North Carolina Motor Speedway, more affectionately known as “The Rock” and still a very fond memory for many a NASCAR fan, remains alive and well in the sandhills of southeastern North Carolina.

Looking back over the years, we watched as Speedway Motorsports Inc.  moved the Rockingham fall race date to Phoenix in 2003 and then the remaining spring race date was relocated to the Lone Star State after the last NASCAR “Cup” race in February 2004.  The abandoned “Rock” was then left dormant for a period of some 4.5 years awaiting the arrival of its eventual new owner.

When SMI decided to put the famed race track up for sale, a former driver by the name of Andy Hillenburg arrived on the scene to, not only purchase the legendary facility, but also resurrect and restore The Rock to once again hosting racing events.

With 45 on-track events over the 2009 timeframe plus many additional days of the facility being rented out for private testing, Rockingham Speedway, through the tireless efforts of Andy Hillenburg, has defied the odds and put The Rock well on its way to recovery.

On the second weekend of October, Rockingham Speedway played host to the final race of the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX series, the American 200 as well as the USAR Pro Cup Series Aaron’s 150. On Sunday morning skies over the speedway were overcast and just a hint of moisture lingered as drivers and crews prepared for the afternoon’s championship event. But the track was dry, fans were in the stands and the roar of the race engines once again came alive in Rockingham.

With the championship on the line between Justin Lofton and Parker Kligerman, NASCAR’s preeminent racing promoter, Mr. H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, waved the green flag to get the American 200 underway.

After a very exciting afternoon of ARCA RE/MAX racing, the No. 77 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, driven by Parker Kligerman, took the checkered flag but fell just five points shy of overtaking point’s leader Justin Lofton, who takes home the championship. The third place finish by the driver of the Lofton Cattle Toyota enabled Lofton to stay just close enough to retain the barest minimum of points lead and secure the trophy – third closest point’s finish in series history.

And while the grandstands were, by no means, full on this Sunday afternoon (nor are the stands ever close to being full at Fontana) the track is alive and there is racing at Rockingham Speedway.  

Just as Rockingham (still) lives, breathes and races, so does the dream of Andy Hillenburg.

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