The Super Cup Stock Car Series is reportedly going to close its 2016 schedule with a race at Rockingham Speedway, the former NASCAR track that’s been idle for almost three years. SCSCS has operated for eight seasons, primarily in the northeast but extending as far west as Columbus, Ohio. Its 2016 schedule currently lists eight dates, but half of those are shown as ‘To Be Announced.’ The track last hosted racing in April 2013 with a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. According to the Richmond County Daily Journal, Farmers and Merchants Bank began foreclose proceedings against owners Andy Hillenburg and Bill Silas, accusing them of defaulting on a $4.2 million loan. The lien has since been assigned to BK Rock Holdings of Stuart, Florida.(Fayetteville Observer)(12-15-2015)
UPDATE A Union County-based motorsports team is planning to bring affordable racing back to Rockingham Speedway in 2016. James Martin of Level 1 Motorsports said his group is creating a new race series, the X-Cup Series, to race at the legendary track, which will ‘hopefully’ start in April. ‘They’re all gonna be ran at Rockingham,’ he said in a recent telephone interview, adding it would be a 10-race series with eight events on the 1.017-mile track and two on the infield road course. ‘We’re finalizing the final rules package now.’ According to Martin, 15 drivers have signed up to run, but halfway through the series he expects to be at full capacity with a field of 32 cars. As the Daily Journal reported last month, the Super Cup Stock Car Series has listed ‘The Rock’ on its 2016 schedule, with a race and awards banquet slated for Oct. 15. Joe Schmaling, the series’ director of competition, said organizers plan to ‘leave the track in October with a confirmed date or two for 2017.’ The National Auto Sports Association also has an event, the Firecracker Run, scheduled for July 2-3. Craig Northacker, executive director of Vets-Help, announced plans last January to purchase the track and turn it into a center to assist veterans with reintegrating into society. Records show he entered into a commercial lease agreement with speedway co-owner Andy Hillenburg in late 2014. The term of the lease was for one year, ending Oct. 31, 2015, and set to renew automatically unless terminated with 60 days written notice. A copy of a check included with the document, filed in October of 2015, shows the rental fee to be $1. One tentative name for the track is Rockingham Veterans Speedway, though Northacker said a final designation has yet to be decided. He said he wants to keep Rockingham in the name, but would also like to signify the track’s new life.(Richmond County Daily Journal)(1-11-2016)
