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How Can Great Racing Every Be Outgrown
(The Rock is Back)
5/6/08: SOZ Studios, MI - By Dennis Michelsen "DMIC" (RaceTalkRadio.com)
Four years ago we heard that NASCAR racing had outgrown North Carolina Speedway, better known as "The Rock." The doors were closed and it looked like this track was dead and gone. Last year the property and facility were put on the auction block. One of the bidders wanted to tear the place down and sell it for scrap! But luckily one guy with a dream of bringing the track back to something close to its past glory was there and Andy Hillenburg had the support needed for his winning bid. This Sunday we saw another classic example of the reason fans love Rockingham Speedway! So I ask the question, how can great racing ever be outgrown?
Progress NASCAR Style
I do get it folks…bigger markets are the reason NASCAR has left their roots. When an organization has seen such amazing growth over the past 20 years it is hard to argue with that formula they have drawn up. But some tracks are so special they deserve to be subsidized if that is what is needed to keep them healthy. Why? Because great racing at Rockingham on television is the easiest way to fire the fans up to buy tickets at places like Kansas Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway where the racing is not nearly as special! Yes I understand it is almost impossible for Rockingham to support crowds like those at Bristol. OK I get it that the track owner couldn't afford NASCAR's rising rates and make money with 50,000 fans. But this is one of our sport's special racing facilities and the racing is always great! This should be part of NASCAR's marketing budget to help keep Rockingham alive.
Great Weekend as Racing Returns to the Rock
Many NASCAR fans think of ARCA as that quaint little series that puts on the first racing show of the year at Daytona for stockcar fans. But the reality is that the ARCA RE/MAX Series provides some of the most competitive racing in any form of motorsports! The last five years there have been more different winners in ARCA than almost every form of racing! NASCAR fans should pay attention to see who the next big NASCAR star will be in a few years. Over the weekend RaceTalkRadio.com provided race fans almost 20 hours of live broadcasting from the Rock! (Including the live play-by-play coverage that you can find in the archives that includes no commercial breaks during green flag racing!) Racing is back at the Rock and race fans voted with their wallets supporting the first of what will be many successful race weekends. (USAR Pro Cup Series races in November)
Next Superstar's Coming Out Party
Some NASCAR fans have voiced their opinion that they are sick of the Joey Logano publicity machine! They say this kid has never won a major event but gets more publicity than many Nationwide Series drivers despite not making his first start in the series yet. The Carolina 500 at Rockingham Speedway proved that this kid is something special! Piloting his Venturini Motorsports entry to a thrilling victory against an impressive field of drivers at one of NASCAR's classic old-school tracks makes me wonder just how great this kid can be. Rockingham is a track that teaches young whippersnappers that they are mortal! More impressive than his pole setting speed was how Logano handled weaving in and out of lapped traffic on worn out tires! (Did I mention that 50 cars started in this race?) Joey Logano's coming out party was celebrated in style with a memorable burn out too!
Rockingham Speedway's Upside Potential
No I am not living in the fantasy world that Cup racing might ever return to the Rock. But what is the upside of Rockingham Speedway? The fans showed up now it is time for the sponsors to step up to the plate and support great racing! If Andy Hillenburg and his group of investors get the support they need maybe we can see a NASCAR Truck Series event in the future. The ARCA RE/MAX series can also make this THEIR track and THEIR big event by helping to support the Rock! There was more buzz in the media over this race than any other ARCA race in series history! Get your tickets ladies and gentlemen and make Rockingham Speedway an annual pilgrimage to return to racing the way it used to be. THE ROCK IS BACK!
Program Note: Did you enjoy the race from the Rock? Learn more about the ARCA RE/MAX Series every Tuesday night at 8pm ET on ARCA THUNDER…exclusively at www.racetalkradio.com!
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