? Thanks.

[Bean]

My apologies, I didn't mean to upset the group.
The Rock was a nice track in it's days, but is greatly outdated. Ever try to find a motel room in that one-horse town or anywhere nearby?

[oncea3fan]

I went to the rock in spring of 2001, nasty gloomy day. I got a room/apt for like 200 bucks for the weekend about 20min from the track. the race got rained out but on monday I saw one of the best races I've ever been to. the grounds at the rock IMHO were better then dover and traffic/parking was a breeze.

if given a mid summer night race that track would rival richmond.