NASCAR returning to the Rock in ’26

William R. Toler

ROCKINGHAM — NASCAR  is returning to the Rock for the second consecutive Easter weekend.

Race promoter Track Enterprises announced Wednesday that the sanctioning body will again be bringing the Craftsman Truck Series and the now-O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to Rockingham Speedway for April 3-4, 2026.

“We’re thrilled NASCAR took notice of all the incredible support we received both during and following the North Carolina Education 250 presented by Black’s Tire and the Black’s Tire 200 and chose to include Rockingham Speedway on the 2026 schedule,” Bob Sargent, president of Track Enterprises, said in a press release.

“We knew people in Richmond County and the surrounding areas were passionate, but the enthusiasm and turnout exceeded everyone’s expectations,” Sargent continued. “We’re eager to welcome the fans back and build on a new Easter Weekend tradition.”

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 31. According to Track Enterprises, 2025 ticketholders and campers will have access to exclusive pre-sale opportunities before tickets are released for sale to the general public.

Updates will be available at racetherock.com.

The two-day, three-race event earlier this year reportedly brought an economic impact of nearly $40 million to the Sandhills as thousands of fans filled the frontstetch grandstands, infield and recently remodeled suites.

Tyler Ankrum became the third driver to take the checkered flag in the truck series at Rockingham, and the first since 2013, winning the Black’s Tire 200.

Jesse Love was initially declared winner of the N.C. Education Lottery 250. However, before leaving the track, his car was disqualified and the win was turned over to Sammy Smith. 

Richard Childress Racing appealed the decision, but ultimately lost.

That race — the first for the series at the track since 2004 — saw 17 lead changes, tying a race in ‘97 for the third-most in the series at the Rock.

The Xfinity race also marked the return of Kasey Kahne behind the wheel for the first time since 2018. Kahne won the 2012 Craftsman Truck Series race at Rockingham and was the runner-up to Matt Kenseth in the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series race.

ARCA Menards Series East driver Brent Crews was also a winner that weekend, starting in the pole position and keeping his lead for the entirety of the Rockingham ARCA 125.

Earlier this week, NASCAR announced that O’Reilly Auto Parts would be the new title sponsor starting next season for its second-tier series, replacing the 11-year sponsorship of Xfinity.

This marks the fourth sponsor of the series, previously including Anhauser-Busch and Nationwide.

“Like the great sport of NASCAR, O’Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people,” NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell said in a news release. “This new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR’s stars and fans while celebrating the journey we’ve been on together for decades.”

The series will be broadcast on The CW network.

In May, Rockingham Speedway was listed for sale, with an asking price later added of $12 million.

The Richmond County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a special meeting Thursday afternoon to, in part, vote on a request for $375,000 “to help facilitate the completion of a transaction involving the Rockingham Speedway and future NASCAR events.”