How come NASCAR Doesn't race at Rockingham Motor Speedway anymore?

Because Nascar thought it was in their best interest! ........... one of their many delusions.

Rockingham was always right after Daytona. The stands were never full and the weather could be hit or miss. At the time Nascar was booming and made efforts to become a nationwide sport. With Charlotte, Rockingham, and Darlington so close to each other, someone had to go. It doesn't bug me too much that the Cup series doesn't go there, but I can't see any reason not to hold a truck series race or even a Nationwide event. I think a truck race at the Rock would be awesome.

Another big reason was that the track was so dilapidated. It needed a repave, new stands, etc. Not only was it not selling out, it was in dire need of a ton of money in improvements. They race ARCA there now, but I don't know if they'll be able to continue there with such poor ticket sales. I like Rockingham, but don't miss it. I don't want to make enemies, but I think one of the Pocono races has to go. I am only 45 minutes from Michigan, and I love going there, but they could do without 2 races 6 weeks apart as well. I wish that Nascar would designate one or two weeks a year to a variable schedule. One year go to a track that doesn't get a race usually, then the next year go to a different one. It would change up the season, create a wider reaching audience, and keep the teams on their toes with setups and such.

Technically, NASCAR did not abandon "The Rock". Race dates are owned by the owners of the track.

The original owners of the Speedway near Rockingham sold the track to Penske. Penske in turn sold the track to ISC . ISC (France Family) as owner of the Cup "date" moved one race "date" to another track owned by ISC in California. ISC sold the track to SMI (Bruton Smith) and SMI moved the other Cup "date" to another SMI track in Texas.

Many factors played into the decisions to move the "dates" to other venues. One of which was no "sellouts" as the track location lacked amenities and depended on "local fans" who could drive in for the event and return home the same day. It didn't help that the same type of fan, close driving distance, had many choices during the same parts of the season. The first date, fans could have chosen to go to Atlanta, Darlington or Bristol, all within 3 weeks of the Rockingham race. Martinsville, Richmond and Charlotte all came soon after.

Leading up to the second date, fans could have already attended a second race at Bristol, Darlington, Richmond, Charlotte, Martinsville or Atlanta.

Throw in a sojourn to Talladega close to each of the Rockingham races and Rockingham, as good as the racing was there, was a tough sale. People who were close enough to drive there chose to watch the races on TV.

Given the saturation of "nearby" tracks and the closeness of the race dates on the calender, spending 10's of millions of dollars to upgrade the track was no guarantee attendance would change.

It's a shame. The track lacking the "historical" significance of Darlington, which also had a tough time selling out both races for much of the same reasons as Rockingham, couldn't hang on to at least one date. The track does have the historical fact it was the site of Jimmy Clark's (2-time Formula 1 champ) one and only race in NASCAR.

NASCAR has moved more and more races out of the South (2 at Nashville, 2 at North Wilkesboro, 2 at Rockingham, 1 at Darlington, and now one at Atlanta) to move to exotic locales. I think that has hurt the sport because they forgot that without the South, NASCAR would have died in the 1960's. I loved the Rockingham track, but NASCAR would rather run 2 races in Texas, Loudon, and Phoenix which are too far away for most Southern fans to attend than to include historic tracks like Rockingham.

I use to live 10 minutes from this awesome track when I lived in NC. Back then there weren't enough hotels, and it was right after Daytona, the weather could interfere, and the stands just were not full, heck I know the real reason, its not Hollywood enough for Brian France, it not up to his dang standards. I do not see why the trucks or nationwide don't race here. I loved this track, I saw tons of great racing here. This track needs to be on the schedule..

Go 88, 29, 2 in 2011

The Rock was a great place to watch a race and, I think, a great place to race.However it was in the middle of nowhere. No hotels or restaurants and lacking easy roads in and out. Nascar is about money, big tracks mean more money, simple as that. It would be great place for a truck race!

I don't know. I know with the track in Kentucky, which they are finally racing this year, Nascar always had fights and trouble with the people who owned the track. So maybe it is the same for the Rock.

Rockingham Nascar

Its not a fancy track, no luxury suites and bins. Its small track that best holds around 30,000 humans, it used to be viewed to be within the boondocks as well. I leave out the Rock, it was once my favorite track I best lived 10 minutes from it. However Nascar is all about $$$ now, and The Rock misplaced its races, dang it. I drove through Rockingham a couple yr again going to mothers funeral, the discipline has grown so much, extra lodges in the area now. Nascar wishes to return. This monitor had some quality racing, however then I prefer 1 mile and 1/2 mile tracks. Go Dale Jr & Hms

Grew out of the market essentially. Also attendance was down in the last couple of races there.