Hillenburg paid somewhere near $4.4 million for the facility (it was appraised at $10 million) and plans to not only run his very successful driving school there, but also have real races at the facility. Hillenburg admits they probably won’t be Nextel Cup or Busch races, but ARCA and Craftsman Truck Series races are very possible.

Many of us who attended Nextel Cup and Busch Series races there have grieved since it’s closing in February, 2004. No better racing could be found anywhere. In fact, the final race held there resulted in one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history when Matt Kenseth edged out Kasey Kahne on the final lap ins a side-by-side battle for the ages.

After that final race, it was gone, we thought, forever. NASCAR didn’t do the 65,000-seat facility any favors by scheduling races in middle February and late October. I’ve pushed snow off seats in the grandstand and worn down parkas to races, but the speedway could always count on about 50,000 to show up for races. That wasn’t good enough for International Speedway Corporation and the track was closed. It was later given to O. Bruton Smith’s Speedway Motorsports to settle a lawsuit and Smith closed the track.

Yesterday, SMI held an auction to rid itself of the track (they don’t need it and couldn’t see a way to make money there) and Hillenburg was the high bidder. Sometimes things work out after all.

Hillenburg, who has run in 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup races and the Indianapolis 500, was straightforward about his plans.

"We'll definitely have racing here," Hillenburg said. "We'll have some driving schools. We'll have some movies and commercials, and have a few legends races, and hopefully be an important part of the community. And that's the thing. I want to be a part of it. I want to be a part of this community. I love this sport a lot, and I want to make a difference."

How about that? It’s really not about the money or the glory. Hillenburg is Superman to the people in the sand hills of the Tar Heel State. Hillenburg, in an interview on Sirius Satellite Radio this afternoon pledged to have a race there “within 12 months.” When asked if it would be the ARCA series, he wouldn’t comment, but hinted that it might be.