NASCAR fans are still trying to get used to traveling to California Speedway after the Daytona 500. Up until the 2004 season NASCAR made a traditional stop in Rockingham, North Carolina on the weekend after Daytona. The winter of 2004 marked the final NASCAR sanctioned event at the famed speedway, a disappointment to many long time fans. But fans soon may have the smiles back on their faces because racing is returning to the The Rock!

A man by the name of Andy Hillenburg is the new owner of The Rock. Perhaps you have heard of him. Hillenburg is the 1995 and 1997 winner of the Daytona ARCA 200, he has sixteen NASCAR Cup Series starts, and even competed in the 2000 Indianapolis 500 and finished 26th. Hillenburg has a long racing resume and now can add track owner to his list of many accomplishments.

On October 2, 2007 Hillenburg purchased Rockingham Speedway from Speedway Motorsports Inc. for $4.4 million. Hillenburg immediately went to work to revitalize the track and bring racing back. The speedway unveiled a new logo and new name, “Rockingham Raceway Park”. As quickly as the track was purchased, racing was announced to be returning to the speedway and in a big way.

Hillenburg and speedway officials announced that the ARCA Re/Max Series would run a 500 kilometer event at the speedway in early May. Hillenburg also announced the race would have a starting field of fifty cars, one of the biggest on the ARCA schedule. The race will also carry the richest purse on the series schedule. The “Carolina 500” will be one of the most anticipated events in the 2008 ARCA season.

With Rockingham Raceway Park back on track it makes you wonder if NASCAR will ever return to the historic speedway.

“There has not been any official conversations with NASCAR at this point.” says Hillenburg. “We have to focus on the job at hand as well as get race fans back to the track. We are in the crawl before you walk stage.”

But Hillenburg did admit that NASCAR returning to the speedway sounds great.

It may be a tough match for Hillenburg to have the most popular racing series in America, NASCAR, return to the track. But there are many other racing series looking for places to race.

“We have talked to more than 10 sanctioning bodies about upcoming races and with great fan support, I hope the race weekends grow for 2009.” states Hillenburg.

When Hillenburg announced he was buying Rockingham, many thought he was crazy. But Hillenburgs incentives to buy the track were simple.

“Racing has always been a passion for me for as long as I can remember.” says Hillenburg. “I am presently involved in ownership of the Fast Track High Performance Driving School and a full time ARCA race team. Fast Track has also been involved in commercials and motion-pictures the past few years - and by purchasing the speedway it immediately improved all three businesses. The history side is also important to many fans and myself, so it is a chance to make the sport better and the community side of it makes it special as well.”

Rockingham Speedway had been sitting idle for nearly four years. According to Hillenburg, improvements had to be made.

“Getting repairs and updates to our equipment and getting the buildings back in shape has been our priority. We are also trying to paint and clean-up as much as possible before our first race.” explained Hillenburg.

When asked about goals for the speedway, Hillenburg says “The goals are fairly simple for us. Great racing, great race fans enjoying themselves, to be able to improve the facility each year and to do right for the sport of auto racing and the Richmond County community.”

Hillenburg obviously did not buy the speedway to make money. He wants to bring racing back and have fans enjoy themselves, like it used to be. Fans and locals are looking forward to racing returning to The Rock.

“The reaction has been incredible and hopefully that translates to a big race day on May 4th. Rockingham deserves to be on the map in pen, not pencil.” said Hillenburg.

To buy tickets for the May 4th “Carolina 500” and learn more about Rockingham Raceway Park, fans can visit the tracks website at www.rockinghamracewaypark.com.