NASCAR President Breaks Silence on Cup Series Return to Rockingham

Alex Harrington, a sports writer based in the West Midlands, England, focuses on F1, NASCAR, and sports technology. Joining Newsweek in March 2024, Alex has previously written for DriveTribe, Men’s Journal, and Sports Illustrated. A graduate of the Open University with a BA (Hons) degree in Business, you can contact Alex via email at a.harrington@newsweek.com or find him on X @AlexOnRacing.

Following the successful NASCAR Easter weekend at Rockingham Speedway, NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell hinted at a potential return of the Cup Series to the North Carolina track. The recent doubleheader featuring the Xfinity and Truck Series at ‘The Rock’ garnered significant ticket sales and fan enthusiasm. O’Donnell expressed excitement about the sport’s return after a remarkable turnout. While currently focusing on Xfinity and Trucks with more Cup Series drivers, he hinted at potential future Cup Series returns if the hype around the track continues. The last time the track hosted the Cup Series was in 2004.

During the Easter weekend event, a sellout crowd of 25,000 fans attended on Saturday, and 16,000 on Friday. Tyler Ankrum won the Truck Series race, but Jesse Love’s disqualification following the Xfinity Series race led to Sammy Smith being declared the winner of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. The race featured 17 lead changes among eight drivers. Ankrum, reflecting on the event, emphasized the excitement of bringing back old tracks and the enthusiastic fan support.

Driver Kasey Kahne also expressed enthusiasm for a potential Cup event at the track, highlighting the excitement and potential for a great race.