After years-long revitalization process, NASCAR isn't returning to NC racetrack

Alex Zietlow, The Charlotte Observer on Aug 14, 2026

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR isn’t returning to Rockingham Speedway in 2027.

And the venue’s primary race organizer is, understandably, “disappointed.”

Track Enterprises, the prominent motorsports promotion company that has put on the successful NASCAR events at The Rock in 2025 and 2026, announced on Friday that in 2027 it will not host any NASCAR-sanctioned competition at the historic North Carolina racetrack.

The decision, according to a release, “comes amid overall uncertainty at the facility.” The release goes on to say that Track Enterprises remains “committed to exploring opportunities that could bring racing back to The Rock in future seasons.”

“The response from the fans over the past two years has been nothing short of incredible,” Track Enterprises president Bob Sargent wrote in a statement. “Bringing NASCAR back to Rockingham was a special opportunity, and the support we received from race fans, competitors, sponsors, local officials and the entire community exceeded every expectation.

“While we’re disappointed that NASCAR won’t be racing at Rockingham in 2027, we remain optimistic about the future and look forward to exploring opportunities to bring racing back in the future.”

Though there was no disclosure of what “uncertainties” are plaguing the facility, perhaps some of it is explained by some recent news involving the racetrack’s owner: The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

IHRA, headed by Darryl Cuttell, purchased the racetrack from Dan Lovenheim in December. IHRA has canceled the rest of its 2026 season in a variety of racing divisions, including its stock car division, which was supposed to have a race at Rockingham later this year.

The decision to cancel the IHRA Stock Car Series for the rest of 2026 “was not made lightly,” a news release on the series’ social media page stated in July.

The statement continued: “After a thorough review of our operations, resources and long-term objectives, IHRA believes the responsible course of action is to pause the series and dedicate our full attention to building a stronger, more sustainable Stock Car program for 2027.”

Rockingham Speedway’s history

The news is a surprising and unfortunate blow to one of NASCAR’s oldest venues.

Originally opened in 1965, Rockingham Speedway has long been a rite of passage in the sport of racing, as well as an economic and cultural boon in Richmond County. The just-about-a-mile asphalt oval saw legendary battles over the years. It saw championships clinched by Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth. It saw Richard “The King” Petty win Rockingham Cup races a series-most 11 times. The racetrack was also home to the first race after the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in February 2001.

In 2004, though, NASCAR left the venue as part of a trend the sport was going through at the time — as it was transitioning from a regional enterprise into a national one. The speedway in Richmond County, for the better part of 20 years, sat in abandoned disrepair.

The track was purchased by Lovenheim in August 2018, though, and its revival slowly began. Millions in COVID-19 stimulus package money plus Lovenheim’s personal funding — $15 million in total, Lovenheim told The Charlotte Observer — brought the racetrack back up to snuff.

NASCAR returned in 2025, and it was by all accounts a smash hit. The O’Reilly race in 2025 was not only a sellout, but generated 1.05 million TV viewers in the spring. NASCAR officials called that first race weekend “unbelievable” and hinted at its potential future in the Cup Series.

Lovenheim eventually put the racetrack back on the market in the summer of 2025 and sold it in December to IHRA. Another successful race weekend in April 2026 followed.

But then, on Friday, the news came that the racing wouldn’t come back in 2027.

Another NC racetrack enduring NASCAR change

Rockingham isn’t the only North Carolina racetrack that will have a different spot in the schedule in 2027.

Earlier this summer, the sanctioning body announced that NASCAR would not open its season with its annual exhibition race — “The Clash” — at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. The Clash will run at Daytona International Speedway.

The sanctioning body also announced earlier this week that North Wilkesboro Speedway, after putting on its first Cup race in 30 years, will go back to hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2027. The venue will also host a Truck Series race and an O’Reilly race that same weekend.