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Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, aka "The Rock," says the 42-year-old track is no longer profitable and will be sold at auction. "We regret we have to make this decision but we really have no other choice," said the June 13 letter from H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, also owned by Speedway Motorsports. "We have been unable to sell it and track rentals are simply not enough to keep the facility running." Wheeler's letter went to Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin, who said the community has been concerned about the track's fate since it lost its Nextel Cup race in 2004.
That was the year that Speedway Motorsports bought the track, then moved the Nextel Cup race to Texas Motor Speedway. NASCAR drivers have since used the 1.017-mile oval to test cars. The track also has been used for various special events and movies.
No date has been set for the auction, though a fall date is anticipated.
"As I have stated in the past, we think it is unpractical for us to attempt other types of races there such as Busch or Craftsman Trucks," Wheeler wrote. "We believe they too, as stand alone events, will be significantly unprofitable."
Rick Sago, director of Richmond County Development, is optimistic that racing can continue at the track in some form, but he said that depends on who buys it.
"There may be something out there that we don't know about," said Jerry Gappens, senior vice president of Lowe's Motor Speedway and a spokesman for Speedway Motorsports. "It's a nice piece of property."

FOX Sports on MSN - NASCAR - Rockingham speedway for sale; owners call it unprofitable